Friday 16 December 2016
- Bible Book:
- Isaiah
“And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, ‘Away with you!’” (vv. 21-22)
Psalm: Psalm 73:15-28
Background
This is a passage about God's promises that, like so many othersin Isaiah, comes after darker prophetic passages with headings inour Bibles of "The futility of reliance on Egypt" (
In this case the darker earlier sections of the chapter arequite specific and direct. Trusting in Egypt (reliance on Egypt tosupport Hezekiah's rebellion 703-701BC) is taken to be a failure totrust in the Lord and the consequences are humiliation andshame.
Verses 8 to 17 are a critique of the people's desire forpopulist prophets who speak only comfortable words. This warns ofthe dangers of oppression and deceit.
Now we come to the far more hopeful words … Here the people arereminded of the nature of God to be gracious (ie loving even whenlove is not deserved) and that God can be trusted to hear and toanswer (although given the preceding verses this is not necessarilyimmediately).
The references to the "Teacher" (v. 20) are surely Isaiahreferring to himself, possibly as a protest to Jerusalem's relianceon false sources of security. Isaiah promises to be there evenwhile they wait for God.
Verse 21 was quoted by John Wesley in a number of his sermons,perhaps seeing himself as the teacher who encourages people in thediscipline (suggested by verses 21-22) needed to walk this way ofdiscipleship. The way that is God's way is not spelled out hereapart from the need to listen and free yourself from all idols.
From verse 23 onwards we see a set of beautiful images of God'skingdom, a place of plenty and safety where God cares for thepeople.
These promises of hope are in some ways tied to particularpeople in a particular time and place. Yet they also have atimeless quality as they refer not just to what was to come forthose people, but also look forward to the kingdom of God that isstill not fully realised,
To Ponder
- How does this passage fit with your understanding of the natureof God?
- What does the instruction "This is the way; walk in it." meanfor you?
- What might be the equivalents to "silver-covered idols" and"gold-plated images" for you that you need to get rid of?