January 16, 2006 -- I am not satisfied.
These are the things I would have missed:
Obama' birth certificat: Let the record show
Ever since Obama started running for president, the birthers (no, really that’s what they are being called) have been up in arms about Barack's lack of a valid birth certificate.
First they accused him of not submitting a certificate of birth because it was just a “live birth certificate”. Well, all righty then, he was born alive. What else did they want? There is enough red tape at the state level without the states being required to issue live birth certificates for every infant that enters the state. That goes beyond ridiculous. My birth certificate states
Nothing is impossible
God has shown us beyond any reasonable doubt that nothing is impossible. Since the creation of the universe and the promise of a Savior, God has made sure that we know with Him all things are possible.
What is that single thing which causes things to be possible?
Noah built an ark with no prior knowledge of boat building, and built it through divine guidance. (Gen 6:14) Then, God shut the door after Noah and family entered it along with all the animals two by two and two by sevens.
Was it Noah's faith that brought his and his family's salvation from the floods? First and foremost it was Noah's belief that God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Without belief, Noah would never have cut the first plank for the ark.
God did not miraculously make the ark appear. Noah and his sons built it. Therefore, it was God and Noah together who made that ark happen. Even after 120 years of preaching (Gen 6:3, 2 Peter 2:5) the flood would come, Noah never gave up his belief. That took faith: his knowledge of things not seen because of his belief in the one, true God Almighty.
Noah believed and he built.
Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His only son by Sarah, the promised boy that the Angel of the Lord had told both Abraham and Sarah would come in about nine months. Abraham took the boy with him and headed for Mt. Moriah to sacrifice the boy. When Isaac asked where was the animal they would sacrifice, Abraham replied, "Don't worry, God will provide." Abraham was absolutely sure of one thing: God would always keep His promises.
Abraham told his servant to wait because he and the boy would return. This is not only belief, but faith in action. It is taking God at His word, expecting Him to uphold His promise whether supernaturally or physically. Oh, to have faith such as this!
God spoke to Joseph in two dreams and Joseph believed God. The young boy was transformed from a spoiled brat into a forgiving and loving man who trusted God at His word. He became second in command of the vast kingdom of Egypt. He only answered to Pharaoh himself, but he put God above all and was blessed beyond measure.
Rahab knew the Israelites God had parted the waters and had provided strength to the Children of Israel beyond mere human strength. When others trembled, she trusted Caleb and Salmon and their God. When the walls of Jericho tumbled down, her home in the wall of Jericho did not falter and her family remained safe. Was it because of a scarlet cord stretched down from her window? It was certainly a sign, but it was the power of the Lord that kept them secure.
The Hall of Faithers is in Hebrews 11. For all time, those who have trusted in the only true God have been blessed with fascinating testimonies. Those like Moses have told God, "I can't" then God has proven to them and the world, "I can with God."
It was with willing hearts they trusted and with God's power they did. God will make sure His promises are fulfilled and that His work gets done. What a blessing to be called, to act willingly to be the conduit of God's power as a testimony to the world.
What is that single thing which causes things to be possible?
Noah built an ark with no prior knowledge of boat building, and built it through divine guidance. (Gen 6:14) Then, God shut the door after Noah and family entered it along with all the animals two by two and two by sevens.
Was it Noah's faith that brought his and his family's salvation from the floods? First and foremost it was Noah's belief that God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Without belief, Noah would never have cut the first plank for the ark.
God did not miraculously make the ark appear. Noah and his sons built it. Therefore, it was God and Noah together who made that ark happen. Even after 120 years of preaching (Gen 6:3, 2 Peter 2:5) the flood would come, Noah never gave up his belief. That took faith: his knowledge of things not seen because of his belief in the one, true God Almighty.
Noah believed and he built.
Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His only son by Sarah, the promised boy that the Angel of the Lord had told both Abraham and Sarah would come in about nine months. Abraham took the boy with him and headed for Mt. Moriah to sacrifice the boy. When Isaac asked where was the animal they would sacrifice, Abraham replied, "Don't worry, God will provide." Abraham was absolutely sure of one thing: God would always keep His promises.
