How can I even say what is going on in my life with this study of Isaiah?
The first week we covered chapters one through 4 only---although we had read through five.
This book is jam packed with toe stomping goodness.
I say goodness because anytime God begins to stomp on our toes--it means something good is coming.
Really.
There is a section in chapter 5 that really hit me. God is talking about Judah as if she were a vineyard. This is from The Message:
3-4"Now listen to what I'm telling you, you who live in Jerusalem and Judah. What do you think is going on between me and my vineyard? Can you think of anything I could have done to my vineyard that I didn't do? When I expected good grapes, why did I get bitter grapes?
God is talking about all that He has done for His people. Kind of like I feel when my children are not behaving in a Godly manner and I look at them and say--
"WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE?
I have fed you, changed your diapers, washed your dirty face and clothes. I have loved you with a mothers love and have taught you the right way to go.
WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM????? Huh? Tell me???".
God is fed up. Now this book is written for God's chosen people. It was a prophecy to them. A messsage from God through His prophet Isaiah.
And yes, there are prophecies that will include us-
The coming of Jesus the first time and when He comes again to rule and reign- are some examples.
But besides that-this book mirrors the condition of God's people today.
My heart has cried out to God so much in the past few weeks for the hearts of His children.
With a groaning that is deep and heart wrenching.
For the most part-myself included-we fall way short of the plan of God for His people.
Do we love as He loves?
Then -just there- we fall short.
Do we live life as HOLY priests of God?
Then we are not living up to His purpose for us.
Remember what I said about the stepping on of the toes?
But this must take place. We CAN NOT put on our steel toed shoes.
It is just like hardening our hearts.
After a while we will not hear the tender voice of the Spirit at all.
I don't want to give the impression of a Bible thumping, spit spewing, face red and about to explode preacher. But there is a huge message for all of us here.
When God gave this message to Isaiah it was given in love.
Given by a God who longed for the love of His people. A God who wanted His people to remember who He was because He did not want them to have to go through the discipline and punishment that was on its way.
Just like us with our children. Who of us would want our children to be sent to jail for life?
Or if we could see into the future and we knew that our children were going to become the captives to some great nation that would rise up and make them its slaves--and we could stop it---wouldn't we?
This is where we are as a world right now.
I could so get up on a soap box. But I don't think the time is right for that.
Let me jump over to the passage in chapter 6--
Dear God, how we could all use this to happen to us.
Now the Godly king Uzziah who had reigned for 52 years-had just died.
I think it really says something about the heart of Isaiah in that when this tragedy came--he headed for the temple. Where do we go when life gets rough?
Now he goes to the temple but he can not go in. Why?
Because when he gets to the door and looks in--he sees God seated on His throne and His train fills the temple. Would you walk on God's train?
Not long ago I heard someone say that the length of the train is representative of the power and authority of the individual.
Do you know how big the temple was? Huge! And the train filled the temple.
That is authority. Authority over the temple. Goodness I could preach a sermon on this.
This makes my blood pump!
So are you ready to go here with me?
Now Isaiah sees God and he knows he is done for. Remember in Exodus when God told Moses that no man could see His face and live. Poor Isaiah!
"Doom! It's Doomsday! I'm as good as dead! Every word I've ever spoken is tainted— blasphemous even! And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I've looked God in the face! The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
He is terrified. God knows the plans He has for Isaiah so He prepares him by sending the angles with a piece of coal from the altar of sacrifice to touch his lips and to remove his sins.
Notice the sins were removed after Isaiah admitted his sin.
(A foreshadowing of what would come with the sacrifice of Jesus)
Once his sin had been forgiven---Isaiah could then hear the voice of God.
God was not speaking to him when he first heard God's voice.
God was talking to Jesus or The Spirit-probably both.
And then I heard the voice of the Master: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
How cool is that? He just witnessed a conversation by the trinity. He could hear what they were saying. Kind of like us after we become a Christian and we can hear the voice of The Spirit comforting and teaching us.
And then I just love the gutsyness of Isaiah when he speaks up and says, Me! Me! Send Me!
I spoke up, "I'll go. Send me!".
Who wouldn't want to be a messenger of the Most High God-The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
Picture that last title. Can you see Him on His white horse with all the angels of heaven riding behind Him? This will happen one day--but we will be with Him.
And then satan will be in for the final SMACK DOWN!
I want to leave you with one thing to ponder.
