“They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of His hands. Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst. Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down, her revelers and he who exults in her. Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows Himself holy in righteousness.” Isaiah 5:12-16
Devotional Thought For The Day
The contrast is between the affluent in Israel who have devoted themselves to enjoying the sophistication and partying of the worldly minded – of those who have no regard for God and His works, versus those who are humbly devoted to God, to His holiness and righteousness. The consequences are momentous, not only in what is lost and the morbid spiritual condition of such people, but also in God’s condemnation and judgment of those who “revel” in impenitence and immorality. Not contemplated is a complimentary mixture of joy, gratitude, celebration of God’s loving works of creation and redemption, and humble devotion to fulfilling His will and purposes. Some consider this impossible, but it can be seen in the social life of Jesus described in the Gospels. At the very least, it is extremely difficult for sinful human beings to maintain this balance properly.
It is devastating when human beings become enamored with entertainment and partying to the point that they no longer even regard the will and work of God. Such lack of deference for God results in an ignorance that brings suffering and death – “their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst . . . Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down.” Isaiah is describing people of Israel, people who are supposed to be part of the “church,” the people of God. So the warning is not directed to those “outside” of the church, but rather to those who are within the fellowship of God’s people, which includes each of us. [1 Cor. 5:11-13] We are warned against allowing the cares and deceitfulness of riches to destroy our faith and cause disregard of God; those who succumb to this impenitence and unbelief will not be spared.
It seems today that many people within the church continue to struggle with the balance. They are not completely disregarding of God’s works and ignorant of His will, but they are lured, and many have succumbed, to elevating the things of this world over the life of the church. The partying, and all of the activities that are associated with privilege and prerogative [what wealth enables us to do], take precedence over the life and vitality of the church. When called away from this “lukewarmness” and back to greater devotion, and encouraged to pay greater heed to holiness and righteousness [even to greater faithfulness in worship, and to the study of God’s Word], they decline, and the reasons given demonstrate what they hold more valuable and important than God’s deeds and work. And truthfully, this is devaluing and disregarding the deeds of God. It should be apparent to all of us where this leads if left unchecked – we all know people who formerly worshiped and studied and worked with us for the health of the church who are no longer seen at all around church because these others things have captivated them entirely and torn them away from the gifts of God.
The solution is not a devotion to a form of piety that denies the joy of God’s salvation and the freedom which Christ has provided for us. This also leads to a disregard for the deeds and works of God, the redemption He has provided for us in Christ Jesus, His gracious gift of forgiveness and cleansing of our sin which provides the holiness and righteousness of God bestowed upon those who believe. Those who pursue their own holiness and righteousness apart from the humility of repentance and faith in God’s redemption have fallen away from God, and they likewise will not be spared. Such piety is indeed lack of knowledge of God and spiritual poverty, evidenced by the fact that they are completely unaware of their condition and utterly opposed to repenting. Their focus upon their own works makes them oblivious to God’s work on our behalf. Rather, the balance is maintained precisely by rejoicing in God’s works, His gracious forgiveness and mercy, and rejoicing in all that we have as gifts from God. This yields joyful moderation, continuing repentance, courage and comfort in God’s gracious mercy and love, and a deep commitment to God’s will for mankind, especially what He effects within the life of the church.
Even in judgment this is what God seeks, when He humbles us and brings us low. For He remains ever close at hand with His gracious mercy and love, with His works of salvation, recalling us to the joys of His salvation. And this is what the life of the church is about, what He wills for it, where we do indeed regard His deeds and receive the work of His hands! So let us heed His warning lest we drift and fall away – either to licentious disregard for God, or to self-righteous ignorance of His works!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to pass through our time in this world with ever increasing knowledge of Your wondrous works and deeds, with full joy and thanksgiving for all of Your great blessings. Forbid that we allow the things You have blessed us with to draw us into disregard for You, or to decide that we will pursue piety apart from Your gift of salvation. Continue to strengthen Your church in faith and devotion that we may see and rejoice in the work You are doing in our midst even today. Amen.