Year 2, Day 365: Isaiah 15

Isaiah 15 is a very short but complex passage.  It – along with chapter 16 – deals with Moab.  Moab is the land to the east of the Dead Sea.  Much of the settled land of the Moabites is on a large plateau.

God’s Compassion Through Isaiah

The confusing part about this passage is just how much compassion and concern that Isaiah seems to display for Moab.  Remember that with Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia there was almost a sense of rejoicing as we read the pronouncements of judgment against those nations.  But here in this passage it almost seems as though Isaiah is mourning with Moab.

Now, it might not seem to out of the ordinary for a person of God to mourn as they carry out the message that God had asked them to bear.  In fact, we hope that our spiritual leaders do indeed show a little compassion as they go about their work!  So the compassion isn’t particularly troublesome.  What is troublesome is the people with whom Isaiah seems to be commiserating.

After all, what has Moab’s influence been with respect to the Hebrew people?  When the Hebrew people were coming out of the desert and entering the Promised Land, Moab harassed them and wouldn’t give them safe passage.  In fact, remember Balaam and his talking donkey?  It was Moab who had paid Balaam to curse the Hebrew people as they passed by – although three times Balaam ended up blessing the Hebrew people.  Or perhaps you remember the stories in the Judges where the Moabites were often a thorn in the side of the Hebrew people.  Or perhaps you remember the times during the period of the kings that the Moabites would form a rebellion or join a foreign enemy coming to fight against the Hebrew people.  The reality is that Moab didn’t have the greatest reputation for being friendly towards the Hebrew people.  So why would Isaiah seem to join them in wailing over their destruction?

Perhaps we need to dig a bit more deeply into the history of the Hebrew people and the Moabites.  Remember that the Moabites were not native to the land as the rest of the Canaanites were.  The Moabites are the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew.  From that perspective, the Moabites are kin.  They are people who came into the land as Abraham did.  This might teach us a first clue as to Isaiah’s mourning.  He mourns the hardship of kin even though there might be a history of tension between them.

The second piece of history that we need to retain is found in the story of Ruth.  Remember that there was famine in the land so Naomi (Ruth’s mother-in-law) and her husband went to Moab to find relief.  In Moab, Naomi’s boys find women to marry: Orpah and Ruth.  When the men of the family die, Naomi vows to return.  Ruth comes with her.  Ruth meets Boaz, and their child becomes one of the grandparents of King David.  Yes, remember that the greatest king of the Hebrew people has a part of his family line in Moab.  Here we see that there is a political tie to Moab in spite of some of the bad blood between the nations.

The Moabites were from the same “cut” as the Hebrew people (Abraham’s kin).  The Moabites had played an important part in bringing David to the throne.  As Isaiah looks forward to the prophecy of the coming Messiah, he cannot deny that the Moabites have had some influence in God’s hand at work.  The relationship may not have always been one of pleasure, joy, and friendship.  But a man of God does not always see the world through the eyes of the world.  A man of God strives to see the world through the work of the hand of the Lord.

Thus, it can make sense to feel Isaiah’s mourning with Moab.  He knows they are guilty.  Very quickly after Lot and Abraham separated the Moabites turned away from God.  They have seldom done God’s bidding.  Isaiah knows that they are deserving of God’s judgment – as we are all deserving.  But just because Isaiah knows they deserve it doesn’t mean that Isaiah can’t mourn with them.  The Moabites are kin to the Hebrew people and willingly or unwillingly they have played an important role in God’s hand.

We can learn much through Isaiah’s perspective on Moab.  They are helpless in the face of the coming Assyrians.  Even their own soldiers cry at their inability to protect themselves.  Moab is to be rightfully judged.  But it need not bring pleasure to Isaiah.  Sometimes it is right to mourn with people – even when they are suffering righteously earned consequences of their own actions.

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Year 2, Day 364: Isaiah 14

Vengeance

We begin Isaiah 14 with a bit of a difficult passage from a New Testament understanding of God.  From the perspective of the Old Testament, this passage sounds great.  The Hebrew people will once more be chosen by God.  The people who have oppressed them will then be oppressed by the Hebrew people.  Those who they now serve will then serve the Hebrew people.  From the perspective of the Old Testament, this passage is a straight “vengeance is a dish best served cold” kind of passage.

However, this passage is a little more difficult to reconcile with the teachings of the New Testament.  Are we to long for vengeance?  Does not Jesus tell us to love our enemies and not lord ourselves over them?  How can we make sense of this passage in any way other than through the easily read vengeance perspective that comes so naturally out of the Old Testament perspective?

For one thing, you will notice that the passage says that God will “choose again” His people.  We know from prior chapters that He will choose them because they return to Him.  He will choose them because they humble themselves and serve Him.  Also, you should know that the Hebrew words in verse 2 that are occasionally translated as “slave” are most often translated as “servant” throughout the rest of the Old Testament.  If we put this all together, we see that the people who now enslave the Hebrew people will eventually come to serve those who will serve God.    It’s not about dominance or vengeance.  It is about service under God.  In that frame of reference we can see what God is actually all about as He works through the Hebrew people.

Babylon

The question then has to be asked.  What is the fault of the Babylonians?  What is it that the Babylonians do that is so bad except to be the tool that God uses to humble the Hebrew people?

The answer is fairly simple.  Look at verses 12-13.  The Babylonians – especially their king – believed themselves to be so great that they could ascend to godlike status.  They believed themselves to be so great that they could never be conquered.  They believed themselves capable of taking on the whole world and dominating it.  In fact, they believed they could become gods.

I seem to remember a similar story about a group of people who gathered together at some point in order to become gods.  The built a tower thinking themselves to be so great.  How did God react to such an incredible display of hubris?  God divided them up and caused them to spread throughout the world.  The message in that story in Genesis is the same as the story of this oracle against the Babylonians.  When we become so inflated with pride that we think ourselves to be a rival of God, God will deal with us.  We will fall.  We will fall hard.  There’s a reason we have a saying that goes like this: “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”  Or perhaps you prefer the cliché: “Pride comes before the fall.”  Or maybe you like the truism of children: “The bigger you are, the harder you fall.”  All of these expressions speak about the problem of the Babylonians.  They thought more of themselves than they really should have.