Abraham told his servant to wait because he and the boy would return. This is not only belief, but faith in action. It is taking God at His word, expecting Him to uphold His promise whether supernaturally or physically. Oh, to have faith such as this!
God spoke to Joseph in two dreams and Joseph believed God. The young boy was transformed from a spoiled brat into a forgiving and loving man who trusted God at His word. He became second in command of the vast kingdom of Egypt. He only answered to Pharaoh himself, but he put God above all and was blessed beyond measure.
Rahab knew the Israelites God had parted the waters and had provided strength to the Children of Israel beyond mere human strength. When others trembled, she trusted Caleb and Salmon and their God. When the walls of Jericho tumbled down, her home in the wall of Jericho did not falter and her family remained safe. Was it because of a scarlet cord stretched down from her window? It was certainly a sign, but it was the power of the Lord that kept them secure.
The Hall of Faithers is in Hebrews 11. For all time, those who have trusted in the only true God have been blessed with fascinating testimonies. Those like Moses have told God, "I can't" then God has proven to them and the world, "I can with God."
It was with willing hearts they trusted and with God's power they did. God will make sure His promises are fulfilled and that His work gets done. What a blessing to be called, to act willingly to be the conduit of God's power as a testimony to the world.
Longing...
(I knew I had heard that teaching about eternity from somewhere so I went searching for it and found it in my archives from 2006. I'm reposting it today because my feelings have been stirred into such a longing.)
Does anyone know why we Christians have such longing in our spirits?
Adrian Rogers preached not too long ago
Adrian Rogers preached not too long ago
Reunion for the boys in Heaven
It was very sudden and my aunt barely had time to call the ambulance. However, our life here is such a fleeting thing, barely time for getting old and then we go on to our eternal life with Jesus; that is if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Today, there is a great rejoicing and reunion of the four brothers.
How precious is our time together in the here and now. I can remember as teenagers my cousins and sister and I were sitting on Grandma Burgess's front porch. Uncle Butch stomps by. He was trying to fix the discus so he could turn the ground. Someone (I'm not admitting anything, but it could have been me) stated, "There's nothing to do. I'm bored!"
"I think I know just the thing!" he cried, sounding just like my dad. "Wait here and I'll be right back."
My cousin said, "No telling what he'll bring back. We'd better hike it to the woods."
A difficult saying is found in Matthew 5:48:
Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
How can we possibly be perfect?
Τέλειος teleios (tel'-i-os)From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.
I like that "complete" part. Jesus makes
Worship is a lifestyle
David shows us his style of worship in 1 Chronicles 16 starting with verse 8.
1Ch 16:8 Give thanks to Jehovah, call on His name, make known His deeds among the people. 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, talk of all His wondrous works. 10 Glory in His holy name, let the heart of those who seek Jehovah rejoice. 11 Seek Jehovah and His strength; seek His face continually. 12 Remember His marvelous works which He had done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
And he adds something incredibly important across the page in verse 29
1Ch 16:29 Give to Jehovah the glory of His name; bring an offering and
Worship with a clean heart
1 Samuel 1:3
Here is the story of Hannah but, we’re only going to look at one verse here. Her husband regularly went up before the Lord of Hosts of Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Here there is a distinction between worshiping and sacrifice. In Genesis, it was implied that the sacrifice was the worship of Abraham. But actually the worship was obedience, or
Here is the story of Hannah but, we’re only going to look at one verse here. Her husband regularly went up before the Lord of Hosts of Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Here there is a distinction between worshiping and sacrifice. In Genesis, it was implied that the sacrifice was the worship of Abraham. But actually the worship was obedience, or
Worship: God has given us a choice
Exodus 33
is an interesting chapter. Moses sets up the Tabernacle tent far outside the camp. If anyone was seeking God, they went to the Tabernacle. God tells the people that He won’t go up among them because He just might consume them (literally to kill them) because they are a stiff-necked people. Proud. Foolish. Disobedient by making a gold calf to worship after God had specifically told them in Exodus 20 they were to have no other gods before Him. Many lost their lives over that escapade. This is an example of how not to act and the consequences of worshipping idols instead of the One True God.
