SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 59
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. [Isaiah 59:1-2]
According to Isaiah, the suffering and hardship that Israel is experiencing is not because of any limitation in God’s power, but because of their immoral, violent, sinful behaviour.
They are living a reckless, dangerous lifestyle, therefore they cannot blame God for their lack of peace.
The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. [Isaiah 59:8]
Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. [Isaiah 59:10]
They are stumbling because they are willfully blind, shutting their eyes to God and good and truth – and therefore they are stumbling, and others stumble with them.
Jesus also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? [Luke 6:39]
Apparently Jesus saw the same problem: those who were blind to God (the religious leaders) were misleading the others, everyone was stumbling and struggling.
But God’s purpose in sending Jesus was to expose this blindness, to bring light into darkness and show people the way out, the way of God.
Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. [John 9:39-41]
As long as we deny our blindness, we remain blind; in humility we need to admit our lack of clarity, understanding, focus… we need to be honest with God that we need His help to see things better.
God wants to open our eyes, to help us to see and learn and live according to the truth.
“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. [Isaiah 59:21]
God promises His Spirit’s help to those who are humble and willing to listen and learn.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [John 14:25-26]
His Spirit will give us insight into our hearts, our lives, our struggles; His Spirit will give us God sight into the things that really matter, the way things really are.
Those who admit they need help seeing, will get that help; those that refuse to admit it will stumble in the dark.
PRAYER:
Lord, open my eyes to my own confusion, deception, blindness. Help me to see myself and You and others and life through Your eyes. Lord, give me Your Spirit that I may see!
This chapter starts with man going after his own ways, walking in his own path doing as he wills – edging God out. He is self serving, making himself the king of his own castle at any cost. He is following his own created light, walking like blind men because once again, the people have eyes but can not see. Their own created lights cause them to stumble and fall. They are blind and therefore groping – using the braille method in their walking. And still they stumble and fall because they are not able to find justice and truth and righteousness. They have turned their backs to the LightSource. God!
Open my eyes Lord! that I might see You always in all I do and say. Open my ears Lord so I may hear Your Word for me today. This is the Way. Walk in it!
God’s Word speaks about eyes more than 500 times and ears more than 100 times to show His people how important it is to have this LifeSource. Eyes that see His daily presence in our lives. Ears to hear His Word for our lives. And mouths to speak His Words from day to day. Breathe on me breathe of God. As You have promised, may Your Spirit be upon me.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Blend all my soul with Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.