Assyria

We have two more nations with which we can deal before ending this chapter.  The next up on the list are the Assyrians.  The text tells us that God has purposed the destruction of the Assyrians.  Unfortunately, the text doesn’t tell us why - at least not directly.  The words in this section deal much with destruction, breaking, and trampling.  We know historically (and from the rest of the Bible) that the Assyrians sought to destroy the whole of the Hebrew land.  However, God did not desire them to destroy that much.  Thus, while they were God’s tool, they were greedy.  They wanted too much.  The sought their own desires instead of doing what God has allotted for them to do.  In their greed, they sought to destroy the Hebrew people entirely.  Because of their focus on destruction and overextending their reach, God will seek their destruction.

Philistia

Finally, the last oracle of judgment that we come upon in this chapter is the one against the Philistines.  We know that the Philistines were a constant thorn in the side of the Hebrew people, but this is not actually the reason given for their judgment.  Instead, what they are guilty of is thinking that their salvation had come but not humbling themselves to God because they had been saved.  This is why the beginning of this section begins with “rejoice not, oh Philistia.”  This is why there is so much language here about not being sure in their celebration.

Let me put this in historical context for you.  The Assyrians were threatening Israel and Philistia.  For a time, the Assyrians pulled back.  The Philistines saw this and thought they were saved.  They thought perhaps their own might had convinced Assyria to go war against another nation.  They rejoiced, thinking their threat was gone.  But they did not realize it was from God.  They did not give praise to the Almighty.  So what happens?  The Assyrians return and finish what they started.  Sargon II, an Assyrian ruler, conquered Philistia and made them an Assyrian province.

In the end, we see judgments against pride, greed, and refusal to acknowledge God.  It is such a shame that humanity is as it is.  All God asks for is humbleness, and we as human beings are often so loathe to give Him that one simple thing.

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Year 2, Day 363: Isaiah 13

The Point Of Condemning The Nations

Isaiah 13 begins a fairly lengthy section of chapters in which Isaiah will make prophecies about the surrounding nations.  These prophecies will speak about God’s judgment upon them.  It is unlikely that these words were written for the people of the Gentile nations to read.  What is far more likely is that these words were written to bring comfort to the Hebrew people as they stand to be judged by God first. 

Please note, though, this idea of finding comfort from the misery of others does bring up and interesting dichotomy of feelings within me from a New Testament theological perspective.

Let’s spend just a second focusing on the first verse.  This is an oracle.  In English, an oracle is defined as being a message from a divine source in response to a request, plea, or petition.  However, from the Hebrew perspective this word means “to burden” or “to carry.”  The Hebrew word for oracle literally comes from an agricultural perspective where a beast of burden would be harnessed and loaded down with goods from the field, or the yoke of a cart, or something else that is heavy.  Oracles, therefore, are not some mystical and happy pronouncement of joy and glad tidings.  Oracles are a burden placed upon a messenger to be delivered to a people.  If I may make a reasonably crude – but fair – analogy, we can think of Isaiah as God’s pack mule or donkey.  That is what it means to be a prophet.  A prophet receives whatever load the master desires to be carried and takes it forth to the place to which the load needs to be carried.

Babylon

As we now move forward into the passage, we hear the message that God desired for Isaiah to carry.  Judgment is to come upon Babylon.  There is much debate within commentary writers as to whether or not God is talking about the destruction that the Assyrians bring to Babylon or the destruction that the Persians bring.  We know the Assyrians are the first to sack Babylon, but verse 17 seems to make a claim about the Medes, who are associated with Persia.  Either way, Isaiah’s point rings true.  Babylon will be judged for their inability to be humble before God.  Babylon will be judged for the crimes it has produced against humanity.

The Day Of The Lord

Let’s also make sure that we understand the imagery here.  The Day of the Lord – as Isaiah says repeatedly – is not a pleasant day.  How many times in this chapter (and the chapters to come) will Isaiah speak about the wrath of the Lord?  How often will we hear about the anger of the Lord?  Isaiah even calls the Day of the Lord a “cruel day.”

What is it that the Lord is angry about?  The Lord is angry about the evil within the world.  The Lord does not tolerate iniquity.  The Lord does not tolerate pompous behavior within the people.  The Lord does not accept pride.  What does the Lord seek from us?  Again and again throughout the Bible we are told that the Lord desires humbleness before Him.  Each of these qualities that evoke the Lord’s wrath are contrary to a life of humbleness before Him.

Verdict

What is the verdict upon Babylon?  It will be destroyed.  It will be desolate.  Wild animals will make a home within that land.  It will no longer be the pasture land for flocks.  It will not be the basin for civilization that it once was.  Ever hear of the Fertile Crescent?  The punishment for disobedience is life without the favor and blessing of God.  The punishment for not being humble before God is to live as the wild animals – fully absorbed by one’s nature instead of by God’s provision.

I can’t help but think about this passage as I look forward to humanity.  We know that the Old Testament deals with the first covenant – a covenant that was but a shadow of the covenant to come through Christ.  I cannot help but also think that the judgments in the Old Testament are also a shadow of the judgments to come as well.  As Babylon was judged, so shall the whole world be judged.  As Babylon was laid bare and allowed to revert back to a wild and nature-driven existence, so shall the world be allowed to revert back to everyone being driven by their passions and desires.

All the more reason to approach the throne of God with humbleness.  All the more reason to cast off the things and desires of this world while there is still time.  The Lord will judge this world.  In fact, we are all already guilty – every single one of us.  However, we have time to confess our sin, come to the Lord, and request the forgiveness that He has offered to us through Jesus Christ.

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Year 2, Day 362: Isaiah 12

Continued From Chapter 11

Chapter 12 is largely a continuation from the end of chapter 11.  When we left Isaiah yesterday, we were talking a fair amount about how God would bring His people back to Him.  We had spoken a bit about the dual level of interpretation of the end of the chapter.  What this means is that we can examine a dual nature of Isaiah 12 as well.

The first layer of understanding in a passage is always the historical one.  Remember that in this passage, God is historically (and quite literally) using Isaiah to talk about how He will gather the Hebrew people after the Assyrians come and take them away.  After captivity, there will be a remnant to return to the Lord.

When we get to chapter 12, then, we see that this chapter is all about how the Hebrew people will respond to this gathering of the remnant.  We hear that they will rejoice in the Lord.  Isaiah tells the Hebrew people that they will learn and appreciate the fact that although God was angry with them He relented and did not punish them as fully as they may well have deserved.  They will learn to appreciate the fact that salvation comes only from God and not from any foreign power with which we might make ourselves an ally.  They will learn what it means to call upon the name of the Lord.

