Psalm 16:2 for Ephesians 5:18-21 Temple worship.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 50. There was so much here that spoke to my heart. The Mind of the Spirit engaged me on several verses. I’ll focus on verses 1-3:

Isaiah 50:1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

Isaiah 50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

Along the still waters, I reflected on one theme: God’s amazing grace.

He has put Israel away for her many iniquities, yet, the Father testifies that He came to redeem her. He looked upon her wretchedness, forsaken, without God in this cruel world, and had pity. He looked for a man to intervene between them, but found none (see Isaiah 59:16). He called to her, and no one answered.

It seemed to her impossible to reclaim her place before her GOD; she saw no path to restitution, and GOD cried: “Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?” He points to His great power displayed before her in His deliverance from Egypt: crossing the Red Sea, providing water in the wilderness. Yet, He saw “their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and [she] dieth for thirst” (Isaiah 50:2). Like the prodigal, she was reduced to feeding pigs and eating their husks (Luke 15:16). God’s response moved me: “I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering” (Isaiah 50:3). She had fallen, but not beyond His reach.

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I considered God’s answer. Isaiah 50:4-10 is a prophecy that parallels Isaiah 59. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him” (Isaiah 59:16). This points to Christ coming to redeem us by His death on the Cross.

While Christ suffered on the Cross, the lights went out in heaven (Matthew 27:45). His Father clothed the glory of His heavens with blackness and covered them with the sackcloth of mourning! Christ prevailed over the darkness to declare “It is finished” (John 19:30). Today, He calls to all sinners separated from Him: “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God” (Isaiah 50:10).

I heard Jesus speak; His invitation and the terms for accepting a place of service at His side are plain: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, we spoke of many things, but I think He wants me to direct your attention to His exhortation against those who follow after the shiny things in this world, and walk in the false light of the “sparks ye have kindled.” Such, He said, “shall lie down in sorrow.” Let us walk in His light, and not our own! Then shall we rejoice in His great grace!

Praying for revival! 🙏