There is now no temple of Solomon for God to sit on the throne. Yes, in heaven He sits on His throne-surrounded by the angels who cry- Holy, Holy, Holy!
But here on earth--He has a new temple.
US.
If His robe (the sign of His authority) is meant to fill the temple-
How much of that robe fills your temple?
Do the signs of His authority fill your entire life?
Does it fill my entire life?
Or are there areas that I take my hands and push or hold His train out of?
This far but no further.
Are we hearing His voice?
Have we daily submitted to the cleansing that must take place?
I am thinking on these things.
The first week we covered chapters one through 4 only---although we had read through five.
This book is jam packed with toe stomping goodness.
I say goodness because anytime God begins to stomp on our toes--it means something good is coming.
Really.
There is a section in chapter 5 that really hit me. God is talking about Judah as if she were a vineyard. This is from The Message:
3-4"Now listen to what I'm telling you, you who live in Jerusalem and Judah. What do you think is going on between me and my vineyard? Can you think of anything I could have done to my vineyard that I didn't do? When I expected good grapes, why did I get bitter grapes?
God is talking about all that He has done for His people. Kind of like I feel when my children are not behaving in a Godly manner and I look at them and say--
"WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE?
I have fed you, changed your diapers, washed your dirty face and clothes. I have loved you with a mothers love and have taught you the right way to go.
WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM????? Huh? Tell me???".
God is fed up. Now this book is written for God's chosen people. It was a prophecy to them. A messsage from God through His prophet Isaiah.
And yes, there are prophecies that will include us-
The coming of Jesus the first time and when He comes again to rule and reign- are some examples.
But besides that-this book mirrors the condition of God's people today.
My heart has cried out to God so much in the past few weeks for the hearts of His children.
With a groaning that is deep and heart wrenching.
For the most part-myself included-we fall way short of the plan of God for His people.
Do we love as He loves?
Then -just there- we fall short.
Do we live life as HOLY priests of God?
Then we are not living up to His purpose for us.
Remember what I said about the stepping on of the toes?
But this must take place. We CAN NOT put on our steel toed shoes.
It is just like hardening our hearts.
After a while we will not hear the tender voice of the Spirit at all.
I don't want to give the impression of a Bible thumping, spit spewing, face red and about to explode preacher. But there is a huge message for all of us here.
When God gave this message to Isaiah it was given in love.
Given by a God who longed for the love of His people. A God who wanted His people to remember who He was because He did not want them to have to go through the discipline and punishment that was on its way.
Just like us with our children. Who of us would want our children to be sent to jail for life?
Or if we could see into the future and we knew that our children were going to become the captives to some great nation that would rise up and make them its slaves--and we could stop it---wouldn't we?
This is where we are as a world right now.
I could so get up on a soap box. But I don't think the time is right for that.
Let me jump over to the passage in chapter 6--
Dear God, how we could all use this to happen to us.
Now the Godly king Uzziah who had reigned for 52 years-had just died.
I think it really says something about the heart of Isaiah in that when this tragedy came--he headed for the temple. Where do we go when life gets rough?
Now he goes to the temple but he can not go in. Why?
Because when he gets to the door and looks in--he sees God seated on His throne and His train fills the temple. Would you walk on God's train?
Not long ago I heard someone say that the length of the train is representative of the power and authority of the individual.
Do you know how big the temple was? Huge! And the train filled the temple.
That is authority. Authority over the temple. Goodness I could preach a sermon on this.
This makes my blood pump!
So are you ready to go here with me?
Now Isaiah sees God and he knows he is done for. Remember in Exodus when God told Moses that no man could see His face and live. Poor Isaiah!
"Doom! It's Doomsday! I'm as good as dead! Every word I've ever spoken is tainted— blasphemous even! And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I've looked God in the face! The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
He is terrified. God knows the plans He has for Isaiah so He prepares him by sending the angles with a piece of coal from the altar of sacrifice to touch his lips and to remove his sins.
Notice the sins were removed after Isaiah admitted his sin.
(A foreshadowing of what would come with the sacrifice of Jesus)
Once his sin had been forgiven---Isaiah could then hear the voice of God.
God was not speaking to him when he first heard God's voice.
God was talking to Jesus or The Spirit-probably both.
And then I heard the voice of the Master: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
How cool is that? He just witnessed a conversation by the trinity. He could hear what they were saying. Kind of like us after we become a Christian and we can hear the voice of The Spirit comforting and teaching us.