Of course, historically we know that this did happen.  We have the Biblical stories of Nehemiah and Ezra to tell us not only that the Hebrew did return but that they returned with an appreciation of their relationship with God. The Hebrew people did learn to draw close to God in their captivity.

This understanding opens the door for us to hear also how the Holy Spirit reinterprets these words through the lens of Jesus Christ.  As we left Isaiah 11 yesterday remember that we talked about how the tender stump of Jesse can also be seen as Christ.  When Christ came to earth, God made it possible for not just the Hebrew people to be in relationship with Him but He made it possible for all people to be in a relationship with Him.  Through Christ, God made a road for Jews and Gentiles alike from all the ends of the earth to come to Him if they but humble themselves before God.

In that light, we can take a second look at Isaiah 12.  We can understand this passage not just as the return of the Hebrew people after their captivity but also as the proper response of any person who puts their faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ.  As the Hebrew people return from the captivity under the Assyrians and Babylonians, so we all return to God out of the captivity of our own sinfulness.

So we pass anew through these verses.  Though God was angry at all of humanity, he has turned away that anger.  Though God has every right to despise us on account of our sinfulness, He has instead chosen to comfort us in the midst of our sinfulness.  He has provided a way for us to know His grace, love, and mercy rather than His wrath.

In fact, we could go so far as to say that it is through Christ that we know His salvation.  We try and save ourselves so many times.  We try and work ourselves into greatness and glory.  We try to elevate ourselves into high positions of power and importance.  But all of our efforts shall fail in the end.  No matter what we do, we are still in bondage and in slavery until He comes and delivers us out of the bondage and into a relationship with Him.  We know His salvation or we know no salvation at all.

We know what it is like to call upon the name of the Lord and give Him praises.  Indeed, we also know that through Christ we have been called to give praise to His name and to proclaim His deeds throughout the nations.  In fact, is that not our chief calling according to Jesus Christ?  Is there anything that we should be doing more than proclaiming His greatness among the nations?

In the end, I am challenged by these verses.  God is so incredibly good.  He could have left me to wallow in my sinfulness.  He could have let me struggle to make my life all about me.  He could have stood back and watched as my joy was never complete and full.  He could have easily said, “Let’s let him get what he deserves.”  But He didn’t.  God came into my life and freed me from the captivity that I brought upon myself.  In fact, He continues to do so.  He continues to come into my life and free me from captivity in the things that I continue to bring upon myself.  I should give praise to His name and proclaim His deeds to the ends of the earth.

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Year 2, Day 361: Isaiah 11

Popular Verses

Here’s another famous chapter in Isaiah.  Or, at least it is a chapter that has a few famous quotes in it.  This is why I love the prophet Isaiah.  So many people over the centuries of human existence – including the authors of the New Testament – have found these words inspiring and beneficial.  So let’s dive right into this wonderful and excellent chapter.

Shoot of Jesse

We start right off with an incredible quote.  Out of the stump of Jesse will come a shoot – a new growth.  Let’s stop there and break this up into two thoughts.

First, Jesse – in other words, the kingship of David – will be a stump.  Stumps come when trees are cut down.  Perhaps just as appropriately, stumps can come when trees become so large and so old that they can no longer support their own weight.  At some time in Isaiah’s future the Hebrew people are going to be dealt with.  Their tree will fall – or more accurately – be cut down.  Judgment is coming.

However, judgment is not the end.  With God, judgment never has to be the end.  A new shoot will spring forth.  There will be a continuation.  While the current government and land may well be cut down to size, a new and tender shoot will come forth.  There is forgiveness.  There can be a new life and a new existence.

Of course, here is another place in Isaiah where we can see the historical context as well as a second “re-interpretation.”  We know that both Israel and Judah will go into captivity.  Their governments and their ability to rule themselves will come to an end.  But when the Persians conquer the Babylonians they will allow the Jews to return to the land and rebuild.  A new shoot will appear.  The old kingdom may pass away, but a new shoot will appear.  The Jewish people will not come to an end.

From a New Testament perspective, there is absolutely a re-interpretation to this passage through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Christ will come and bring forth a New Covenant.  Out of the stump of the Old Covenant will shoot forth a new one through Christ!  God will not abandon the stump of Jesse just because it gets cut down to size.  Instead, God will forge ahead with His plan of salvation.  Praise be to God!

What will this new and tender shoot look like?  There will be righteousness in leadership.  There will be hope for the poor.  The oppressed will have an advocate.  There will be a reason to be faithful because we shall see faithfulness to God in those who lead.  Natural enemies will “lie down” with each other.  In other words, through this tender shoot those whom we assume should be enemies will have a reason to be at peace with one another.  No longer will creation be bent on destroying one another.  No longer will creation think of itself first.

Overcoming Our Nature

Then we get to the root of how all this is to come to be: the knowledge of the Lord shall spread across the face of the earth.  How is it that creation overcomes its natural impulses?  God. 

Pay very close attention to this passage.  Look at most of the examples in verses 6-8.  These verses and the examples within them are all about creation overcoming its nature.  Predators no longer are predators.  Prey animals no longer immediately respond with the “flight drive.”  Venomous animals no longer use their venom as an offensive tool.  The young are not automatically discounted.  Carnivores eat plant material.  This passage is about people overcoming their “nature.”

This is one of the reasons why I love this passage so much.  These 3 verses are the absolute verdict upon the “I was born this way” approach to life.  These verses fly in the face of anyone who says, “God created me this way.”  These verses tell us that when the new and tender shoot comes forth – from the perspective of the New Testament, when Christ came – we will no longer behave according to our “nature.”  We will no longer accept the “excuse” of creation and nature and being made this way.  Those in Christ are called to a higher way of living – a way that is contrary to our nature.

The Road Home

Then we have the great promise of the Lord.  When the new and tender shoot appears out of the stump of Jesse, God will call His people home.  God will make a road for His people to return to Him.  Again, we have the ability to see a double interpretation of this passage.

From the historical perspective, we know that the Jews are allowed to return and rebuild the nation that the Assyrians and the Babylonians tore down.  God literally calls some of the Hebrew people who had been scattered throughout the land to return home and rebuild.  That is the historical interpretation of this passage.

