Day 190 – Isaiah 1-4

Talking Points

• God sends a prophet to speak His Word to Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah will serve during the reign of four kings. God’s message is one of judgment and also grace. It always is. He calls the nation to reason with Him. If they will consent and obey, they will be blessed. However, if they refuse and rebel, the consequences will be dire. Imagine the grace of God to come and reason with rebellious people. His desire is always for His people to walk with Him. He wants their eyes to be opened and their hearts to be turned to Him.
• What a sad description of God’s people. Even having been blessed mightily by His hand, the Bible says they do not know Him, have abandoned Him, despise Him, have turned away from Him, and live in active rebellion (1:3-5). To be rejected is a terrible thing, but to be rejected by those you love is most terrible.
• Pay attention to the description of their wickedness. Their land is filled with idols — things they value more than God. They worship the things they build — the works of their hands. They are more impressed with themselves than they are with God. They not only participate in sin, they take pride in it, celebrating it. Doesn’t this sound eerily like our day?

Thoughts

Can you imagine being one of the people who heard God’s message delivered through the prophet? In the midst of this message for Judah, God says He has had enough. He tells them He’s had enough of their meaningless sacrifices. Enough of their empty prayers. Enough of their false hearts and counterfeit religious practices. Simply, He’s had enough of people who are fraudulent in their worship of Him. God’s desire for His people was to see Him, to know Him, and then to truly worship Him.

His desire for His people then is the same for us today. He still wants us to see Him, to know Him, and then, beholding Him, to truly worship Him. Can you imagine His disappointment when people approach in halfhearted commitment? Can you imagine His heart when we approach still clinging to the sins of this world? Can you imagine the frustration when He has something so much better for us?

Lord, forgive us for anything short of total worship. Help us to see You and then worship You with all of our hearts.