Therefore, the people had to worship at a distance from God. In Exodus 33:10, when the people saw the cloud descend, all of them would "arise" and worship, each man in his tent door, when the cloud descended to the tent. Why not gather together and worship corporately? Why each man in his own tent door? We see why in the preceding chapter of Exodus 32. The people had made that golden calf to worship corporately, which deeply angered God and Moses. They could go individually to the Tabernacle to seek God and to sacrifice, but not corporately unless God called them all together.
There is more involved in worship than a bent neck or knee.
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Worship involves the ear which is listening, along with the heart and service. This describes the will of man. It is a choice to hear. My daughter tells me all the time, “You are not listening to me.” I am listening to her. I’m looking right at her, hearing the words come from her lips but what I hear may not be what she means. We must be on the same wavelength in order to understand what we hear. That involves paying attention while we listen, not thinking about what we’re going to cook for supper while we listen. This also means the heart which is our understanding and willingness to serve.
Look at verse 14 -- “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.” God gave them a choice. God’s relationship to mankind has changed since then because He sent His son. Those who choose to be are reconciled to Him now. But, how God deals with us remains the same from Adam to now all the way through the 1,000 years of peace. God has given us a choice. His command is not far away. As He states in verse 12, “it isn’t in Heaven where we cannot get to it, nor in the sea, but right in our hearts.” The choice is given between “life and good” or “death and evil”, verse 15. This is one of several warnings to Israel not to be drawn away into serving the gods of foreign countries. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Matthew 6:21 and in Matthew 12:35 He says that out of the good treasure of the heart comes good things and out of the evil treasure of the heart comes evil things. Our heart is most definitely required to be engaged when we worship.
Warnings before worship
(continued from yesterday's post--see below)
They are the same warning. Jesus was calling those scribes and Pharisees exactly what they were... a brood of vipers. In verse 13 of Isaiah 58, God is saying to refute that way and delight not only in deed but in heart in the LORD.
There are 5 Hebrew words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at two.
Shachah – (shaw-khaw) to bow down in homage, prostrate oneself before God or false gods or angels.
‘abad – (aw-bad’) to serve, to work, to labor or be enticed to serve.
There are 11 Greek words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at one.
Proskuneo – (pros – koo – neh – oh) to kiss the hand to/towards one in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; kneeling or prostration in homage. From a word that loosely means to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand.
I was a member of a Lay Renewal team back when I was an older teen. We called it Worship Service back then. I really liked that term. When we would have our "debriefing sessions"...some of us would say, "The Holy Spirit was really working in this!" And others would say, "You really think so? I couldn't see it!" And yes, we were at the same church on the same weekend... I have been to the exact same service as someone else and received such a deep blessing while the person beside me had to cover yawns and fight to keep awake.
What is illustrated here is that worship is definitely a 2-way street. We must work with the Holy Spirit. If we work with Him and prepare our hearts for Him then we have a completely different experience than if we just go through the motions and our heart is not in it. And if you don’t believe me, in the next few minutes, I’ll prove it. Remember the dog licking the master's hand.
Today we call our singing service before the preaching, Praise and Worship. We just spent a Wonder-Full half hour singing praises to my beloved Lord. However, I suggest to you that Worship is far more than singing, raising hands, praying, preaching and anything else we do in our Sunday Morning Worship services.
As I studied this Worship thing, it seems that God was teaching the Israelites in the OT that worshiping was different than anything else mentioned along with it. Uncountable times it reads, “Bow down and worship” or “Sing praises and worshipped.” Starting with Abraham in Genesis through Revelation, Worship or some form of it is mentioned 385 times in Scripture.
Turn with me to Genesis 22:5.
When my girls were young, about 3 and 4 years old, my Mom was so excited at Christmas because they were old enough to actually understand the Christmas story. She gathered them up in her lap and read the story to them from the Bible. When she got through, she said, “Now, that was the story of the very first Christmas almost 2000 years ago and why every year we remember Jesus’ birth at this time.” My older daughter, Lauri Anne looked up at her with her eyes wide and such a look on her face, we thought for sure she was going to say something profound or really sweet about the baby Jesus, when she said, “You’re not going to tell us all the other 2000 Christmas stories are you?”