However, there is a re-interpretation through the power of the Holy Spirit.  When Christ comes, God will call to all of His people to come home.  He will call Jews and Gentiles alike.  Through Christ, God made a road for people to return to Him.

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Year 2, Day 360: Isaiah 10

Layers of Truth

Isaiah 10 is another great chapter in the Bible to see the multiple layers of interpretation.  We can learn from the historical context but then also take a step back and gaze at the big picture as it pertains to humanity.  We can learn about the troubles of Israel historically and then learn how history tends to repeat itself time and time again through human leadership.

Take a look at the first four verses of this chapter.  We begin looking at human leadership.  What is the problem with the leadership of the Hebrew people – specifically those of the northern kingdom?  There are six issues presented in this text: they make wicked decrees, they write laws of oppression, they turn justice away from those who deserve it, they take away the rights of the poor, they plunder the widows, and they prey upon the fatherless.  Let me update that language and bring it into the modern century.  They make laws that are unfair and promote oppressing one another.  The focus less and less on ethics and character and what is “right.”  They pick on those who are defenseless and unable to resist them.

Sounds like human leadership to me, doesn’t it?  I’ve heard a mocking “golden rule” several times as I’ve gone through this life.  It goes like this: he who has the gold makes the rules.  Or perhaps you prefer the quote usually attributed to Lord Acton.  I’ll give the full quote here.  “Power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Great men are almost always evil men.”  You see, people who ascend to leadership based on human principles, human methods, and human agendas always find themselves spiraling into the self-monger.

At some point, the human perspective always becomes about me.  How can I provide for the rest of my life with the minimal amount of work?  How can I make other people support me?  How can I find ways to take from other people – by guilt, force, or legal action – so as to build up my name, my greatness, or my legacy.  At some point, it becomes all about me.

As a Lutheran, I’m reminded here about one of the catalysts for the Lutheran reformation.  That is: St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  The pope wanted to build a monument.  So, they devised a means of selling indulgences to people as a fundraiser for the construction.  They were selling “passes for forgiveness” simply to raise the money to build this incredible structure.  The truth is that it is really an incredible structure.  Johann Tetzel was sent to Germany, where he met Martin Luther.  The straw that broke the camel’s back was discovered and Martin Luther couldn’t take any more.  But what really was the catalyst for the Lutheran Reformation?  Some pope decided to build a monument and guilt people into spending money for something that they could already get for free through Jesus Christ: absolute and complete forgiveness of sin.  Even religious leaders are not immune to the influence of their humanity!  Absolute power corrupts absolutely; great men are almost always evil men.

So the lesson to be learned, then, is that we must be wary of leadership.  Yes, I understand that I myself am a leader and therefore I am telling those under me to on some level be wary of me, too!  So long as we understand that it is God and His hand that is great, we can minimize the effect of power.  But when we push God aside and focus on our own greatness, everyone can be corrupted by power.  The kings of ancient Israel are guilty of it.  The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day are guilty of it.  The Pope and the whole of the College of Cardinals fell victim to this in the days of Martin Luther.  Even modern Lutherans have not learned from this and have fallen to thoughts of their own agenda rather than continually relying upon God’s Word and the greatness of God.  None of us are exempt from succumbing to the effects of power when we shift our focus away from God and His agenda.

Destruction of the Assyrians

The next section on the destruction of the Assyrians demonstrates exactly what I’ve spent this whole post talking about.  Yes, God will lift up and use the Assyrians to bring judgment against Israel as well as to shoot a warning shot across the bow of Judah.  But look at the attitude of the Assyrians.  They will believe their greatness is from their own hand.  They will not turn and acknowledge God’s influence.  They will get so puffed up on their own greatness that God will judge them, too.  Human beings are human beings.  Race, color, creed, nationality … none of it matters.  We all are prone to getting wrapped up in our own greatness.

The Remnant

But a remnant will exist.  As with the last chapter where we had seen judgment, we hear that faithfulness will endure.  It may not be a large amount.  It certainly will not be a people who are completely free of sin.  But it will be a remnant that focuses on God and His ways.  This is a great thought upon which we can end the day.  Regardless of where we are and what the world is like around us, we can be faithful to God.  We can know that a remnant will exist.

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Year 2, Day 359: Isaiah 9

The Bounty of the Lord

Isaiah 9 gives us another oft-quoted passage, and one especially appropriate for Christmas Day.  No, I didn’t plan this.  God just does this stuff on His own and I realize it only when it happens.  I totally confess that this reading happening today is by God’s design – nothing I set into motion!

When In Darkness

There is something comforting about the familiar verse 2.  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone.”  In fact, there are two things that I find extremely comforting about this passage.  The first comfort comes from the message.  Just because we find ourselves in darkness – even deep darkness – doesn’t mean that God cannot find us.  There is no darkness that is so deep that God cannot find us!  No matter how dark our culture becomes God can find us.  No matter how deeply our culture slinks away from God, God can find His remnant.  Amen, hallelujah!

But there is another source of comfort.  Do you know how many people throughout history have found comfort in this passage?  Do you know how many people have found themselves in a deep personal darkness or a deep cultural darkness and they have found solace in these words?  We are not alone.  We are not the first people to come across societal rebellion against God.  Others encountered it, found solace in passages like this, and passed through it into God’s glory.  Through the grace of God, we can do it too!  As the author of Hebrews proclaims, what a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us!  (Hebrews 12:1)

The Peace He Actually Brings

And what of the comfort found in the familiarity of verses 6-7?  Have any of us not heard that passage quoted several times in the past 24 hours?  How great is it to know that the government will be upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ?  How great is it that there will be no end to the peace that He brings?  Pause here for a second.  There will be no end to the peace He brings.  What peace does He bring?  He brings peace with God.  The peace that Jesus Christ brings with Him will never end.  Our peace with God is eternal!  Again, amen and hallelujah!

But before we move off of this familiar verse, let’s ponder the last words of verse 7 – words that we often overlook.  “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”  I’m not going to beat around the bush.  What does this verse tell us?  God will bring about His salvation and grace and peace on His own.  It will happen according to His timing.  He doesn’t need the people of Israel to do it for Him.  In fact, He doesn’t need us, either.  What does Jesus say?  God can raise up for Himself children of Abraham out of the stones if He desired it.  (Matthew 3:9)  God will bring about His plan and His salvation.  It depends on God, not us.

