Contemplation #142
“A people who continually provoke me . . . who say, ‘Keep away ; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’” Isaiah 65:3,5
The end of Isaiah’s prophecies picture a new reality that God is creating – that is, His Mission. Some of the prophetic words contrast the people of old with the nature of the new people who will be formed out of God’s work. One of the ‘old’ traits that will be cleansed in God’s new reality is arrogant self-righteousness. The deluded sense of being morally superior, more worthy, and set apart from others by our religiosity is reprehensible to God. The new reality will be like the tax-collector who prayed ‘have mercy on me, a sinner.” Rather than an aloof society who see themselves as better than their neighbors, people who are truly of the new order of God consider themselves the least of all and those among whom no person would be unwelcome.
Contemplation #143
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
Why should we ‘tremble’ at what God’s speaks? To understand the meaning here, it is best to recognize how in the very next verse it is said that ‘he who sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man.’ Perhaps it surprises us, but obedience to God’s commands can become a sin. The contrast is between the arrogance of confident religious actions versus humble dependence on and reverence for God’s direction. We can depend our actions more than the One who instructed us to perform them, and at that point we sin gravely. The new reality of God has no room for trusting in anything but the person of God, and listening intently to whatever he speaks. Our humility is so complete that we shake when our Lord speaks . . . so in awe of God are we.
Contemplation #144
“Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you because of my name . . .” Isaiah 66:5
In a world where people admire religious performance and equate arrogant self-righteousness with spirituality, those who listen reverently to God find themselves excluded and reviled. They are not maligned because of what they do, but in how it is perceived. Ironically, their non-participation in what is considered the height of devotion so they might have genuine affection for God, is interpreted as a lack of godliness. Let us choose listening to God, trembling at His word, over any form of religious practice. The new heavens and new earth – the Kingdom of God – is populated by people who choose the unpopular way of humility.
“A people who continually provoke me . . . who say, ‘Keep away ; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’” Isaiah 65:3,5
The end of Isaiah’s prophecies picture a new reality that God is creating – that is, His Mission. Some of the prophetic words contrast the people of old with the nature of the new people who will be formed out of God’s work. One of the ‘old’ traits that will be cleansed in God’s new reality is arrogant self-righteousness. The deluded sense of being morally superior, more worthy, and set apart from others by our religiosity is reprehensible to God. The new reality will be like the tax-collector who prayed ‘have mercy on me, a sinner.” Rather than an aloof society who see themselves as better than their neighbors, people who are truly of the new order of God consider themselves the least of all and those among whom no person would be unwelcome.
Contemplation #143
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
Why should we ‘tremble’ at what God’s speaks? To understand the meaning here, it is best to recognize how in the very next verse it is said that ‘he who sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man.’ Perhaps it surprises us, but obedience to God’s commands can become a sin. The contrast is between the arrogance of confident religious actions versus humble dependence on and reverence for God’s direction. We can depend our actions more than the One who instructed us to perform them, and at that point we sin gravely. The new reality of God has no room for trusting in anything but the person of God, and listening intently to whatever he speaks. Our humility is so complete that we shake when our Lord speaks . . . so in awe of God are we.
Contemplation #144
“Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you because of my name . . .” Isaiah 66:5
In a world where people admire religious performance and equate arrogant self-righteousness with spirituality, those who listen reverently to God find themselves excluded and reviled. They are not maligned because of what they do, but in how it is perceived. Ironically, their non-participation in what is considered the height of devotion so they might have genuine affection for God, is interpreted as a lack of godliness. Let us choose listening to God, trembling at His word, over any form of religious practice. The new heavens and new earth – the Kingdom of God – is populated by people who choose the unpopular way of humility.
posted by Greg at 10:30 AM
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