So, no, we’re not going to explore all 385 times worship or a word like it is mentioned. I’ve whittled it down to several verses, though. So hang on to your hats.
Genesis 22:5
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there that we may worship and may return to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac; and he took the fire and the knife in his hand. And the two went together.
שׁחה
shâchâh
shaw-khaw'
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
The first time this word is used is a few chapters before in Genesis 18. But this is the first time Shaw-khaw is translated worship. Shaw-khaw. Notice that Abraham takes wood and fire and the knife and the two went together to Moriah (Mo-ree-yaw). Moriah means “Chosen by God.” This mountain that Abraham and Isaac offer sacrifice on is the same mountain where Old Jerusalem stands. The same mountain that David bought in order to build God’s Temple and the same mountain where Solomon built the Temple. It is the same mountain where Jesus died on the cross.
Wood
Fire and a
Knife –
The Cross,
Judgment and the
Nails.
Oh, I wish we had time to camp on that awhile. This is an illustration that we don’t have time to investigate further but can’t just be passed over.
Now look a few verses higher in 22:1. Abraham is being tested. We see here that Abraham is a man of few questions of God. He obeyed. He remembered what God had promised about Isaac so he didn’t fear and he obeyed God without question. He and the boy would go over yonder and worship and return to them, the servants.
What an incredible testimony of faith and worship. He obeyed God no matter the apparent cost.
In the Old Testament, the people bowed low to worship most of the time. What does that literally mean, to bow down or to bow low? Let’s consider this for a moment. If we are proud of something, what is our stance? Standing up straight, chest out, neck back, arms wide sometimes. When we are bragging on our children, grandchildren, husband …. Fill in the blank, we are proud…stiff-necked… focused on “me”, “my” and “mine”. Right?
Here is the problem with that focus; it is inward and earthly. But, when we bow our heads and bow down, we are in the perfect position to take on the yoke of possession of God. Taking on that yoke is part of belonging to Him. It is submission. It is acknowledging that God is greater and higher and mightier than “me”, “my”, “mine”. Idols are earthly things. When we have an earthly focus we leave out God.
They are the same warning. Jesus was calling those scribes and Pharisees exactly what they were... a brood of vipers. In verse 13 of Isaiah 58, God is saying to refute that way and delight not only in deed but in heart in the LORD.
There are 5 Hebrew words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at two.
Shachah – (shaw-khaw) to bow down in homage, prostrate oneself before God or false gods or angels.
‘abad – (aw-bad’) to serve, to work, to labor or be enticed to serve.
There are 11 Greek words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at one.
Proskuneo – (pros – koo – neh – oh) to kiss the hand to/towards one in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; kneeling or prostration in homage. From a word that loosely means to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand.
I was a member of a Lay Renewal team back when I was an older teen. We called it Worship Service back then. I really liked that term. When we would have our "debriefing sessions"...some of us would say, "The Holy Spirit was really working in this!" And others would say, "You really think so? I couldn't see it!" And yes, we were at the same church on the same weekend... I have been to the exact same service as someone else and received such a deep blessing while the person beside me had to cover yawns and fight to keep awake.
What is illustrated here is that worship is definitely a 2-way street. We must work with the Holy Spirit. If we work with Him and prepare our hearts for Him then we have a completely different experience than if we just go through the motions and our heart is not in it. And if you don’t believe me, in the next few minutes, I’ll prove it. Remember the dog licking the master's hand.
Today we call our singing service before the preaching, Praise and Worship. We just spent a Wonder-Full half hour singing praises to my beloved Lord. However, I suggest to you that Worship is far more than singing, raising hands, praying, preaching and anything else we do in our Sunday Morning Worship services.
As I studied this Worship thing, it seems that God was teaching the Israelites in the OT that worshiping was different than anything else mentioned along with it. Uncountable times it reads, “Bow down and worship” or “Sing praises and worshipped.” Starting with Abraham in Genesis through Revelation, Worship or some form of it is mentioned 385 times in Scripture.
