BC Devotion #24 - Have You Discovered Isaiah 58?

Isaiah 58 is one of the most inspiring chapters in the Bible, but for much of my life I don’t recall being aware of it at all. Around 1996, Janet and I were pursuing special needs adoption. We had done everything to be eligible, and were considering several special needs children. Seeking God for direction, Janet “discovered” Isaiah 58 in her personal devotional time, and the passage helped us gain confidence to aggressively pursue the adoption of a particular little boy. In the end, God did not open that door for us; another family that was probably better suited to his needs became his family. But soon thereafter, Janet and I became immersed in children’s ministry at Timothy Baptist Church, and it seemed like we had dozens of new children. Over the years, we have encountered a steady stream of special ministry opportunities with special people that we met at Timothy, then later at the Bread of Life Church, ChristWalk Ministries and Jubilee House for men, and more recently at The Sparrow’s Nest Mission Church. (Over the years and through these adventures, our "home base" has been Watkinsville FBC.) If you are not familiar with this special chapter, take some time to consider its message. “…and the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a well watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail …”

BC Devotion #23 Isaiah 59: There Was No One to Intercede

My favorite Old Testament word occurs five times in Isaiah 59, but the report is not good. “They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks (8) ... Justice is far from us (9) … We hope for justice, but there is none (11) … Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter. (14)” Individual and corporate sin, dishonesty, schemes of mischief and iniquity, turning away from God, oppression and revolt, lead to confusion, violence, and destruction. “We grope along the wall like blind men … we growl like bears and moan sadly like doves.” Connected to this sentiment is a theme which is expressed several times in Isaiah - God’s disappointment in a lack of human leadership ... “Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And he saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede.” Isaiah 59:15-16 Is it the case that men and women never step up to the challenge? Scripture and history indicates that there are many examples to the contrary. We could even say that one of the main purposes of life on earth is to give us the opportunity to answer God’s call in the face of ungodly and unjust circumstances. For many that will become a leadership opportunity. The lack of human leadership often noted by the prophet stands in contrast to cases in which a man or woman is used by God for divine purposes. Consider how God used Cyrus .. “Whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.” Further, God indicates “I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free.” (Isaiah 45:1,2,13) If we are available like Cyrus, Perhaps God will take us by the hand and use us as an agent of deliverance. If, however, there is no man or woman to be that leader in the circumstance of oppression, God promises “I will answer them myself.” (see 41:17). God’s consistent response to human failure is to intervene himself. Here in chapter 59, the prophet expresses ..“Then his own arm brought salvation to Him. And he but on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head.” May we exhibit in our own life and ministry God’s zeal for justice, righteousness, and truth.