And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders. The wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.” What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The Lord can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!” How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?
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God made you! He knows what you're made of.
Indictment is one of the main works of the old testament prophet. God points his finger at people through the prophet. With the job of indictment comes the warnings of judgement and ultimately the plans of restoration.
God's people had flouted the purposes of God in the guise of following. We'd say they were talking out of both sides of their mouths.
In the name of God they oppressed the poor. In the name of God they promised people everything was alright, but everything wasn't alright at all.
It was a bit like the Catholic church's selling of indulgences during Martin Luther's time. People claiming to represent God, saying for a little bit of money you can offend God and break any rule you'd like.
In the name of God they oppressed the poor. In the name of God they promised people everything was alright, but everything wasn't alright at all.
It was a bit like the Catholic church's selling of indulgences during Martin Luther's time. People claiming to represent God, saying for a little bit of money you can offend God and break any rule you'd like.
"And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote."
I grew up in a time and place where supposedly knowing God could be summed up with this not so humorous little saying, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't dance, I don't chew and I don't go out with the girls that do." (chew = as in tobacco)
It really had nearly nothing at all to do with knowing God.
God says through Isaiah, people think God can't see them. It's like a little child covering his eyes and declaring, "You can't see me!"
But God can see you. John in the gospel bearing his name says, "Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil."
The darkness cannot hide our hearts from God.
Paul writes to the Christians in Galatia, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap."
But let's be honest. We've all sown wild oats. We've all planted seeds of lust, greed, pride, self righteousness, and worst of all, indifference to God.
Are God's purposes your highest purposes? Or do you, like the people in Isaiah's day, think you can go your own way, do your own thing and God won't be bothered.
Who do we think we are fooling?
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For some reason this passage reminded me of a poem I once heard by C.T. Studd. I've copied the poem for you to read below.
“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”
— extra stanza —
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
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