A story of Justice, Righteousness, Judgement and Grace all wrapped into one. That is the book of Isaiah. Can hope be found in Judgement? How? With judgement devastation comes. Devastation to those who ignore God’s call. A devastation of their own making. Because humanity is that, people destroying themselves in an attempt to find their own happiness apart from God. Every attempt of human advancement within their humanitarian utopia has led to destruction. Everyone thinking themselves the most important, the leader, resulting in chaos with no direction. If everyone and everything is right, then nothing is right or true anymore. There is no righteousness or Holiness if we consider all to be right and holy.
How then in the devastation, can hope be found?
Psalm 119: 64
The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.
There amid the judgement, we find that the earth is full of God’s Mercy. If only we learn of Him and His statutes. For in His righteousness there is joy, hope, love, and peace. Let this be the cry from our lips as we begin a study of Isaiah. Let our hearts desire be that of knowing Him and to surrender to His will that we might have hope always.
Isaiah the greatest prophet of Hope Found in Judgement
Isaiah was a prophet from 740 B.C. to 699 B.C. During the span of his lifetime, he watched as 5 Kings come into rule. It is said that the 5th King Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in half. Of course, King Manasseh was the evilest of Kings. This despite his father, King Hezekiah being one of Judah’s greatest kings. For King Hezekiah loved the Lord and sought counsel from Isaiah: while King Manasseh was very evil turning his back on God.
Isaiah told the story of God’s Holiness, demanding justice; as well as His Merciful Heart pouring forth grace to all who would turn to Him, seeking His face. Also, Isaiah uniquely foretold much of the story of the nation from his day through the crucifixion of Christ and even further into the future of when Christ would reign upon His throne one day yet to come.
We see a glimpse of God’s Magnificence, His Power, His Sovereignty, His Perfect Holiness, Justice as well as His mercy toward humanity. This is as important today as it was then. Do we not even within our own nation see much of what Isaiah prophesied in his day? He knew all too well that much of his warnings would fall on deafened ears. Although, he was able to witness a revival during King Hezekiah’s reign; he knew it would not last and judgement would come. We cannot help but see, the same will come to this our great nation. Still, we pray, and we must stand firm on the truth of God’s word in hopes of a revival. We cannot give up heart or throw up our hands in defeat, though we know one day the final judgement will come.
Firm in Hope Proclaiming the Truth of Judgement
Isaiah was not to be silenced, until God allowed him to be and neither are we. Even if it means our death, we must proclaim the truth of God’s word—both His Righteous Judgement and His Mercy. And so, let us begin to study this great book of the Old Testament with hearts that are open to learn all that we may of God’s character.
Isaiah 1:
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children,
And they have rebelled against Me;
4 Alas, sinful nation,
A people [c]laden with iniquity,
A [d]brood of evildoers,
Children who are corrupters!
They have forsaken the Lord,
They have provoked to anger
The Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away backward.
5 Why should you be stricken again?
You will revolt more and more.
The whole head is sick,
And the whole heart faints.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
There is no soundness in it,
But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores;
They have not been closed or bound up,
Or soothed with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire;
Strangers devour your land in your presence;
And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a [e]booth in a vineyard,
As a hut in a garden of cucumbers,
As a besieged city.
9 Unless the Lord of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.
Sounds a lot like us?
How much like our nation does this sound? Our cities are overtaken, besieged, and burned. We have allowed idolatry and sin to override every aspect of our lives from our schools to our entertainment. Seeking after everything that is not God, we corrupt His word. Judgement must come if we are to have hope of turning to God. Because only through judgement can our eyes be opened to see Him.
Even in our worship, we bring hypocrisy. Calling ourselves a Christian nation, so often our worship is with no knowledge or heart toward Him. He pleads that we cast aside the evil and turn our eyes to Him. He pleads that we might come unto Him.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
21 How the faithful city has become a [k]harlot!
It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it,
But now murderers.
Where is Hope when Judgement comes?
He has provided a way of redemption. His beloved son, the lamb without blemish came to be the final sacrifice. Through His precious blood, we can be redeemed. But we must turn to Him, seeking Him as Lord of our lives, yielding to His guiding hand. Accepting His gift of salvation means that one has recognized their own sinful ways, knowing that salvation cannot be earned by these filthy hands, and humbly bowing before His throne of Grace, willing to go where He sends you. It is not merely voicing the words without a heart bent on being transformed and allowing Him to transform it by whatever means is required. Oh, the sweetness of true repentance, where one’s heart is so humbled and broken that it is overflowing with love and gratitude to God for that salvation so freely given.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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