Read
The Lord Will Punish
1 I, the Lord, was ready
to answer even those
who were not asking
and to be found by those
who were not searching.
To a nation that refused
to worship me,
I said, “Here I am!”
2 All day long I have reached out
to stubborn and sinful people
going their own way.
3They keep making me angry
by sneering at me,
while offering sacrifices
to idols in gardens
and burning incense
to them on bricks.
4They spend their nights
hiding in burial caves;
they eat the meat of pigs,
cooked in sauces
made of stuff unfit to eat.
5And then they say to others,
“Don't come near us!
We're dedicated to God.”
Such people are like smoke,
irritating my nose all day.
6I have written this down;
I won't keep silent.
I'll pay them back
just as their sins deserve.
7I, the Lord, will make them pay
for their sins and for those
of their ancestors—
they have disgraced me
by burning incense
on mountains.
The Lord's New Creation
17 I am creating new heavens
and a new earth;
everything of the past
will be forgotten.
18Celebrate and be glad forever!
I am creating a Jerusalem,
full of happy people.
19 I will celebrate with Jerusalem
and all its people;
there will be no more crying
or sorrow in that city.
20No child will die in infancy;
everyone will live
a very long life.
Anyone a hundred years old
will be considered young,
and to die younger than that
will be considered a curse.
21My people will live
in the houses they build;
they will enjoy grapes
from their own vineyards.
22No one will take away
their homes or vineyards.
My chosen people will live
to be as old as trees,
and they will enjoy
what they have earned.
23Their work won't be wasted,
and their children won't die
of dreadful diseases.
I will bless their children
and their grandchildren.
24I will answer their prayers
before they finish praying.
25 Wolves and lambs
will graze together;
lions and oxen
will feed on straw.
Snakes will eat only dirt!
They won't bite or harm anyone
on my holy mountain.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Reflect
The story is told of an illiterate woman who a couple of years after hearing and believing the gospel and experiencing the goodness of God in a multiplicity of ways, genuinely asked her well-educated daughter in their local language: “I hear us speaking all the time of us serving God but really, come to think of it, is it not God rather who is serving us?”
You can say that again! What kind of God is this? Behold what profound love he lavishes on the undeserving like you and me! Indeed “Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us.” (1 John 4:10)
Today’s passage opens and closes with picturesque expressions of a proactive, unconditional and unrelenting lover, bending over backwards, almost ‘forcing himself’ upon us: “I, the Lord, was ready to answer even those who were not asking and to be found by those who were not searching. To a nation that refused to worship me, I said, “Here I am!” All day long I have reached out…” “I will answer their prayers before they finish praying.” (vv 1-2, 24) Sandwiched between these two ends is a stark contrast between a very evil people deserving of nothing but judgment (2-7) and such a good place prepared for the undeserving (17-25).
God’s love is indescribable, unfathomable. No wonder one Christian writer calls it “crazy love.” Even while we were still sinners and spitting in his face he sent his only begotten son to die for us (Romans 5:8). Will you take a prolonged time today to ponder his love for you, then break out in thanks, praise and worship? And to think he’s preparing a place for us where that will be a full-time occupation for all of eternity. That’s really awesome!
Respond
Abba, Father, in your infinite goodness you formed me. Thank you. Whenever I’ve been uninterested in you or messed up, even before I know it you come after me to save and bless. Your love is truly unfathomable and I just want to worship you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Yaw Perbi
Dr. Yaw Perbi is a physician, pastor and president of International Student Ministries Canada (ISMC). He is the founder and Global CEO of The HuD Group and has ministered in 45 countries on five continents. Yaw is a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative and a Lausanne Movement Catalyst. Dr. Perbi currently resides in Montreal, Canada with his dear wife Anyele and six delightful children. He owes all this to Christ Jesus.