Isaiah 1
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand. 4 Woe, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!
It feels as pertinent now as it did then. The Middle East continues to be a land of turmoil and war. Currently Israel and Palestine are in the midst of a heated conflict and the civilian population of Palestine is suffering and dying. I feel as if Isaiah would have a word or two to share with Israel. A call to return to the LORD to end their iniquity, to not deal corruptly with others. To me Israel seems to be a nation that has lost it’s way and many Palestinian civilians are dying as a result. The conflict is boiling over across the globe and in our nation too. Supporters of Israel are clashing with supporters of Palestine and its ugly all around. This is why I’m drawn to Isaiah, because it was written in a time like this and can be of particular guidance in such times. Listen to the Lord, deal Justly with others, show them mercy, do not conform to the ways of the world returning evil for evil but seek out God’s way.
When the Assyrians were approaching King Hezekiah returned the people to worshiping God and they were not destroyed. I pray for such leadership today, not to avoid conquest because today it is Israel who stands as conqueror but rather so they do not lose themselves morally. May God’s Justice prevail may we all return to the LORD
Peace,
Pastor Jamie