May 17, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

What’s God Looking For?

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Unto You Lord, my heart is open, not to my pet project, or my favorite obsession, but to You alone.

Read ISAIAH 66:1-16

[1] This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? [2] Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. [3] But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; [4] so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.” [5] Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: “Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame. [6] Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve. [7] “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. [8] Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. [9] Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God. [10] “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. [11] For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.” [12] For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. [13] As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” [14] When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes. [15] See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the LORD.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. We must never forget this truth.

The prophetic call to a different way of seeing is not escapist, wishful thinking. To look up and around (Isa. 60:4) so that we start to see what God sees gives us the energy and longing to live by that alternative vision. Visions take a turn quite opposed to encouraging courageous engagement if they become invitations to escape from involvement with the realities of life.

We might have expected these prophecies to close with chapter 65’s heart-lifting, joyous panorama of a healed and just society with death and evil destroyed. Why return to the darker themes and warnings of earlier chapters? Maybe because God knows our capacity for indifference to his Word (4), for going on in proud autonomy, insisting on doing things our way (3b,4b) while we glibly mouth our superficial praise and sideline the authentic worshipers (5). These failures seem to have been widespread among the people to whom these prophecies were first directed, and they add up to a central theme woven through the book of Isaiah: the nature of true worship (see, for example, 1:11-13). Yes, the returnees in Jerusalem had started to rebuild the Temple (1) and Temple services had begun again (3), but because people weren’t seeing with God’s eyes, they were missing what God always seeks in his worshipers: “the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word” (2).

“When the church becomes essentially a purveyor of religious goods and services, it reinforces the believer’s own consumerist habits … Perhaps unintentionally, this approach treats personal liberty and the inalienable ‘right’ to choose as the highest goods of life.”  Daniel Williams’ sharp critique of much contemporary church culture reminds us how urgent it is for us to be alert to Isaiah’s alternative vision.

Apply

“He’s already made it plain … what God is looking for … Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal … take God seriously” (Mic. 6:8, The Message). Resolve to take this challenge seriously today and into the future.

Closing prayer

Eternal God, teach me by Your Spirit what it means to be among those people You are seeking, who are “reverently responsive” (Isa. 66:2,5, The Message) to what You say.

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