It’s an ugly world out there right now and it’s only getting worse. People are getting more and more illogical, common sense is dying, and the masses are choosing wickedness though a remnant remains. It’s less and less about following God and more about following an inner compass. It’s a bad day when true north does not point north but only points to ourselves. It’s no wonder we get lost.
This very thing could have been said in the time of Isaiah. On every level. Wickedness abounded and people didn’t even want to call it wickedness. There’s nothing new under the sun.
But the Lord comes to Isaiah and we should stop and pause and think about it.
“The Lord said to me with great power, to keep me from going the way of this people”
We should sit up and listen when Isaiah says this. Because isn’t this our heart as well? That we would not also go “the way of the this people”? Because deception abounds and we can easily be deceived.
Also the Lord says that to Isaiah with “great power.” This wasn’t a casual suggestion. This was a statement with POWER.
So what does he say?
“Do not call conspiracy
everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread.
What are his instructions to Isaiah to keep him from becoming like the people?
1) Don’t join them in calling everything a conspiracy
2) Do not fear what they fear and do not dread it.
3) Regard the Lord as holy. He is the only one to fear.
Whoa! What powerful words.
We live in a time where conspiracy theories are everywhere. Although with some plans that are now published and open, they really can’t even be called conspiracy theories any more.
Regardless, the LORD says not to spend our energy there. Don’t join them. Don’t call everything a conspiracy. It’s a good word.
Then he says don’t fear what they fear, don’t dread it. There are soooooo many fears in this world. Fear of lack of money, fear of inflation, fear of having politicians that don’t care for the people, fear of….well…everything. The Lord says, don’t fear what they fear. These things are not your fear.
Rather he says to fear only Him. He is the fear that drives out all other fears.
This fear is about respect and high regard, and it is also the fear that can sometimes be scary. When I was a kid, there was a real fear of my father if I did wrong. This is a good fear. And there is a righteous fear when we come into the presence of the God of all the universe. But it’s that fear of him that should drive out the fears of this world, especially when He is for us and loves us.
Good words. Now to live them out.
