Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 72

versebyverse | August 12, 2008 18:45

Scripture:  Isaiah 3:24 (NIV):  "Instead of fragrance there will be stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding."

Thought:  To me, outer ugliness can become a stepping stone to knowing and thanking God.

Question:  Do I find God when He judges me?

Yesterday, we saw God stripping the women of their outer luxuries in judgment.  This continues, but in addition to eliminating their idolatrous accoutrements, He now initiates ugliness.  How clearly and bluntly God contrasts rich blessing against harsh loss and suffering!  Surely their situation should awaken them to their inner condition. All that these women created for themselves as their "worlds of security" have been removed.  When the vain trappings are taken away, their true, ungodly, unappealing and sinful condition should be evident to them now.

I think without experienceing ugliness once in a while, we have no contrastive elements for comparison.  Without seeing our sinfulness, we cannot realize Holiness as a desired goal.  And without comparison, we slip into a tendency to take everything for granted.  Appreciation for all that God has given and allowed us to enjoy is vital.  If we lack gratefulness to God for the small things mentioned here, we will be unable to be thankful for larger things.  God's judgment strikes at the heart of Israel's ungratefulness.  It strikes at the heart of their forgetfulness of Who God is, that is, their most Holy Father.  They, and we, need to be brought back to remembrance.  Thank God His judgments can do that!

Prayer:  Merciful Father, thank You for Your healing judgments!  Reveal my sinfulness to me, Father, that I may confess it and be freed.  Amen. 

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