The cool thing about that is since it depends on God, we can’t ultimately screw it up.  God invites us to help Him, but it depends on Him.  We are invited into the process not because we are necessary but because we are desired.  How cool is it that although we don’t deserve to be included and we probably make it harder for God in the long run … He invites us anyway because He desires us to be with Him!

Warnings

Next, the chapter turns dark.  What an incredible contrast between the hope in the future Messiah in the first half of this chapter and the dark foretelling of the captivity of the northern kingdom in the second half of the chapter.  Some have criticized Isaiah for placing such a dark passage after such an incredible passage of hope.  But I believe it was an intentional choice.  The contrast Isaiah makes is clear.

What are the people accused of in these verses?  They are accused of having bad leadership.  They are accused of not turning to God and instead relying upon themselves.  They are accused of trusting the power and forces of this world.  They refused to deal with their sin.  So God will bring a yoke of bondage upon them.

Look at the contrast.  The people who refuse to deal with sin and their relationship with God are in bondage.  They are in peril.  But we know from the first half of this chapter that those who put their trust in God and God’s Messiah shall know peace with God.  When we do it our way; we make things tough on ourselves.  But when we do things God’s way; He makes things so blessedly simple. 

I don’t mean to say that everything goes our way.  Blessedly simply doesn’t mean we won’t have tears.  I mean to say that dealing with the pitfalls of life is far easier with God than without Him.  I mean to say that salvation at the hand of God is always in the hand of God and we can do nothing to either earn it or screw it up.

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Year 2, Day 358: Isaiah 8

In Isaiah 8 we have a mixed bag of news in the beginning.  We have the condemnation of the northern kingdom and the promise of deliverance of Judah.  God deals with the people according to how they have chosen.

Condemnation Of The Northern Kingdom

Let’s start with the northern kingdom.  Israel has decided to follow other gods.  They have decided to join into an alliance with Aram (Rezin).  Israel is trusting in alliances with foreign powers to keep themselves safe instead of turning to the Lord.  Like all who turn to the world instead of the Lord, they get in over their head.  In a nutshell, this is exactly what this passage is saying when it says they reject the “gentle waters” (God) and they will get the “mighty river” (Assyria).

What is the Lord’s response?  He tells Isaiah to let Israel know that the Assyrians are coming.  There won’t be any way to hold them back.  Their alliances with earthly powers cannot save them in their coming day of trial.  It is sad when we get what we ask for with respect to our dependence upon the world.

Turning To Judah

On the other hand, we hear that God is not yet done with Judah.  Yes, Judah will be in “up to its neck.”  Judah will almost be swallowed whole by Assyria.  But Assyria will not conquer Judah.  We know historically that Assyria marches the whole way up to the gates of Jerusalem before heading back home.  God promises deliverance, but it will not be easy.

What does the text say about why Judah will be spared?  Is it their cunning in battle?  Is it the wisdom in the elders of Jerusalem?  Is it the greatness of their king?  Perhaps it is the splendor of their culture?  No.  Judah will be spared because “God is with them.”  Israel is to be swallowed up by the Assyrians because they have lost their faith.  Judah, on the other hand, will be spared because they have not yet completely lost their faith.  Israel abandoned God; God has not abandoned Judah.

However, we know that not all of Judah is faithful.  In fact, if we can return back to the analogy of the “water up to their necks” it would appear that most of Judah is not faithful.  Only a small portion of faith remains in Judah.  When Isaiah proclaims that God will not abandon them to the Assyrians many do not believe Him.

Narrowly Focusing Upon Isaiah As The Test Case

Again, what is God’s response?  In verse 11 God tells Isaiah to not be like those people.  God tells Isaiah to not see through the same eyes as those who do not believe God.  God tells Isaiah to not believe them when they say that they see a conspiracy.  Isaiah is not to fear what they fear.  Isaiah is called to continue to look through the eyes of God.

In fact, Isaiah is told that God will become a sanctuary for Him.  God will become a stumbling block for Israel and a trap for Judah.  They – Israel and Judah – shall fall and be taken.  Of course, Judah will not fall completely to the Assyrians – although they will fall to the Babylonians.

In The End: Hope

However, this still isn’t the last word.  Even though Israel with fall and Judah will be swallowed up to its neck, there is hope.  There are disciples.  There are people in whom God’s teaching is sealed.  Amen and Hallelujah!  There is hope indeed.  When the world seeks after mediums … there will be a people telling them to seek after God instead!  There will be people who hold fast to God and His Word.

But alas, not many.  The majority of people will revolt and rebel against God when “fortune” turns against them.  Well, I should say that most in the land will turn against God because their own choices about in whom they should put their trust don’t work out.  They will hold God in contempt because they messed up their own lives when God let them choose.

Are any of us really not guilty of this to some extent in our life?  It is so easy to hold God in contempt for our own mistakes.  I believe that was one of the hardest battles for me to learn as a youth – and perhaps I’m still learning it.  When I am allowed to choose and I choose what I desire rather than heeding the council of the Lord, what right do I have to hold the Lord in contempt?

No.  I have no right to speak contemptuously about God when He only desires my best.  It is far better for me to focus on His ways and being His disciple.  In fact, it is better for me to simply give praise to God for allowing me to become His disciple even in the midst of my own rebellion.

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Year 2, Day 357: Isaiah 7

The Scripture

Isaiah 7 has much to teach us about scripture, history, and life.  First, let’s look at what we can learn about scripture.  Here in this chapter we have an incredible demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit to give scripture and reinterpret it.  In fact, we can get as many as three interpretations out of this scripture.  The classifications for those interpretations are: historical context, future interpretation (re-revelation), personal interpretation (truth in each of our individual lives).

For example, take the most famous verse in this passage: Isaiah 7:14.  Most Christians read this verse and cannot help think that Isaiah is speaking about Jesus.  And before you get worried … it totally and completely is a verse about God’s Messiah: Jesus.  This would be an example of the “future interpretation” type.  The Holy Spirit takes Isaiah’s words from 700 years prior and makes them true also about Christ.  In fact, we might even say the Holy Spirit takes words spoken 700 years ago and shows that they are most true about Christ.

