Wearisome
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that You created me for a good purpose. I pray to know that purpose more clearly today.
Read Isaiah 43:14-28
[14] This is what the LORD says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride. [15] I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” [16] This is what the LORD says- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, [17] who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: [18] “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. [19] See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. [20] The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, [21] the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. [22] “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel. [23] You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. [24] You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. [25] “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. [26] Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. [27] Your first father sinned; those I sent to teach you rebelled against me. [28] So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple; I consigned Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How did they "weary" and "burden" the Lord?God has done everything for Israel, but they’re ungrateful, unfaithful and wearisome (22-24). Victory over the Babylonians is God’s and is sure (14,15). He will provide for his people in the wilderness on their way home, just as he had for the Israelites in the Exodus from Egypt (19-21) even though their worship and their lives neither center on what he wants nor reflect what he’s like. There’s a cycle of sin that’s hard to break–sin, guilt, confession, forgiveness, new determination, sin, guilt, confession…. We want God to keep working for us, but we can’t or won’t break the cycle of wandering away from him. That’s why Israel had to learn the hard way–through exile. But even that and their rescue from it haven’t broken the hold of sin forever. Sadly, it can be the same for us. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (19, TNIV). Live forwards, not backwards. God has worked amazingly in your life before. He can again. Don’t let your burden of sin get the better of you! Confess it yet again, and move on.
Apply
Ask God to show you any unconfessed sin in your life. If there is some, confess it and ask for help to move forward.
Closing prayer
Thank You for Your great mercy, Lord. Help me to leave sin behind more and more each day and live to please You.
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