Hope For the Future
Even as we celebrated election results last year, evil forces gathered in response. They took the form of the insurrection on January 6th, and more restrictions on voting being implemented or considered in 47 states this year. God has shown us what is right (see Micah 6:8), yet some people continue to decide they know better than God and they can do whatever they want without impunity. That was the problem with Judah. Judah paid lip service to God, but acted in ways that were against what God desired of them. The result of their actions would lead to disaster as God raised Babylon to invade Judah and take the people into captivity. But Isaiah prophesied hope for Judah beyond their captivity and shame. God would restore justice and bless those in true relationship with Him. His people would have the hope of a blessed future. I pray that God deepens and strengthens your relationship with Him and you rejoice in hope for your future.
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. ” (Isaiah 29:13-14) Isaiah shares God's pronouncement on Judah. God accused them of saying one thing, but doing something else in their relationship with Him. He promises them that He will astound them by what He is about to do. And anyone who thinks they know more than God about living abundantly, will find out they really know nothing at all! We can easily get distracted and start chasing and worshiping other gods, but He will shake up your world and remind you that there is none above Him.
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”.... (Isaiah 29:15-16) God pronounces woe on those in Judah who think they can hide the true intentions of their heart from Him. They think that God is on their level and they can fool Him by their outward worship, in the same way they may be able to fool others around them. But God's pronouncement of "woe" indicates that Judah will experience great sorrow and distress because of her disobedience and unfaithfulness. Ultimately they were conquered and taken into captivity by Babylon. Your public worship might impress those around you, but if your heart does not align with God, He is not pleased!
In that day... (Isaiah 29:18-21) Isaiah 2:11 summarizes what will happen “in that day” to those who exalt themselves above God : "The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." But here in vv 18-21, God has planted the seeds of hope within Isaiah's prophecy for all those who humble themselves before God. In that day, the humble will rejoice, because ruthlessness will vanish and evil will be cut down and God's justice will be restored. Despite all the injustice and evil we see in the world, We have hope! Because God has promised that evil and injustice will not have the last word.
Therefore this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob: ... (Isaiah 29:22-24) Finally, God paints a different picture of what Judah would look like when He restored them after their tribulations. He said that they would no longer be ashamed by what they had become as captives and a byword. Then their children would know Him and engage in true worship of Him. And there would be understanding and acceptance of God's instruction even by those who previously felt they didn't need to follow God's way. In our trials, God always offers us hope. And when you truly recognize where God has brought you from, you can't help but be changed and worship Him!
Dr. King often quoted an excerpt from The Present Crisis "Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne. Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own." The point that Dr. King was making is that we shouldn't lose hope amidst our trials and difficulties. Even those that may result from unjust systems and evil in positions of power. God's justice and righteousness may seem to be standing on the outside of our situation. But God is still in control and watching over His children for our good, even in the midst of the trials we face. And that should give us hope to continue on through the fight!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
When there is hope in the future, there is literally power in the present ~ Zig Zigler
