Isaiah Chapter Six

My absence has been long (for Internet timing) but not really for life timing.
God is taking me through a time of major upheaval and uncertainty where I am learning so much more to rely on him. This is almost a reflection of what is happening in the chapter I will discuss today. So sit back with me and soak it in.

Isaiah 6 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206&version=NLT)
This chapter in Isaiah is a little bit different to the last 5. I read a devotional on this chapter the other day. It set out to explain that what Isaiah experiences here in this very chapter is exactly when happens when a person turns to Christ. Isaiah experience - though individual - is also universal. This is something I will unpack in a little while.

However lets begin with the TEMPLE.
Isaiah has been brought before the Lord God of the Heavens and Earth. The passage gives us some context - its in the year King Uzziah died.

Who the heck was King Uzziah? King Uzziah was the king of Judah in the time of Isaiah's writing (according to my bible dictionary and its also kind of obvious in the passage as well). It is said that he was struck with leprosy for a 'cultic misdemenour' (I'm guessing for doing some form of worship that was not in relation to God).

So Isaiah is brought before God after King Uzziah has died. In this scene God is sitting on a throne, wearing a robe whose train fills the temple. He is being attended by Seraphim - from my knowledge of Seraphim they were moral beings who served and worshipped God. Their main purposes were possibly centred around guardianship and worship. My bible dictionary also describes the possibility that they had the job of Purification by Fire, they are also only described here in Isaiah chapter 6 (again according to my Bible dictionary). The passage gives a clear image of what they may have looked like (have a look at verse 2). Here they are worshipping God and their worship causes the temple to shake and fill with smoke.

ISAIAH'S REACTION to all of this is to see his own sinfulness/unworthiness in the presence of such power and might. He cries out acknowledging his sin. The reaction of the Seraphim to Isaiah is to purify him. Using a burning coal from the alter of God. Isaiah's guilt is removed and his sin is forgiven.

Then Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord! He is asking who will go and send a message to his people. Isaiah responds 'SEND ME!'.
God allows Isaiah to go and says that the people will not understand and they will not turn to God for healing. God says this will happen until they have all been removed from the land so he can rebuild.


Israel's stump a holy seed?
The final verse states the above phrase. But what does this mean? The only thing I can think to link it to is Jesus Christ. Israel is left with nothing, no land, no relationship with God and no future. However in Jesus Christ all these things are restored. I firmly believe that God shows his stubborn creation his love and our need for him by removing everything that makes us feel secure and then showing us that it is only him that can provide that. And that's what happening here in the passage. God's people will not understand until there is nothing left and God brings in Jesus.

So here's the pattern...

Isaiah shows the pattern of what happens when someone comes before God and understands his might and power. The Individual see's Gods majesty and realises their inability to match that so they naturally bow down. They profess their sins. They are then forgiven by God and then God sends them out to tell others of this forgiveness. Today we do this by coming before God in prayer. We profess our sinfulness to him and ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. God offers forgiveness to all and the only reason this is possible is because Jesus Christ came to earth as a man. Being a perfect man he evened out the scale of the sin done by the first man Adam. Thereby taking the punishment for Man's sin and ending the cycle. His death repairs the relationship that was broken so many years ago in the garden of Eden. Jesus resurrection conquers death, death is redundant because it is a punishment for Sin. However when we take the offer for forgiveness for our sins death has no meaning any more. Yes we may still die and physical death because we live in a world broken by sin and because of that our bodies are no loner perfect and age and get sick and die. However we do not spiritually die. He have a confidence that we will live in God's perfect kingdom for the rest of eternity. This these things in mind today was then take up the task of spreading the GOOD NEWS about Jesus death and resurrection for our sinfulness. We go into the world much in the same way that Isaiah did.

I myself although going through a lot of life changes can hold on to the knowledge that I am saved by Jesus' death and resurrection from the dead.

Here is an drawing I did a month or two ago to depict how I often feel in life in relation to God:

The hand underneath is the hand of God, the hand on top is mine. My hand is weak and limp, it lacks strength. However the hand underneath is supportive and hold up mine. I may be weak and I may be lacking in ability and emotional strength. But I have the knowledge that God will keep holding me up in this life for as long as he see's fit for me to live. God is a loving God, a God of peace and a God who supports us through life. He has decided what every day will look like and he is there for us every step of the way.

