Knowing God through His Purpose - Isaiah 1:27

Isaiah 1:27

            Isaiah draws the listener and reader to the point. Without redemption, there would be little reason in recording the words for the people. Every prophet has some element of redemption, even if the focus is on judgment. Just as in the book of Jonah, where the Assyrians repented because of Jonah’s message, God does not simply act spitefully towards people. Instead, the hope is that people will respond appropriately.

            Simple arguments, in terms of basic human emotion, have gone on for centuries about the nature of man’s volition and God’s foreknowledge concerning the relationship between judgment and repentance. Does free will matter as such if God created the world such that circumstances as these exist where people have been disobedient to His will? What about those who are so informed by their culture, family, and situation that what they do is what they believe to be right and they cannot turn towards the word of the prophet because they are so alien? Does God alone save those who He has chosen, whether they are aware of this choosing? And so on…

My thinking when coming across these verses concerning redemption is simple. Take the straightforward reading. Is it possible I am wrong? Yes. Is it possible there is much more to be gleaned here? Yes. But if my cultural biases and inability to understand the text because of time, language, and other things are a problem anyway, then what else can I do? Taking the straightforward reading is the only real possibility. I am not saying I don’t study, because I do. However, when applying the words of scripture after studying and reading, applying the straightforward reading seems to be the best practice. This practice should also involve prayer and interaction with other scriptures. Ultimately, even the practice of reading and applying scripture must be an act of faith. This act of faith is not in the scripture, but in God who has revealed this scripture. Even though I may sometimes come to conclusions or applications that are wrong, God’s grace in correction, moving hearts and minds, and power must be necessary and sufficient to bring about the correct ends.

Personally, I am of the mindset critical readings of the text can never reach the correct conclusions without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Can they come very close? Possibly, but the true conclusion of scripture must always be a kingdom-oriented one. Truth must be developed contextually and relationally to reach fullness. To separate out some idea of truth in an absolute way where it is as if facts can somehow float in the ether is a myth. This is much more evident when seeking truth in scripture.

Part of what this means is that although valid applications will continue to abound for scripture, the meaning of scripture can be preserved, even if no human being ever gains complete knowledge of it. This can be a source of joy for the believer as scripture is searched again and again to gain deeper insights into the text. Does this seem like a contradiction of my earlier assertion that the straightforward meaning still has preference? Absolutely not, for what is straightforward to one person is not straightforward to the next. This search is not about knowing the scripture in some prima facie manner, but instead the process is about coming to know the one who inspired the scripture. As we humbly admit our own ability for fallacies and submit our understanding to a kingdom-oriented viewpoint, the straightforward reading should be more important than theological squabbles and attempts to prove a point.

Finally, in this text we see the recurring ideas of faithfulness and righteousness. Not only will the city gain these names, she will be redeemed by it. In other words, the things that make up the city’s identity are also the very things she has experienced firsthand from God. God does not expect us to demonstrate those qualities which He has not also demonstrated to us. This again brings us to the idea of the incarnation. As the eternal Son came and lived as a man, he came and lived faithfully and brought about the means of righteousness. His life, death, and resurrection are the Gospel context. When thinking about the name given to believers in Revelation 2:17, we must remember that we will be given our name not based on who we are by our works but rather by our identity in Christ. This passage rings similarly. The people of God are called faithful and righteous because they have experienced faithfulness and righteousness in the work of God. Is this any less true today?

Final thoughts:

1.      Our identity must be rooted in Christ. He provides our reason for actions and hope for the future. When I define myself, do I look to Christ first?

2.      Similar to yesterday, what does God want to redeem me for? There is a purpose to discipline and correction, and I should be looking for the way(s) God wants to use me.

3.      Have I spent time in scripture lately so that I better know the full counsel of God?