Friday, September 26, 2008

Isaiah 46

4 comments:

Unknown said...

"I have carried you since you were born, I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray I will take care of you. I will carry you and save you." (vv3-4)

"Listen to me you stubborn people, who are far from what is right." (v12)

Again the faithful devotion of God versus the idolatry and relational harlotry of His people. I couldn't help but think again, how are we any different? We are just as stubborn, and just as blind to the things we put up on pedestals that rival for His attention. When He is here, wanting to be an integral,no THE CENTRAL person and part of my every breath and action, and yet I turn to so many other things to fulfill me. And I'm stubborn to admit it. I don't *want* to admit these things rival God for my attention, my devotion, my passion.

I'm stubborn alright.

Unknown said...

sorry, I got distracted and thought I was done, but I forgot to say that this passage made me think of a faithful spouse, caring for a rebellious wife (like Hosea and Gomer), and while she continues to treat Him second rate or much, much worse, he continues to love her with an undying love and pursue her and shower her with his care and support. And yet she would rather be somewhere else, with someone else, doing something else. My heart is just aching thinking about this.

Not that we can't "enjoy" places, people and things, but they must pale in comparison to our love and desire for Him. Why is this such a constant battle? Is it because we don't "see" Him? Because it's a "spiritual" relationship and we are all about physical gratification? I don't know. I remember when P-Guy and I were courting (because it was a courtship rather than a dating relationship), it was long distance, it was a letter a day. It was moments on the phone, continents apart but one in spirit. It was not hard, it was beautiful. Why should it be any different with my Lord? I have His letters at my fingertips, His love in my heart and His gifts surrounding me. How can I be so unfaithful and self centred so as to be constantly pulled away by other interests?

Berry Girl said...

interesting with the long-distance relationship analogy.

I think the phrase I have in my head right now is "practicing the presence of God"?
I've been mulling over something that I read by Henri Nouwen a long long long time ago - I finally dug out the book and looked at it again:

"It seems that in fact we live as if we should give as much of our heart, soul, and mind as possible to our fellow human beings, while trying hard not to forget God...He asks for a single-minded commitment to God and God alone...It is this unconditional and unreserved love for God that leads to the care for our neighbour, not as an activity which distracts us from God or competes with our attention to God, but as an expression of our love for God who reveals Himselfto us as the God of all people. It is in God that we find our neighbours and discover our responsibility to them...only in God does our neighbour become a neighbour rather than an infringement upon our autonomy..."

Unknown said...

this is perfect. Thanks so much for looking it up. Practicing His presence is one of my main goals at this point in my walk. I am writing this down and will be chewing on it for awhile I'm sure. Sometimes such "obvious" things can ellude us huh? And then the lightbulb goes on.... sweet.