Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
Oh, what compelling verses these are! With companion verses in Mark and Matthew.
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
Oh, what compelling verses these are! With companion verses in Mark and Matthew.
Mark 13:19-20
If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
(See also Matthew 24:21-22)
If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
(See also Matthew 24:21-22)
Isa 57:8a
Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols.
We may think we can hide our wicked ways, but not so.
The fate of the wicked is found in the remaining verses of Isaiah 57.
The fate of the wicked is found in the remaining verses of Isaiah 57.
Isa 57:12
I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.
What a convicting verse this is! Even though we may do good works, if we do not honor the Lord in what we do, or if we follow the ways of the wicked, seems as if the bad cancels out some of the good. It reminds us of some of the kings, especially Asa. If we are not believers in Jesus, it doesn't matter how many good works we do.
I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.
What a convicting verse this is! Even though we may do good works, if we do not honor the Lord in what we do, or if we follow the ways of the wicked, seems as if the bad cancels out some of the good. It reminds us of some of the kings, especially Asa. If we are not believers in Jesus, it doesn't matter how many good works we do.
IKing 15:14
Although he did not remove the high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.
Asa was fully committed, yet he held on to the ways of the wicked. He was righteous in many ways and in his many works, but what God was looking for in Asa and also in all of us, it that we will be fully committed to Him AND we will destroy our “high places”, whatever form those "high places" may take.
Although he did not remove the high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.
Asa was fully committed, yet he held on to the ways of the wicked. He was righteous in many ways and in his many works, but what God was looking for in Asa and also in all of us, it that we will be fully committed to Him AND we will destroy our “high places”, whatever form those "high places" may take.
Isa 57:15b
"I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
What an amazing thought. This Master of the universe, who lives in unapproachable light, in a high and holy place, wants to live within us!
"I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
What an amazing thought. This Master of the universe, who lives in unapproachable light, in a high and holy place, wants to live within us!
Isaiah 58 gives some information about the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is a day of “rest”. This “rest” means so much more than stretching out on the hammock, under a shady tree in the back yard and taking a little snooze. “Rest” means to rest in God’s unfailing love, to rest in His mercy, His goodness, His faithfulness, His grace; to rest in His promises; to rest in trusting Him. Ultimately “rest” is eternal salvation, to rest forever with Him. We honor Him on a Sabbath day by not going our “own way” and “speaking idle words”. So exactly when is the Sabbath day? Using the definitions above, sounds like every day should be a Sabbath day!
The Sabbath day not only refers to the weekly Sabbath, but also to God's Holy Days, His feast and festival days. They too are His Sabbaths. We honor Him by observing these days.
The Sabbath day not only refers to the weekly Sabbath, but also to God's Holy Days, His feast and festival days. They too are His Sabbaths. We honor Him by observing these days.
Also in Isaiah 58 God warns about giving Him only "lip service". God knows the heart and knows when we are only pretending to follow His commands.
There are great promises in Isaiah 58 for those who are truly following His commands. He says your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12
Isaiah was referring to the people of his day but we can make spiritual connections today. Truth tellers seek to rebuild the basic foundations of the faith.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
This was another very convicting verse for us today. When we examined our prayers, we realized that we have been neglectful in confessing our sins, BEFORE we begin to petition Him for requests. Something easily remedied.
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