Turn with me to Genesis 22:5.
When my girls were young, about 3 and 4 years old, my Mom was so excited at Christmas because they were old enough to actually understand the Christmas story. She gathered them up in her lap and read the story to them from the Bible. When she got through, she said, “Now, that was the story of the very first Christmas almost 2000 years ago and why every year we remember Jesus’ birth at this time.” My older daughter, Lauri Anne looked up at her with her eyes wide and such a look on her face, we thought for sure she was going to say something profound or really sweet about the baby Jesus, when she said, “You’re not going to tell us all the other 2000 Christmas stories are you?”
So, no, we’re not going to explore all 385 times worship or a word like it is mentioned. I’ve whittled it down to several verses, though. So hang on to your hats.
Genesis 22:5
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there that we may worship and may return to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac; and he took the fire and the knife in his hand. And the two went together.
שׁחה
shâchâh
shaw-khaw'
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
The first time this word is used is a few chapters before in Genesis 18. But this is the first time Shaw-khaw is translated worship. Shaw-khaw. Notice that Abraham takes wood and fire and the knife and the two went together to Moriah (Mo-ree-yaw). Moriah means “Chosen by God.” This mountain that Abraham and Isaac offer sacrifice on is the same mountain where Old Jerusalem stands. The same mountain that David bought in order to build God’s Temple and the same mountain where Solomon built the Temple. It is the same mountain where Jesus died on the cross.
Wood
Fire and a
Knife –
The Cross,
Judgment and the
Nails.
Oh, I wish we had time to camp on that awhile. This is an illustration that we don’t have time to investigate further but can’t just be passed over.
Now look a few verses higher in 22:1. Abraham is being tested. We see here that Abraham is a man of few questions of God. He obeyed. He remembered what God had promised about Isaac so he didn’t fear and he obeyed God without question. He and the boy would go over yonder and worship and return to them, the servants.
What an incredible testimony of faith and worship. He obeyed God no matter the apparent cost.
In the Old Testament, the people bowed low to worship most of the time. What does that literally mean, to bow down or to bow low? Let’s consider this for a moment. If we are proud of something, what is our stance? Standing up straight, chest out, neck back, arms wide sometimes. When we are bragging on our children, grandchildren, husband …. Fill in the blank, we are proud…stiff-necked… focused on “me”, “my” and “mine”. Right?
Here is the problem with that focus; it is inward and earthly. But, when we bow our heads and bow down, we are in the perfect position to take on the yoke of possession of God. Taking on that yoke is part of belonging to Him. It is submission. It is acknowledging that God is greater and higher and mightier than “me”, “my”, “mine”. Idols are earthly things. When we have an earthly focus we leave out God.
Busy with worship, lazy in ministry
Isaiah 58
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground1"Shout! A full-throated shout!
Hold nothing back--a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
2They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people--
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, "What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
3But they also complain,
"Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'
"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your "fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
4You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
5Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, GOD, would like?
In verse 2 we see the outward show of religious fervor.
In verse 3a we see grumbling that God isn’t taking notice of their self-sacrifices
In verse 3b we see God’s answer. You make a big show, but you don’t really care about Me you care about your fattening your wallet. That isn’t what I’m all about.
In verse 4 we see Him go into greater detail. Fighting and bickering makes your worship a lie. You fight with your fists and not just words. Your prayers won’t get off the ground.
In verse 5, God gets a little cranky. Is this what you think I’m all about?
There is a lot of speculation among scholars about who this is directed to specifically. Some say it was to a specific group of Jews during the time of Isaiah’s prophesying.
Some think it’s directed those Jews who be led captive to Babylon.
Matthew Henry says it is directed to all hypocrites of all ages. I tend to agree with him.
So what were they doing wrong?
They looked good on the outside but were like whitewashed graves, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matt 23:27) Some scholars believe that Isaiah’s vision is about the Jews of Jesus’ day when he proclaims the “Woe to you” curses.
Matthew 23.
