Scripture:
Isaiah 30:19-22 ESV
[19] For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. [20] And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. [21] And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. [22] Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”
Observation:
I’m not sure why, but I seem to be somewhat stuck on this over the last few weeks. The Holy Spirit has brought me to a portion of scripture that seems to be about a cry of desperation. I think it’s not something that needs to be glanced over. So let’s look at what is being said in verse 19. Jerusalem will weep no more. HE will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. That statement is full of power. It starts with a lack of tears because of an abundance of tears. GOD’S people called out in desperation, and HE answered. But look at how HE answered… GRACIOUSLY. this is a common thread throughout the bible. GOD’S people would get complacent and try to do things without HIM, find themselves in a spot, and cry out, and GOD because of HIS great love would meet them with grace. Adversity and affliction always brought them back to the LORD. after several years of reading through the Bible, you can see these things at a deeper level. The more you read, the more the Holy Spirit shows you. Just like verse 20 says the teacher will not hide HIMSELF from you. The quiet whisper of the LORD’s voice says this is the way. Walk in it. This is so powerful. I love the way GOD’S word has given me every answer I have ever searched for. Verse 22 is an amazing key. Once they did cry out to the LORD, there had to be action taken. They had to stop replacing HIM with other things that they had built with their own hand. Things that could never answer their cry. Idols with feet that could not walk and hands that could not hold them.
Application:
I can’t honestly tell you how many times I have gotten so far and thought. I got this one. GOD, I can do it, trust me. Then, after so many moments. Find myself not relying on GOD at all. The amazing thing is that every time I have ever cried out to HIM, HE has answered my cry with grace and given me a strong desire to seek HIS face. As I searched HIS word for the answer. HE taught me that HE has never abandoned me. HE has always been right there waiting for me to turn around. Through the adversity, HE brought me back to HIM. Jeremiah 29:11 is a great verse it has given me hope in so many ways. I think sometimes we can glance over the hard stuff to get to the good stuff. GOD has given you promises. You need to know that so I am speaking to you. But sometimes, how you get to those promises is through tough times. In James, it says we should count it all joy when we face things because GOD is working something out in us, and when HE is finished, your faith will be complete. You will lay your idols down and seek HIS face. The reason I love Jeremiah 29:11 is because in verse 10, HE tells us the reason for 11. In verse 13, HE tells us the reason for verse 10. It is not very comforting to know that captivity is coming, but what is comforting is knowing GOD has a plan, and that plan is to teach us to seek his face turn from our idols, and rely on HIM. When we do that, HE will heal redeem and restore. My question is… have you faced enough adversity? Are you done with your way? Are you really willing to go all in?… because HE has a plan to meet you with grace. Restore you to right living and destroy your idols. Just surrender all of it. It’s so much more peaceful.
Prayer:
Father, we love the answers you give us. Always leading us back to you. Help us to lay any idols down and seek you with all that we are. We are tired of being broken, and we know the only answer is you… your way… you will always meet us with your grace… and that grace is so amazing. We don’t need any idols. What we need is you. When you chase after you with all that is in us, our adversity seems to be nonexistent because you are fighting for us. Let us cling to you with all our hearts. I’m not looking to the right or to the left. Let us have that laser focus with our eyes and hearts set on you. Our shepherd. Lead guide and direct our every step. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.