While I can't wait for Jesus to return to take me to his kingdom and sometime's I can't wait for death to embrace me,  I will continue to walk in the path that God shows me and I will continue to lean on his love. I will continue to hold his hand. I will continue to do the Good Deeds he has set out for me.

God will continue to love us because he is constant and consistent!

Isaiah Chapter One

It all began yesterday when I was doing a quick bible overview with some friends at Uni. I am pretty good with my Old Testament - at least the first 5 books and I'm pretty good with my New Testament. Then it hit me... BAM! I don't know my prophets. One of my lovely best friends/practically sister's has been telling me how much she loves the book of Isaiah.
So here I am. I am going to read Isaiah.
I began last night with Chapter one.
But before I begin to debrief my reading I am going to look up some context/background on this book.

Context: Isaiah according to the New Bible Dictionary 3rd Edition (Marshall, Millard, Packer, Wiseman)
 Isaiah - the Prophet -> Lived in Jerusalem. Possibly of Royal blood/noble descent. Called to be a Prophet around 740 BC. Married with 2 kids. Prophecies centered around Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah - the Book -> Judah under the rule of King Uzziah (782-753 BC) - a time of great prosperity. Assyrian threat and the eventual exile to Babylon.

A good friend of mine informed me that Isaiah is written in 2 sections. 1. to Jerusalem in the time of the Assyrian threat and a Prophesy of exile to Babylon. 2. The future of Jerusalem and Israel toward the end of the Babylonian exile and a look to the future heaven and earth. The new Zion.

Now that I've got some sort of Context, although I might not completely understand it, at least I have something to bounce my understanding off.

Chapter One
(I'm reading an NLT - New Living Translation - although I enjoy and mostly read the NIV - New International Version pre-2011 edition)

The first feelings I had for this passage were sadness. The idea of visions is pretty cool as well. The introduction verses are always a good way to see what's going on and what the purpose of the text is.
The two major headings I find are "A Message for Rebellious Judah" and "Unfaithful Jerusalem". Not a good start guys!

On Judah - 1:2-20
What a sad thing, for God to exclaim how Judah has turned from him. The fact that they are compared to animals makes a strong statement. Isaiah reflects how God cares of his people yet they still turn from him. They do not appreciate him. They are corrupt and do not follow his teachings. The land they live in is ravaged, they have been attacked and barely made it out alive. The imagery of sickness is extremely compelling. Verse 9 - the comparison to the fact that if not for God they would have been wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah.
The leaders of the people are always addressed - this is something I have notices throughout. They lead Gods people and are responsible for their welfare. However this is not happening - see verse 10.
How incredible is it that God says that he is "sick" of their sacrifices. The people have forgotten about what a sacrifice means. They have forgotten about the reparation of the relationship between them and God., Sacrificing in that time without the intention of sin removal was worthless in Gods eyes. The repentance just doesn't seem to be there. If there is no repentance then there is no meaning for the sacrifice. They are meaninglessly slaughtering Gods creation for their own traditions and feelings. verse 12/13 - "Why do you keep parading in my courts with your worthless sacrifices? The incense you bring me is stench to my nostrils!"

Verse 15 - "From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims."
How sad it is when God chooses to turn from his people because of their wickedness. When he has cared for them and stopped them from being destroyed yet they continue to go against his will. They seem to have no respect for his love or his actions.

But here God is calling for REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS, he says "No matter how deep your sins, I can remove it. I can make you clean as freshly fallen snow." (Verse 18)

God is always good! He always gives an alternative. Follow him and enjoy his love and care or turn and be destroyed. I don't know about you but I choose to follow.

On Jerusalem - 1: 21-31
Compared to a Prostitute and filled with murderers! Worthless slag! Watered-down wine! God speaks differently of Jerusalem here. And a lot less too. A notion that Jerusalem has already repented is seen in verse 27 but before that Isaiah is speaking of the city as if it is going to be redone, made-over.  The removal of impurities and the restoration of Judges. To be known as a "Home of Justice" and "The Faithful City" (verse 26).
It seems that without God in Jerusalem the people will wither away and be destroyed.
It interesting how Isaiah speak of Jerusalem remembering what it was like before God restored them and that they will be shamed and blush. A stark image of what it means to be with God and to be without God,

And thats the End of Isaiah 1. A lot of stuff in a short time.
Reminds me of how powerful God is and how much he values his relationships with his people. Hoe much he wants them to follow him and let him care for them. After all he is their creator, who says he hasn't got the right to these things? Who else has the authority to dictate these things?

Only God Alone!