A Word from Isaiah

A few days ago I began reading in Isaiah once again. Starting with the very first chapter I began to read words that seem particularly appropriate to what is going on in the Church these days.

In my post entitled "Hucksters" (19 February, 2017) in addition to talking about  some televangelists
(and probably some other churchmen), I mentioned what I called the "give-in-order-to-get" crowd, who are inappropriately focused on what they can get out of their religious practices.

These would be encompassed in the group that God addresses through Isaiah in chapter one. I should quote almost the entire chapter, as it is appropriate in its entirety to what I believe God is saying to many of His people today. I will not quote it this extensively. I do encourage you to read it in its entirety, but for now we will focus on this following passage:

"Hear the word of the Lord, . . . Give ear to the teaching of out God . . .

"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.

When you come to appear before Me, who has required of you this trampling of My courts?

Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations--  I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

Your new moons and your solemn feasts My soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers, I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil deeds from before my eyes;

Cease to do evil, learn to do good;
seek justice;

correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless;
plead the widow's cause."

(Isaiah 1:10-17 ESV)

Clearly He was speaking to a group of folks who thought they could please Him by their religious activities. This not only included the giving of their offerings, but also the observance of their commanded rituals, their "church attendance" and the offering of their prayers. The problem was that they did not allow this religious activity, and the message it carried to effect their everyday life. The Lord Yahweh was fed up with their rituals and practices (which, remember, He had ordained Himself that they observe). They were missing the point entirely! The point was that they needed to lead righteous lives; changed lives, if you will, and to be the people that He had directed them to be in the world.

One point He makes early on is that He will not heed their prayers because their "hands are full of blood". Are our hands full of blood? Here in Des Moines, it seems to me that we are experiencing a higher than usual number of murders and other bloodshed. I am proud to say that many local Christian leaders are standing against this trend and trying to reverse this trend in this community.

As I have traveled through several communities between here and Arizona recently, I did not find this to be the case. Not only did I see many instances where violence and bloodshed was overlooked in various communities, but have heard of instances where it was excused, if not outright condoned by religious leaders. "Brethren, these things ought not to be" (James 3:10). We need, as these leaders here are doing, to be standing against these things at all costs!

In order to prevent this thing from going on too long, I will not go line-by-line in this text, but I will point out that He goes on to say that we need to "cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice; [and]correct oppression" I don't think that these require exposition. I do think that they require application in our society today.

We, as Christians should be out in front, leading the charge in fighting violence, opposing oppression, seeking justice and doing good. Our Lord, Jesus told us that we are to be "salt and light" and that if we fail to be this, we are good for nothing (Matthew 5:13-16).

Let us rise to the challenge (and indeed it is a great challenge) and let Him lead us to be the Church that He intends us to be.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.