Isaiah 29:9-15

Passage:
9 Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! Be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not with strong drink!
10 For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers). 11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed."
12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot read."
13 And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden."

Journal:
Jesus referenced Isaiah 29:13 while addressing the Pharisees -- "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" [Matthew 15:8-9] There is a point of emphasis here, and the point seems to have generational applicability. The Pharisees encountered by Jesus were hypocritical, had hearts far from God, and placed human tradition above Godly wisdom. Isaiah is making the same point about the religious leaders of his time -- "And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men . . ." [Isaiah 29:13]

It is a charge that could be made today, and applies to both ends of the religious spectrum. There is the potential of intellectually brandishing the Scripture without living out its ultimate focus. This is intellect without emotion and is a dead faith. It is digging the well deeper and deeper without ever pulling out the water to share with others. Alternatively, there is the potential of relying on emotion without the foundation of Biblical truth. This is circumstantial faith, and will melt in the heat of the furnace as circumstances inevitably worsen. This is being handed a pail of water and gulping it down instantly, without considering the source or digging deeper for more and more.

Paul is right. We are justified by faith alone. James is right. Faith without works is dead. There is no conflict, for genuine faith is tested by the works it produces. Faith is not molecules of the mind. Wisdom apart from God is foolishness. Faith is not butterflies of the stomach. Emotion without a foundation collapses. Faith is a heart that has drawn near to God. A heart drawing near to God yearns for His wisdom.