SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 30
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern. [Isaiah 30:12-14]
A wall is built for protection, but this wall will collapse, says God.
The wall referred to is Egypt as an ally; instead of turning to God for help, they turned to their former oppressor.
But that alliance will not protect them from Assyria; they will pay a huge price for his armies to protect them, but his armies will be defeated and Israel will be defeated as well.
Their self-made wall will fail them, but there is hope: This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. [Isaiah 30:15]
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” [Luke 13:1-5]
Jesus talks about people suffering, and towers (walls) collapsing too, and He also speaks of the urgent need for repentance – In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.
The word “repentance” seems like a harsh word, people hate to be told they are wrong or sinful, and the idea of repentance is repulsive to many.
Instead they want someone to tell them that they are nice and good and innocent; they want people to build up their self-esteem.
Isaiah calls this attitude rebellious, deceptive, unwilling to listen: These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! [Isaiah 30:9-11]
“Stop telling us to repent, make us feel good and happy!”
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! [Isaiah 30:18]
God is not cruel, Jesus is not unfair, the cal to repent is the best thing He could tell us.
And He will continue to tell us; I believe that through this whole lifetime His voice is calling us to wake up and see things as they are, to repent and seek God’s help, to stop fooling ourselves and relying on human strength.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” [Isaiah 30:21]
He is that voice, He is still calling out to us today, and His message is still the same: repent or perish!
It is not an angry or judgmental word, He longs to be gracious to us, to show us compassion – but as long as we are not willing, we will remain hidden behind our deceptive and crumbling wall, and it will collapse.
Listen for His voice, still speaking to you today: This is what Jesus, the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength… [Isaiah 30:12-15]
PRAYER:
Lord, show ME where I need to repent, let me hear Your voice clearly calling me to stop relying on my own goodness or strength, and to repent and rest and quietly trust in You!