Isaiah 29 reminds me of growing up in the Catholic Church. It was full of beautiful artwork and religious symbols and ceremonies, but I never really understood the relationship with God. In today’s chapter, Isaiah calls out the proud people of Jerusalem who seemed to think they had prominence simply because they lived in “the city where David settled“. The prophet speaks on behalf of God, “let your cycle of festivals go on… Yet I will besiege… I will encamp against you on all sides… Brought low, you will speak from the ground“. His point is that we can talk about God, but until we call out to God in humility we are like stained glass windows, just pretty to look at. Isaiah describes a battle where God Himself intercedes, “your many enemies will become like fine dust… Suddenly, in an instant, the LORD Almighty will come with… thunder and earthquake… tempest and flames of a devouring fire“. Isaiah continues, “Be stunned and amazed… be drunk, but not from wine“. Have you ever had an encounter with God that left you staggered?
Next he describes the frustration of having the very Word of God, yet without any meaning. “For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll“. He pictures giving the scroll to someone to read, but they answer, “I can’t; it is sealed” or worse, “I don’t know how to read“. He writes, “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“. Is God’s Word sealed up to you? Is your faith little more than keeping the rules? In Acts 19 the apostle Paul asks a group of disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit whenyou believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit“. They had only known the baptism of John. The apostle explained, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance” a preparation for what was to follow. Rule keeping alone will leave you cold and stiff. “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus… the Holy Spirit came on them“. Isaiah promises these people will receive “wonder upon wonder“. Is your faith filled with frustration or the Spirit of God?
Next Isaiah describes the way many of us approach God. Many go to “great depths to hide their plans from the LORD“. He says, “You turn things upside down“. He asks, shall the clay say to the potter, “You did not make me” or, “You know nothing“? But that is exactly what we say to God when we deny that we were created by Him for His purposes. The chapter closes with good news for all who will turn to Christ as their great High Priest, “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll… Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD“. Friend, is pride keeping you from experiencing all that God has for you? God’s forgiveness is a free gift for everyone that asks, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10). This is why Isaiah can conclude, “Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction“. Today you can go in peace.