Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Isaiah 6

Verses 5-12

Then I said, “How long, O Lord? And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
Without inhabitant,
And houses without people
And the land is utterly desolate;
Until the LORD sends everyone far away’
And vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.
NRSV

You read this scripture and you may say, “What a gloomy scripture. Who needs to read this for a devotional?” You see, in much the same way we hear of God’s goodness and mercy we need to hear of His divine judgment. We need to know that if we are doing things that are untoward, there will be consequences. This scripture, besides having a historical value, is also a lesson. Divine justice is always sure. Israel was in the height of apostasy and God told the prophet Isaiah exactly what He would to do them. Isaiah was further distressed about this because Israel was already going through hard times. As the go-between between the people and Jehovah he cried in anguish, ‘how long?’
All of us can attest to God’s goodness. We can also attest to God’s merciful nature. How many times have we cheated death, escaped some terrible disease or overcome some debilitating illness? We may not even be aware of the times that God has snatched us from danger. God is good but God also punishes us when we step out of line. The scriptures say no sin goes unpunished. This scripture is a reminder that, as far as is possible, we must not contravene God’s laws and edicts. We must avoid presumptuous sin at all costs. Let us be aware that we have a responsibility to do what is right in God’s sight and conversely let’s be encouraged that if we sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.