Sunday, January 13, 2013

Year 3, Day 13: Isaiah 29

Ariel

As we look at Isaiah 29, let me clarify this name Ariel.  Symbolically, this is a name for Jerusalem.  The name Ariel literally means “lion of God” (or lioness, depending on usage).  The context of the first verse tells us that Ariel is the city that David besieged.  The word for besieged in Hebrew can also mean encamped or settled.  We also know that David (and the Messianic line that comes from David) is called the Lion of Judah.  Thus, it makes sense to think of the city that David besieged and then made his own capitol would also be called the Lioness of God.  (The word lioness is used because cities in antiquity were feminine in name.)  Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Ariel is a symbolic name of Jerusalem and it is used specifically to bring about images of and connections to David.

What do we hear about Ariel?  Ariel will be besieged itself.  Ariel will have towers built against it and siege works raised up.  The city will be made low.  Their supposed might will turn into a ghost.  They will be humbled.  Like an arrogant child who confronts an authority figure that is more powerful than the child’s own arrogance, Ariel will be brought to its knees.

Salvation

However, this is not the end of the chapter – far from it!  The Lord promises that the multitude that rises against Ariel will eventually be made like dust.  The promise of ruthless behavior will fall away like chaff in the wind.  Suddenly the Lord will come upon them and they will know their salvation.  The hunger and thirst of the enemies of God will go unsatisfied when the Lord comes against them to spare Jerusalem.

Salvation Missed

But, unfortunately as soon as we have words of God’s salvation we have a return to reality.  Even though the people of Jerusalem will see God miraculously deal with the Assyrian threat, the people will return to life as normal without hardly batting an eyelash.  Rather than take the opportunity to repent and humble themselves while recognizing how close they were to destruction, Isaiah tells them that they will be blind to the Lord’s work and stagger.

What a horrible reflection on reality.  These people will be besieged.  They will see the glory of the Lord literally rescue them from the teeth of destruction.  They will come so close to be destroyed and they will be spared!  Yet they are so wrapped up in their own greatness and their own desires that they won’t even recognize the hand of the Lord in their midst.  If ever there is a warning for those who follow after them, this is it.  If ever there is a reason to pause and ask ourselves if we are in touch with what God is doing in our life, this is it.

What is the cause of such behavior?  Look at verses 13-16.  When we get into the habit of going through the motions (drawing near the Lord in lip service but not in heart) but we don’t actually mean it, then we are in danger.  Or perhaps we turn things upside down.  Rather than seeing ourselves as the clay in the hand of The Potter we see ourselves as the potter.  When we forget our place, we are prone to missing God’s hand in our life.

Salvation Received By The Unexpected

Now look at verse 19.  The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord.  The poor shall exult in the Lord.  There will come a time when people will humble themselves before God.  There will come a time when people will remember their place.  Then we will have nothing to fear.  Then we will have sight enough to see the work of the hands of the Lord.

But there is even more to this chapter.  Being meek and humble before the Lord is just the beginning.  Seeing the work of the Lord’s hand is great, but it is not the end.  The end is bringing glory to God’s name.  The end is standing in awe of God’s glory and bringing praise to His name.  That’s the end.  That’s the good life.  That’s the sweet spot.  That’s where I want to be.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own life.  It’s so easy to miss what God is doing.  It’s so easy to get things turned upside down.  But the sweet life is remembering my place and my role in God’s agenda.  Humbleness is the goal so that it is God’s name that is praised.


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