Right out of our text today, “Are you amazed and incredulous?” What is your reaction when you think of what God has done? The people of Jerusalem were not so impressed. Many of them still didn’t believe that God would bring destruction on them. God says, “I will be your enemy, surrounding Jerusalem and attacking its walls.” We know from other messages given to Isaiah that God will raise up enemies, particularly Babylon, to crush Ariel, the City of David (i.e. Jerusalem). Blood will be spilled!
And then, just like that, the torrent will be over. “Suddenly, in an instant, I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will act for you with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire. All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream!” The people don’t realize it will be years, generations before the “instant” arrives.
What do we see in today’s reading that we can learn from? There are lots of nuggets to be sure. One of the profound messages for me is how God describes the people. “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.” In other words, we know this to be called “lip service.” You’ve probably witnessed it in your life, too. People can talk big and make you believe whatever they want. If you watch them carefully, however, you’ll see they say what they know we expect to hear from a faithful one. God can see through their charade.
I remember as a child marveling at how everyone in the congregation would say the same things over and over each week at the same time. As I grew older, I realized those words were part of our liturgical heritage. We would say the same things over and over each week. Most people wouldn’t even have to have their hymnals open any more. I pondered whether they even knew what they were saying.
Of course, that was my problem. I was the one who just said the words. I didn’t really know or pay attention to what I was saying. But if I was doing it, others had to be doing the same. Right? I think that’s why I moved away from that style of worship. I didn’t want to just be honoring God with my lips saying things like I was on auto pilot.
Another great reminder for us is that we cannot hide from God. He knows all and sees all. “What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark!” I was a willful child who liked to push the limit with my parents. I would hide things from them I knew they would not approve of. But God, he knew. We can’t hide anything from God. What must God be thinking for all those things I did? I think that’s why I go way in the opposite direction now to make sure my life is pleasing to him.
One of my favorite praise songs of all times is “Change My Heart, O God.” There are some lyrics in that song that say, “You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.” As I read in the text today about the potter, I couldn’t help but think through those lyrics, too. We must never lose sight of who created us and all that exists. We also need to remember that God doesn’t make junk. We are precious in his sight. He is crazy about us.
In closing, I love the picture God paints here of how his people will finally respond to him. He may still be waiting for the complete fulfillment of these words. “My people will no longer be ashamed or turn pale with fear. For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them, they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob. They will stand in awe of the God of Israel.” I don’t know about you, but I stand in awe of God. I love to give him credit for all the blessings around me. How are you going to respond?
Let’s pray … Lord, I thank you for how you have molded me. Continue to shape my life so that I become the woman you designed me to be. I pray that I never lose sight of your greatness. May I continue to stand in awe of you and encourage others to do the same. You have given me this mission, and I thank you for the privilege. Guide me, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
