e shtunë, 25 gusht 2007

Isaiah 1:21-31

Passage: See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her -- but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of he fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: "Ah, I will get relief from my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish.

You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both with will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.

Journal: God's people have become apostate, and God is angry. God is forever righteous in His anger, and His judgment is a necessary element to His righteousness. His people have become indifferent to His holy character, and social injustice is the natural outcropping. ("Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of he fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.") The metaphors of trees and gardens are used, as that which was once beautiful has not been tended and pursued with proper faithfulness, and as a result are now dead and lifeless. ("You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water.") Destruction will be the righteous judgment of the unrepentant sinner. ("The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both with will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.")

Yet, in the midst of this sobering assessment and judgment, there is a hope of redemption as a loving Father pursues His wayward children. He has their redemption forever in mind as He removes the dross from the silver (verses 22 and 25), the water from the wine (verse 22), and provides restoration for His people (verse 26). There is a bright line. There is a deep chasm. There is no middle ground. The sinner racing to his rightful place due to the sinner's rebellion. The redeemed called to their rightful place due to the savior's atonement. ("Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish.")

What a dreadful condition for the child of Satan: "See how the faithful city has become a harlot!" What a great hope for a child of God: "Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."