Two Warnings

A Heart Warning:  For prayer meeting on August 19, we pondered Isaiah 66:2 with thoughts on how to have God’s ear and full attention when we pray.  

Isaiah 66:1-2, Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me?  And where is the place of My rest?  For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

First note God’s greatness, His transcendence, and His rule.  He challenges His people with the idea that they can put Him in a box – into a house – a place for rest.  He does not lack – He has already made all that that they aspire to do.  God rules the universe and the earth and is not needy. 

Then God discloses what He wants from those who approach Him and want to serve Him. He is looking for those who are poor in spirit, contrite, and passionate about His truth – His word.  You want God’s ear?  You want God’s favor?  You want God moving in a loved one?  You want God?

It begins with your heart:  a heart that is humble (lowly – you are NOT god!  You had and have no works that merit salvation), contrite (you recognize you yet sin and are quick to repent, you are not seeking any glory, your pride is in check), and you are serious about putting into practice all that He says (you honor His word).  God’s ear is bent toward those who have the right heart.

A 9-11 Warning:  The next morning the men’s group was in Amos 3:9-11 which reads: “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see great tumults in her midst, and the oppressed within her.  For they do not know to do right,’ says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’”  Therefore thus says the Lord God:  “An adversary shall be all around the land; he shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered.”

As we find over and over – it is like God is writing directly to the United States and us in 2020. So, what is He saying here and to us?  

God called to the leaders (palaces) of Israel’s neighbors Gaza (Ashdod) and Egypt to focus in on the palace of Israel (Samaria) and note the turmoil besetting the leaders and the land.  He told them to note the great unrest and oppression besetting the nation.  

Boy, is that not relevant!  God calls out to Canada, Mexico and Cuba to note the uproar in America both in her capital (and capitol) and in her cities.

Then God declared that He had “weighed them and found them wanting.”  His people did not know how to do right! God had declared that He hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), that the womb is His workshop (Psalm 139:13-18), that justice was to reign along with mercy (Micah 6:8), and to honor Him (one nation “under God”) but they had lost focus of those values.  Rather, they filled their palaces with goods they had taken violently (unjust laws, child labor products, contrived fears). 

Therefore, God – the Sovereign King of all – declared they would be attacked, defeated and plundered.  God said He would allow outside adversity to surround the land (pressures from all around) and their strength to cope to dwindle.  Also, the nation’s coffers would be emptied.  That is: monies, military hardware, oil reserves, etc. would fall short of what was needed.  Yikes!  

What do we do?  “If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear—forgive—and heal,” (II Chronicles 7:14).