Pardon
Good Morning,
Isaiah 1:2 “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.”
vs. 3 “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.”
vs. 4 “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”
For generations, Israel had received the most amazing blessings from God, not of their own merit but of grace, a gift from God. Now, after turning away from God over and over, God asks the rhetorical question as a parent to a foolish child, “Why did you do that?” There is no answer that is appropriate. Rebellion is born in the heart of men and no matter how good God has been, we are prone to wander.
Watching the invocation of the political conventions in recent years has revealed much. An invocation, by definition, is the request for assistance from a superior power. One side had a humble spirit of bowed heads as solemn and needy words were spoken to a Superior Power. The other had cheers, boos, and irreverence similar to a party or live band show at which some attendees liked the music and others disliked it.
The first was, at least outwardly, symbolic of a people who knew their need; the other appeared to be a group of 60s college students who wanted more beer.
The statement from God in Isaiah 2:1 reads, “…I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.”
Then God points out that their rebellion against Him was accompanied by a terrible price.
vs. 7 “Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.”
It appears that one of the things God does when a nation forgets Him is to let strangers ruin the land. Whether it be terrorists or criminal immigrants, certainly, America is being devoured by strangers. The amount of money being spent on imprisonment, education, and health care of non-citizens has become absurd. If the trouble caused by terrorists within our borders is added, then yes, "your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate" can be said of our land without stretching the text at all. We can also point out the political and legal overthrow of some European nations by Islam and see that they are "overthrown by strangers."
Considering the moral shame of the people, God calls Israel, “Sodom,” and urges them to get back to the Bible.
vs. 10 “Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.”
The result of their rebellion was a lack of safety. Israel became vulnerable like a cottage in a vineyard, unprotected.
vs. 8 “And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.”
vs. 9 “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”
When we think we are safe, due to our own abilities, we are in grave danger; for there is no way to defend an entire nation, especially not with modern travel and communications. No matter the candidate, the safety of America will rest in the hands of the Lord and no one else.
Psalm 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”
Accusations and questions continue:
Isaiah 1:21 “How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.”
God asks, “How did this happen?” The nation went from being a land of righteousness to a land full of murder. How much more so could God be asking these questions of America with our millions of abortions annually?
Continuing in His accusations against the rebellious land, God points to political leaders who seek after the biggest donation; contributions are no more than bribes, whether it be from a foreign nation or a U.S.-based business:
vs. 23 “Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards:”
The hope comes later in the chapter with a bright spot like the early dawn:
vs. 25 “And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:”
vs. 26 “And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
Where does it start? With God, in mercy, giving us good judges! Wow, this example mirrors our nation! Is that not what we need in order to turn the nation back to decency? I do not know if that is God’s intent for America, but it would be well worth praying for, knowing we need to be purged and cleansed of our shame. Of course, this is a promise to Israel, but might God see fit to apply it to America as well. If God would care to purge and pardon our nation, how grateful we all should be that the Creator might even consider us worthy of His attention. We truly need to seek the Lord, while He is near.
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
Pastor