And then I just love the gutsyness of Isaiah when he speaks up and says, Me! Me! Send Me!
I spoke up, "I'll go. Send me!".
Who wouldn't want to be a messenger of the Most High God-The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
Picture that last title. Can you see Him on His white horse with all the angels of heaven riding behind Him? This will happen one day--but we will be with Him.
And then satan will be in for the final SMACK DOWN!
I want to leave you with one thing to ponder.
There is now no temple of Solomon for God to sit on the throne. Yes, in heaven He sits on His throne-surrounded by the angels who cry- Holy, Holy, Holy!
But here on earth--He has a new temple.
US.
If His robe (the sign of His authority) is meant to fill the temple-
How much of that robe fills your temple?
Do the signs of His authority fill your entire life?
Does it fill my entire life?
Or are there areas that I take my hands and push or hold His train out of?
This far but no further.
Are we hearing His voice?
Have we daily submitted to the cleansing that must take place?
I am thinking on these things.
9 comments:
Good stuff... I love everything out of Isaiah...
I love how you talked about the steel toe shoes being like hardening our hearts...
thank you....
love ya girl
Connie
Thank you for sharing this, really wonderful stuff.
AMEN Sister...Preach on!!!! I can so hear the intensity in your voice. I look around at the women in Bible study and they are there just to fill in some blanks behind a question. Don't get me wrong I'm know where near where I need to be and at the place you are referring to in this post....BUT my heart longs to!! I desire to be like Caleb one who has a "different spirit" about them.
I was so hoping that you would share with us what God is placing on your heart during this study.
Let's go....
Wow! Powerful stuff! Powerful. Good stuff to chew on, for awhile. To pray on. To seek Him. To hear His vocie. Surely we all have areas we are NOT allowing His train to come into. When I think on it I can get fearful. Fearful of the way my God might sanctify me, the way He might prepare my heart to be ready to be obedient more and more...then I remember that He is sufficient, that His will is good acceptable and perfect, that He loves me with an everlasting love. Here I am send me! Yes! Whew! Love this stuff!
You are such an inspiration Sharon - and you have such a sweet heart! Have a good evening - Kellan
As with Isaiah..... the closer that one gets to the temple where the glory abides....... all of oneself falls away... there is no need in the presence of God.... there is nothing that we need to ask of Him for in Him is where all life abides so there is nothing that we need....there is also no sin ...the closer that we take ourselves to the Glory of the Father the more OUR sin is magnified and we have a tendency to shrink back...... Christianity is comfortable in the outer court where we are save and content..... but when we are wooed into the temple, into the Holy of Holies we have to understand that the very first thing that will happen will be that the sin in our life will be dealt with first.......... I have found in my own life and in lives of others that I have worshiped with, prayed with, taught and shouted with is that there is pain when we first enter into that place and we see ourselves as "undone" .......... However if we will just allow the Holiness of Him to penetrate into our very soul..........He will then refine us to the task that He has called us too................. it is a place that the greater percentage of Christians will not go............... But if He asks............ Who will I send.......... I pray that we will respond........ send me Lord......... for there is a generation to be gained.............
great post and it did my heart good............ I am deep into thought tonight and will possibly post on it latter tonight.......
blessings my friend
How did I miss this? Must've been during a "quiet time"?
So much good here...but, what comes to mind most is this...
I love the knowledge that He understand that feeling of "what more could I have done?" I mean my heart breaks that He has felt that pain, but it encourages me at the same time!
:) Thanks!
Thank you! I did not fully understand a dream God had given me until you wrote cleary about the "Train"
I saw a wedding going on, the Cush wedding (one who is not in touch with her inner man). My flesh was one of the bride’s maid and I thought, oh I (my spirit) was suppose to be apart of the wedding party; God has called me to help the bride get ready. I had better get my dress on, it was hunter green (healing) and get up there. I will slip in the back door of the alter. As I saw the back door by the alter I saw the bride’s train. It was not in the temple, but shut out in the outer court.
If His robe (the sign of His authority) is meant to fill the temple- How much of that robe fills your temple?
Do the signs of His authority fill your entire life? Does it fill my entire life? Or are there areas that I take my hands and push or hold His train out of? This far but no further.
God's Handmaiden--
I hope you come back because I would love to visit your blog but you have not opened your browser settings for me to be able to get past your profile page.
Either open it or give me your https....that is if you want visitors.
Thanks Sharon
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