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to the disciples and in verse 3 He tells them “do as they say, but not as they do, for they say and do not.” 4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Isa 58:2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and desire knowledge of My ways. As a nation that has done right, and not forsaking the judgment of their God, they ask Me about judgments of righteousness; they desire to draw near to God.
Isaiah 58:3 … Behold, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and you drive all your laborers hard. (The employees never find a day of rest.)
In other words, the appearance of godliness, but the heart intent is not there. You fast, but you bicker and fight. You fast but you act mean.
So, again, what were they doing wrong? I believe what Isaiah is saying here correlates with Jesus’ cursing of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Only Jesus says it much harsher drop down to verse 25.
Mat 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Now compare Isaiah 58:13 If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words…
They are almost exactly the same.
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground1"Shout! A full-throated shout!
Hold nothing back--a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
2They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people--
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, "What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
3But they also complain,
"Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'
"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your "fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
4You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
5Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, GOD, would like?
In verse 2 we see the outward show of religious fervor.
In verse 3a we see grumbling that God isn’t taking notice of their self-sacrifices
In verse 3b we see God’s answer. You make a big show, but you don’t really care about Me you care about your fattening your wallet. That isn’t what I’m all about.
In verse 4 we see Him go into greater detail. Fighting and bickering makes your worship a lie. You fight with your fists and not just words. Your prayers won’t get off the ground.
In verse 5, God gets a little cranky. Is this what you think I’m all about?
There is a lot of speculation among scholars about who this is directed to specifically. Some say it was to a specific group of Jews during the time of Isaiah’s prophesying.
Some think it’s directed those Jews who be led captive to Babylon.
Matthew Henry says it is directed to all hypocrites of all ages. I tend to agree with him.
So what were they doing wrong?
They looked good on the outside but were like whitewashed graves, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matt 23:27) Some scholars believe that Isaiah’s vision is about the Jews of Jesus’ day when he proclaims the “Woe to you” curses.
Matthew 23.
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to the disciples and in verse 3 He tells them “do as they say, but not as they do, for they say and do not.” 4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Isa 58:2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and desire knowledge of My ways. As a nation that has done right, and not forsaking the judgment of their God, they ask Me about judgments of righteousness; they desire to draw near to God.
Isaiah 58:3 … Behold, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and you drive all your laborers hard. (The employees never find a day of rest.)
In other words, the appearance of godliness, but the heart intent is not there. You fast, but you bicker and fight. You fast but you act mean.
So, again, what were they doing wrong? I believe what Isaiah is saying here correlates with Jesus’ cursing of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Only Jesus says it much harsher drop down to verse 25.
Mat 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Now compare Isaiah 58:13 If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words…
They are almost exactly the same.
Ye Shall Laugh - from Louisiana
This is my favorite Pierre and Boudreaux joke.
Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines.
Boudreaux was flying da plane and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.
Suddenly da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncing around an Boudreaux da pilot got knock unconcience… Den da plane started driftin’.
Pierre him come runnin’ up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out over da steerin’ wheel. Well, Pierre don’t know no-ting bout flyin no plane and he start to get pan-a-key!
He grab da microphone and holla “May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 10210. Boudreaux him knock unconscience an I don’t know no-ting bout flyin dis here plane!”
Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines.
Boudreaux was flying da plane and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.
Suddenly da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncing around an Boudreaux da pilot got knock unconcience… Den da plane started driftin’.
Pierre him come runnin’ up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out over da steerin’ wheel. Well, Pierre don’t know no-ting bout flyin no plane and he start to get pan-a-key!
He grab da microphone and holla “May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 10210. Boudreaux him knock unconscience an I don’t know no-ting bout flyin dis here plane!”
Prayer and results
Is it so bad to want to see results of prayer?
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. Only He knows why some prayers we know are within His deepest desires (like praying for the lost to be saved) are seemingly not answered and why some prayers are answered before they are uttered.
We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His dicisples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything.
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love.
Or as The Message puts it,Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. Only He knows why some prayers we know are within His deepest desires (like praying for the lost to be saved) are seemingly not answered and why some prayers are answered before they are uttered.
We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His dicisples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything.
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love.
Or as The Message puts it,Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
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