Hear the word of the Lord

Xanthe Galanis

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol." Isaiah 66:2-3

Isaiah ends with a picture of God's final judgment and the reward of the righteous in the earth made new. God’s glory will be proclaimed to all nations and people from all nations will come to him and worship. A new heaven and a new earth are revealed. What a marvelous conclusion to this beautiful word declared through Isaiah!

But although Isaiah 66 ends on a note of apocalyptic decisiveness and hope (v18-24), the beginning of the chapter provides one more warning:  “This is the one I esteem,” God says: “he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (v 66:2). A few verses later, Isaiah directly addresses the faithful as “you who tremble at his word” (v66:5). They are contrasted with those who do not answer or listen when the Lord calls and speaks (v66:4). These key verses summarise Isaiah's message, the opposite of sin is not religion but humble obedience.

In every generation, what ultimately distinguishes the true from the false among God’s people is not those who put on the best show of being a Christian, it’s those who remain faithful to the Word of God.

Do you tremble at God's word? Do you take God's words seriously or do you expect God to conform to your own wishes, desires and expectations? Do you accept those parts of the Bible that you agree with - and reject those that you consider inconvenient or wrong? If God's word conflicts with your culture, which do you follow?

Prayer: Father, thank you for your word. Help me trust your word and remain faithful to it each day as you take my life and shape me for your purposes, for your glory. Amen