Isaiah 65:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 65:1-9 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 65I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that did not call on my name. Verse 2I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; Verse 3a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; Verse 4who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; Verse 5who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. Verse 6See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps Verse 7their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions.
Verse 8Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it," so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. Verse 9I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.
Devotion
Of my many personality shortcomings, one is my intolerance for those whom I observe doing wrong. Seeing bullies pushing the weak around for the simple reason that they can, makes my blood boil. Most often it doesn’t even concern me. I wonder how God can put up with what we humans do. The prophet relates that God, though seeing all the people’s disobedience, yet realizes that there are still some who are righteous, and declares that many will perish but not all. A remnant will remain to carry on the mission of Yahweh. Martin Luther commented on this text: “Through his Gospel God can make the supreme tyrants (bullies) of the world subject to a simple man and preacher, even though these tyrants were lions and wolves. God can turn enemies into friends. They shall feed together.” God’s desire is for peace and freedom to serve.
Prayer
Gracious God, we seek your forgiveness and pray your Spirit will guide us to righteousness and justice so your peace may prevail. Amen.
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