However, there is absolutely an “historical context” type of understanding as well.  You see, when Ahaz was king his nation was challenged by an alliance between Israel – the northern kingdom, remember – and Syria.  When those kings came to attack Ahaz, Isaiah went to Ahaz to reassure him.  Ahaz would have nothing to hear of it.  So Isaiah tells Ahaz that in the time that it takes for a woman who is currently a virgin to be married, conceive of a child, give birth to that child, and then have the child develop enough to know right from wrong that the alliance between the enemies of Judah would dissolve.  For the record, that time is no less than almost 3 years according to Jewish tradition.  (1 year minimum for the marriage rituals, 9 months for conception, and 1 year for the child to grow enough to know right from wrong.)  Essentially, in the actual historical context of Isaiah, these words of God through Isaiah are informing Ahaz that in less than three years this threat with which he is so concerned will not even exist.

There is also a third layer of interpretation.  The virgin shall give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (God with us).  Jesus is indeed with us presently.  He promises to be with us in the “breaking of the bread.”  He also promises to send His Spirit to us, which he does.  God is indeed with us personally.

So what do learn about scripture?  In the hands of the Holy Spirit, scripture is indeed a powerful tool.  Scripture always has a true historical context: the alliance did fail within 3 years of the prophecy.  We also learn that the Holy Spirit can take words that were true hundreds or thousands of years before and recycle a new and deeper layer of truth into them: these verses especially pertain to Jesus Christ.  In many instances, these passages can also be used by the Holy Spirit again to speak to some truth in our own life: God is still with us.

The History

Next, let’s look at what this passage can teach us about history.  We’ve already learned that within three years of this prophecy the foreign alliance threatening Judah dissolves.  Verse 8 tells us that within 65 years of the prophecy that Ephraim – Isaiah’s “pet” name for the northern kingdom of Israel – will no longer even be a people.  We know that the northern kingdom was taken into captivity under the Assyrians in 722 – only 12 years after this prophecy was given!  Verses 18 and 19 tell us that the “fly” from Egypt and the “bee” in Assyria will bother Ahaz since he does not believe God’s promise for survival.  We know that from this point on the Pharaoh in Egypt and the King of Assyria will pester the reign of all the kings of Judah – not just Ahaz.

So what do we learn about history?  God’s Word is genuinely true.  God’s Word does not conform to history, history conforms to God’s Word.

Applications Into Life

Finally, let’s look at what we can learn about life.  Take a look at Ahaz.  He’s concerned about the kingdoms around him rising up to pester him.  This is a legitimate fear and concern.  In fact, since God sends Isaiah to Ahaz He is in effect legitimizing Ahaz’s concern.  He has a reason to be concerned.  God doesn’t mind when we get concerned about what is happening around us.  He wants us to pay attention to the world around us.

However, Ahaz refuses to listen to God.  Ahaz refuses to be comforted. He is so preoccupied with reality that he cannot see that God is in control of reality.  He doubts Isaiah’s word.  In fact, he not only doubts Isaiah’s word; he mocks Isaiah.  When Isaiah tells Ahaz that God will do any sign for him to demonstrate that his promise is true, Ahaz essentially says that he’s not interested in God’s perspective on reality when he claims to “not want to put God to the test.”  Ahaz doesn’t want to test God?  Well, I tell you that Ahaz is testing God’s patience!

What can we learn?  How often do we put our own sight before God’s Word?  How often do we trust our own understanding?  Worse – how often do we trust our own fear instead of trusting in God’s promise?

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Year 2, Day 356: Isaiah 6

A Passionate Chapter

I love this chapter of the Bible.  It is absolutely one of my favorite chapters in the whole of the Old Testament.  Sure, it doesn’t compare with the chapters that talk about salvations through Jesus’ death or even hope through the resurrection.  This chapter may not be able to compete with the chapters on God’s grace in Paul’s writings.  But from an Old Testament perspective this chapter has it all: supernatural involvement, a stern warning, and truth.  It is chapters like this that drive me into the Hebrew Scriptures!

Let’s start with a historical look at this chapter.  First, let’s assume for a second that the book of Isaiah is written roughly chronologically with respect to Isaiah’s life.  Thus, we can put together what is happening in Isaiah’s life.  He’s begun to see the Hebrew people in truth.  He’s begun to know God’s displeasure at their lifestyle.  He’s begun to know the coming wrath.  No sooner does Isaiah begin to get a grasp on seeing the world through God’s eyes that suddenly God calls him to a very official and proper duty.

Here’s what is cool about this realization.  So often we think of a prophet’s life as going like this: obedience to God, calling from God, prophecy to God’s people.  However, Isaiah doesn’t follow this pattern.  Isaiah begins to prophesy to God’s people before the “big supernatural calling.”  Now, I don’t mean to say that Isaiah wasn’t called when he began as a prophet.  Certainly He was!  Rather, the point I am trying to make is that we don’t always have to have this “big supernatural moment” in order to speak God’s words to the people around us.  That’s pretty cool.  Isaiah doesn’t get his “big supernatural moment” until after he’s been in God’s service for some time.

The Vision

So now let’s look at this moment in time.  Notice that when Isaiah sees this vision, he sees the Lord seated upon a throne.  Of course, there was no throne in the Temple.  Some people have thus concluded that Isaiah must have seen god upon the Ark of the Covenant – at the “mercy seat” as it were.  I don’t reject this conclusion completely; I simply believe it to be erroneous given the information.  There is no need to make that conclusion.  Personally, I believe that Isaiah sees God on a throne because God is attempting to symbolically tell Isaiah a message.  In spite of what the people think, God is the one in control.  In spite of what the people do, God is in power over the world.  As we can tell by Isaiah’s reaction, this is a vision of power and control.  There’s no need to bring the Ark of the Covenant into this vision at all.

Next, let’s take a look at the attitude of the seraphim before the throne of the Lord.  First, they are doing something that we do not typically envision humans doing before the throne of God.  We say all the time that we cannot wait to see God face-to-face.  We say that we cannot wait to gaze upon God.  Now, we say this because we don’t see God all that often.  It is something that we look forward to doing.  However, what we see the seraphim doing here is actually covering their faces.  They don’t look upon the Lord.  They don’t gaze upon Him.  Being in His presence is enough for them.  They are humble before the Lord.  They aren’t buddies with God; they honor Him and revere Him.

