Isaiah 29:1 – 41:18

Overview

Today we learn about the judgment that God will bring upon Jerusalem.   We also see a foreshadowing of Christ as a righteous King in Chapter 32.  In contrast the very same chapter speaks of the desolation that will come and then concludes with the restoration a few sentences later.  Finally, Isaiah announces the judgment of all of the nations.   The great and powerful Assyria has attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them.  Assyria is now ready to attack Jerusalem but God himself defends the city by striking down the army of Assyria.  Later the king of Assyria is killed.   King Hezekiah is faced with an illness that will take his life.  He cries out to God in prayer and later learns that God will allow him to live 15 more years.  Envoys from Babylon hear of his illness and send an envoy with gifts and get well greetings.  While visiting, the envoy sees all of the riches in the kings treasury.  Isaiah prophesy’s that all the king has of value will be taken by Babylon.

Scripture Isaiah 29:13

13 The Lord says:    “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Observation

The Prophet Isaiah

The Prophet Isaiah

With all of the judgments taking place in Isaiah, it is easy to miss why God is so angry.  One reason is because of the heart of the nation.  The people are paying lip service to God.  They worship God with their mouth and honor Him with their lips but that is all.  They are going through the motions.  All they are doing is following the “order of service” that God had established.  They don’t love God and are not truly worshiping God.  Everything they do in worship is based on rules that they were taught by a priest.  None of it was personal.

Application

We already know from Psalms that God knows our innermost being.  He knows our thoughts, attitudes, motivations and plans.  We can hide nothing from God.  This applies to our worship to our Heavenly Father.  He knows if we are sincere.  If our heart isn’t all for God, he knows it.  If we hold back our love and adoration for our Lord, we sin against Him and we miss an opportunity to be close to Him and honor and praise Him.  God does not want lip service from us.  He wants our hearts and devotion to Him.

Prayer

Lord you are great.  You are the creator of all the Heavens and earth.  How majestic is your name on all the earth.  Thank you God that we can worship you.