They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; Psalm 82:5
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, Isaiah 29:18-19
“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!” Psalm 81:13
Deuteronomy 1
“Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God” Moses reminds the Israelites of their distrust of the God Who protects and provides for them faithfully. Their distrust results in disobedience to the Holy One. Their disregard for His commands and comforts causes them to live in wilder-ness and not in the Promised Land. Lord, may I honor, respect, and adhere to You above my own thoughts and ways, and those of others – every moment!!
Psalm 81-82
“Sing aloud to God our strength”, Who took care of His people in and out of Egypt. Who removes our burdens, and frees, calls, delivers, answers and tests us in His mighty Love and Wisdom. Yet we can be sooooo hard hearted. Never accepting Him and His Words and instead substituting our own thoughts and imaginings. God admonishes us: There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the LORD your God,… Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” v.9-10.
How can we refuse God? Yet day after day, moment after moment we do. God respects our free will. “But My people would not heed My voice, …would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.” V. 11-12 Romans 1:18-32, Romans 12:1-2
The broken heart and deep desires of God are voiced: “Oh, that My people would listen to Me,… would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries. …and I would have satisfied you.” V. 13-16 Matthew 11:28-30, John 4:13-15, John 6:35-40, Matthew 23:37
How many times do I not call on my Deliverer? That I do not heed and follow His precepts and ways to accomplish His Grand Scheme in delivering and sanctifying my family members? And for those He puts in my path? When I do not intercede in prayer with His passionate Heart on their behalf? (Psalm 82:5) When I do not speak of His Righteousness and Great Mercy through His Son Jesus Christ for full redemption, comfort and hope? – Or do not go to God for each minuscule eternal hope of God’s desire to be fulfilled for His glory alone? May I unceasingly open my mouth wide for God to fill it! Psalm 37:4
Isaiah 29
Four parts –
1- For God’s people who reject God: “Woe, distress, heaviness and sorrow, you will be punished by the LORD of hosts.”
2- “Pause and wonder! … be blind! For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes” WHY? They “honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me” No fear of the LORD. Instead, “their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men”. They consider their Maker ignorant. “shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “ He has no understanding”?
3- “Men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.” Jesus arrives! So “the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD”
4- Because of Jesus Christ, “They will hallow My Name, …And fear the God of Israel. .. will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine.”
People pleasing, tradition, ritual, fear of man are all eternally deadly substitutes for a real, eternal, vibrant and living relationship with God directly to and through the Lord Jesus Christ. God walked on this earth and died for each of us personally to prove that He is the Only Way. My heart must be involved with God through His Son Jesus Christ with no distractions or substitutions. His perfect Love casts out my fear of man. Only Jesus Christ teaches Fear of the Lord.
3 John 1
God contends with me: May “your soul prosper” and you “walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” … and be “fellow workers for the truth.”
I am warned, even in the church there are persons “prating against (true Christ followers) with malicious words. And… not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” – “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
God’s Word is Truth. Jesus Christ is the Word, the Way, Truth and Life. I must walk IN Christ Jesus. I long to and must be steadfast and faithful to the One Who saved me. Never to be persuaded to do otherwise by “well meaning” religious folk. I am Never to be swayed to fall into the side ditches of the narrow path so to worship other than in God’s Spirit and Truth. I am not to imitate those who practice religion with false pretense and deception.
I will not be persuaded to shut out God’s Voice through His Word and starve myself by not reading the Bible frequently, because I “should have gotten enough on Sunday morning”. Instead, I choose to wrestle with God, like Jacob, so that I will walk under God’s influence, power and command every moment of my life. Please, Lord Jesus, may it be so!! I desire You and Your will most! I love you!
Psalm 138:2; John 1:14; Genesis 32:24-31; Hebrews 11:21; Matthew 4:4; Romans 12:1-2; John 17:17
Sixty-six books in a year 