The word “holy” is stated three times.  Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people who believe that this tri-fold repetition indicates the Trinity.  If we take that opinion, then what would we say about all the other visions of God where there is no tri-fold repetition?  Rather, I believe the tri-fold repetition is done for the purposes of completing Hebrew symbolism.  In the Hebrew Scriptures, repeating something three times implies perfection.  Thus, the angels are saying that God is perfect in His holiness.  That is what I believe the tri-fold repetition means.

Response To The Vision

What of Isaiah’s reaction?  Here we see humbleness.  Isaiah finally realizes where He is.  He knows that he is lost.  Literally, he knows that there is no hope for him.  Now that’s faith right there.  Modern followers of God can’t wait to be in God’s presence.  Isaiah knows that he has no business being there.  That humbleness with respect to God is why I love this chapter.  So often in today’s Christianity we get a best-friend perspective of God.  In Isaiah we see humbleness and truth in our relationship with the Almighty.

Of course, God takes care of the little matter of Isaiah’s guilt before the Lord – as He shall do for us as well.  There’s no reason to think of the Almighty as uncaring or ambivalent to our need.  He loves us and cares for us enough to provide exactly what we do need!  Just because we should revere Him does not mean we must think of Him as distant or uncaring.

Isaiah’s Call

What is Isaiah called to do?  He is to go forth, proclaiming the dullness of the people.  He is to go forth, telling the people how close they are to God’s wrath and judgment.  In other words, he is to go forth and expose humanity for what it is.  Yes, he is to find those who faithfully respond and encourage them in the faith.  But his calling is to go forth into the world and speak truth about humanity.  He is to illustrate just how dull, blind, and deaf humanity really is.

He is also to speak about a remnant - literally: a tenth of the people.  There will be those who hear and respond.  There will be those who don’t jump straight to cheap grace but who go through the process of repenting and acknowledging their guilt.  There will be a people through whom God causes growth out of the stump.  Isaiah is to talk about the remnant, because the Messiah is to come through that very remnant – or stump.

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Year 2, Day 355: Isaiah 5

The Vineyard of the Lord

The first seven verses of this chapter are well known – but not as well known as they should be.  These verses comprise a logical analogy to the relationship of God and His people.  They are worth pausing over and meditating upon.  We are also in a relationship with God, and we need all the help and advice we can get so that our relationship with God stays fruitful and productive!

In the analogy, God takes time to select very fertile ground before even beginning to plant.  Then, God clears the land of obstacles of growth.  Then, God sets up a watchtower to make sure that the vineyard is neither destroyed nor vandalized.  He even made preparations to enjoy the fruit!  Yet it gave only wild fruit.  Wild fruit is an analogy to fruit that is small, underdeveloped, and practically useless.

In other words, even before God planted the Hebrew people in Israel he chose fertile and valuable property (which the land of Canaan absolutely is).  He cleared the land of obstacles (the people living within the land).  He set up a watchtower over the land (Law and the Prophets).  Yet the Hebrew people were wild.  They were not faithful.  They were pulled in every direction away from God.  They worshipped foreign gods.  They worshipped their possessions.  They worshipped the land.  They were wooed by the world.

So God asks us to judge His vineyard.  What else could God have done for them?  He set them up in a land where they should have been successful.  They had the resources that they needed.  He gave them ways to live in peace with one another.  He gave them access to Himself.  They had it all, but they rebelled.

As I read through these verses, I must ask myself the same questions.  In fact, I have to be even stricter upon myself!  I know about Jesus Christ.  I know about God’s grace and love and mercy in its completed form.  He has not only made Himself available to us, but He has come and dwelled with us!  He has set me (and each of us) in an even more fertile spiritual place than the Hebrew people.  I wonder what God thinks of my fruit?  I pray that He is pleased.  I pray that He does not consider my fruit to be wild fruit.

So what does God promise to do?  God promises to tear down the protective hedge that He has established.  He will break down the protective wall.  His chosen people shall be trampled.  They will become a wasteland, unpruned and unproductive.  Here is the warning.  God desires relationship.  God desires repentance.  God desires that we rend our hearts.  When we do not do any of these things we offer cheap grace to a world that learns to abuse and take their relationship with God for granted.  This is why it is absolutely worth looking at this analogy, for nobody is exempt from being this vineyard!  We need to learn how to avoid becoming this vineyard.  It is good to be put in fertile ground; it is horrible to become trampled because we squander God’s provision.

Woes to the People

The woes in verses 18-23 are woes that I have always found particularly haunting.  I think they haunt me because I find them so easy to do.  We cannot truly judge a person’s heart, so how easy is it to get “good” and “evil” mixed up?  How many times I have set out to do good and got it messed up along the way?  How many times have I been “wise in my own eyes” or met people who were “wise in their own eyes?”  How many times have I watched as our culture celebrates alcohol and drunkenness?  How many stories have I heard about a person’s fame or status or wealth allowing them to be treated differently when they transgress the law?  How many times have we seen that sometimes the difference between punishment and freedom is not guilt/innocence but rather who you know?  These verses haunt me because I know how closely they strike to not just myself but the culture in which I live.  In fact, I’m willing to bet that they strike a chord with many people and many cultures all throughout time!

Then comes the threat of verses 26.  God will whistle and bring the nations near.  Now, these aren’t friendly nations.  These aren’t nations coming to be embraced into God’s family.  These are nations with sharp arrows and bows ready for action.  Their horses are capable.  Their chariots and wagons are capable of coming swiftly.  They come with a growl.  They seize their prey.

No.  These aren’t the nations coming to bow at the feet of God.  These aren’t the nations coming to humble themselves before their savior.  These are the nations coming to be God’s implement of justice upon God’s own people.  The time for discipline draws nearer.

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Year 2, Day 354: Isaiah 4

Judgment Versus Grace

Having come off of a chapter on judgment, it is good to now return to a chapter on future promise.  However, before I get there, let’s get one thing straight.  Look at how many verses focus on the Hebrew people’s coming joy.  Remember how many verses in this chapter and the prior chapter talk about the Hebrew people’s disgrace.   Look at those numbers of verses.  Shoot, if you want to get specific, count the words even!

Judgment is coming.  God will hand us all over to our own devices if we pursue them hard enough and ignore God long enough.  After judgment, once the lesson is learned, God will restore us.  Then there will be peace and harmony and life lived according to God’s glory.  But in comparing the number of verses, I hope that my point is clear.  Although we like to focus on the joy, God knows that we need to hear the warning even more.

