Isaiah 57: God's Accusation Against the Wicked; Comfort for the Contrite

First off, I love how the Bible is ordered (by Holy hands) in such a way where a chapter such as "God's Accusation Against the Wicked" is ALWAYS followed by an encouraging chapter where God takes his people back and romanticizes them, such as in "Comfort for the Contrite." This is a constant theme throughout the entire Bible, because, unfortunately, we, God's people, just can't learn! And you know what, God knows that and He knows we're not perfect and that we're selfish at times... and He still takes us back and blesses us beyond measure!

v. 4- "Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?"
Hahaha... OK, God's great sense of humor again! Here's how I see this verse: "Wait wait wait... who are YOU laughing at? YOU? Really?" In DC Talk's words (and of course Paul's in I Tim. 1:15), "I am the chief of sinners." Who am I to laugh and judge the people who are sinning around me? For I am just as wicked!

v. 13- "When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away."
Something that I've really been learning is that I just have so many little tinker toy idols. It's sad, really. I have this HUGE, amazing, all-knowing, all-powerful, loving God... yet I turn to things that are right in front of me and can never truly satisfy my hunger and thirst. Can they save me when I stumble (I'm on a role with DC Talk this morning, be ok with it)? No. Can they feed me when I'm hungry? No. They're tiny and stone and weak. Yet I keep on looking to them for something. I'm not really sure what I expect them to do, but it feels right at the time... then I just feel like a fool later!

v. 15- "For this is what the high and lofty One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Contrite is defined as "feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming." This needs to be the condition of our hearts. It's a humble state and one that pains most people to get to, but God says that if we humble ourselves, then He too will humble Himself enough to come down to earth and remain with us. That made sense in my head, but I'm not sure if I worded it well. Anyways, a humble heart is basically God's main desire for us. Out of this flows love and passion and servantood and desire to please God. Also, if by God's grace we do find ourselves in this state, He will that much more make both Himself and His will known to us! He promises us that! Here's a few examples:

2 Chronicles 34:27- "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD."

Psalm 25:9- "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way."

Psalm 149:4- "For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation."

Matthew 18:3-5- "And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.'"