Keep this lesson in mind as we move through Isaiah.  There are going to be several beautiful passages like this one we have today.  There are going to be more than a few places where reassurance and grace are offered.  But don’t ever lose sight over how many words of warning and impending doom we are going to pass through for each snippet of grace and forgiveness.  We are a people of grace – absolutely amen!  But as humans, we are also a people who need warnings, cautions, and even more warnings.

A Word Of Grace

But, I’ve made my point.  So let’s move into the joy of these five verses in Isaiah 4 (2-6).  In the great and wonderful day of the Lord – the day when God is back in control and honestly revered by the people – then the branch of the Lord will be beautiful.  Then the people of the Lord will be glorious.  Then the survivors of God’s judgment will be proud and honorable.  In other words, when God brings about judgment – letting people have their own way – there will be a remnant of faithfulness that will be with God.  Many will be consumed by God’s freedom in letting them choose their own destruction.  But there will be a remnant that will be beautiful and glorious in that they will return to God and choose His ways.

These people will be considered righteous.  The filth of the world will be washed through them and away from them.  To mix metaphors, the chaff will be gathered up and burned away.  Those who are judged by God and who return to Him will be called holy.  Notice that the process doesn’t sound easy.  It doesn’t sound like something just anyone can do.  Isaiah talks about this process of returning to the Lord as a process of judgment and burning.  It will not be easy to forego the freedom to choose our own destruction and instead choose God and His ways.  The call of the world is strong.

But when this happens, we are told that something special will happen within His people.  We are given images that should remind us of the exodus.  When we pass through judgment and fire and return to the Lord, then the Lord will dwell among us.  Literally, we are told that there will be a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud.  God will be our canopy.  God will dwell with us.  God will be present among us – even in us!

Pointing To Christ

To me, I can’t help think about Jesus and the Holy Spirit at this point.   When I hear Isaiah talking about judgment in one chapter and then hear Isaiah talking about passing through the judgment and fire in the next, I can’t help but think about Jesus when He speaks of the wide and narrow gates.  Many find the wide gate, for it leads to destruction.  Few find the narrow gate, for it leads to salvation.  But to those few who find the narrow gate – who find Jesus Himself – they are promised that the Holy Spirit would dwell within them.  The presence of God will be in their midst.  Oh, what an absolutely glorious day it is, was, and shall be when we have the presence of God with us!

Oh, what refuge we shall know from the world.  Then we will sing and mean it when we sing that the Lord is our rock and our foundation.  We shall sing and mean it when we say that the Jesus is the chief cornerstone.  How great it feels to have walked through the judgment of this life – passed through the fire – and come through having chosen God’s ways over the ways of this world.  Is there any better feeling in the world?

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Year 2, Day 353: Isaiah 3

The Why

Isaiah 3 continues in its dark comments against the people of Israel.  Before we get into what the Lord will do – and there is plenty to get into – we are going to look at why the Lord is going to bring about judgment.  In simple terms: everything that the people are doing is against their covenant with God.  The people have abandoned their side of the terms regarding their relationship with God.

God had made a covenant with these people through Abraham.  God had reinforced that covenant through the Law given to Moses.  God had continued to work on the people’s understanding of the covenant through the judges and even the early kings.  But the people didn’t care.  They didn’t even really want to understand.  They offered up the sacrifices that they had to offer up just so God would be appeased.  They did what they had to.  For most of the people, faith and religion wasn’t about relationship with God.  Religion was about appeasing God so that they could get what they want.  The people weren’t interested in living their life the way God wanted them to live it.  They were interested in doing whatever was necessary to appease God so that God would let them have enough time on their own to accomplish their own agenda and not draw His ire.

This is still a large problem in our culture today.  So often we hear of people trying to appease God.  They wonder if they’ve put in enough time to alleviate His watchful eyes so that they can go back to what they’d really rather be doing.  That isn’t how real relationships are made.  That is how ancient people treated their gods.  That is how the people in the dark ages treated their lords.  And quite frankly, it is how many modern people treat their bosses.  But it isn’t any way to establish a relationship.  God does not desire to be appeased.  He desires to be in relationship.

So, as verse 9 tells us, they brought evil onto themselves.  Their path of life had brought evil into their midst.  Isaiah’s warning is that they had abandoned the covenant enough that God was going to let them wallow in their evil for a while, too.  Sure, God could have snapped His fingers and it would have all gone away.  But what purpose would it serve to have God simply “save them?”  Wouldn’t they just go back to wallowing in their sinfulness?  No, God would let the evil that they had brought into their own midst run amuck with their lives.

After all, the Lord is judge over them.  The Lord is the one who can see into their hearts.  The Lord is the one that can truly know their ways.  He can truly understand their desires.  He cannot be fooled.  The Lord knows their secrets and their longings.

The Lord also knows the hurt from how many of them do not long after Him.  He knows the pain from watching them intentionally choose sin over Him.  God knows the distress that comes from watching them intentionally choose to destroy one another.  God is judge.  He’s the only one that can be, really. 

The How

So how exactly will God judge?  His pronouncements over the people are actually quite fair – and disturbing.  God will take away their supply (bread and water, primarily).  God is taking away their military strength.  God is going to take away their judges and prophets and other so-called wise men.  The experts and the counselors are going to be taken away.  How does God exercise judgment over us?  He removes the support that He thinks is best for us and lets us choose for ourselves what we want.  In other words, He punishes us by letting us have our way.

So what is the result of us getting our own way?  That part is pretty easy, too.  This chapter in Isaiah talks about people willing to set up any fool as their leader.  Isaiah hints that the qualification for being a leader will be someone who simply has a cloak!  That’s kind of sad – but it is also reasonably profound, too.  What good are we as human beings at truly determining who a good and a bad leader is?  Can we know the future?  Can we tell how a person is absolutely going to react in certain situations?  No, the best that we can do is to look into a person’s past and assume that past behavior indicates future potential.  Sometimes we get that right.  But sometimes we get that wrong, too.  Only God can genuinely know what is best for our future because only God can genuinely know what the future holds.

Reading books like Isaiah are sometimes scary to me because I honestly have to come face to face with how much I really don’t know.  I have to realize how much more I should be trusting and following God than I am.  Reading books like Isaiah make me realize how perilously close I – and the culture in which I live – happen to be to bringing destruction upon myself.  It is God in whom I should trust more, not myself.

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