The Book Of Isaiah. Day 209, Stubbornness

In Chapter 48 the Lord speaks of the stubbornness of His people. He speaks of their refusal to live by His laws, though some go through the motions with a heart that is far from Him. He speaks of idolatry and about people wanting to go their own way.

I want to stop here a minute to point out that there's a stubborn streak in all humans, not just those of Isaiah's nation. We have all done things we know are against the Lord's laws. We have all tried to do things in our own way with our own strength. We have all, at times, put ourselves or someone else or something else ahead of God. But there will come a time in Isaiah's nation when flagrant idolatry will be extremely widespread and that is the point at which the Lord will allow Judah to fall to an enemy, just as He allowed Israel to fall to an enemy. It's important to keep in mind that the Lord can allow any nation to fall if its people get far enough away from Him, so it's imperative that His people pray for their nation.

"Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel---but not in truth or righteousness---" (Isaiah 48:1) Taking an oath in the name of God is meaningless if the person does not honor God. In a case like that, there is no guarantee the person will keep their oath. It's like a person placing their hand on a Bible in court while vowing to tell nothing but the truth; if the Lord means nothing to them, their oath means nothing.

"You who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to rely on the God of Israel---the Lord Almighty is His name: I foretold the former things long ago, My mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass." (Isaiah 48:2-3) The things the Lord predicted long ago have come to pass, yet many aren't taking this to heart. If they were, they would understand that the things He is predicting for the future will come to pass---like their coming defeat and captivity.

Since they are not taking these things to heart, the Lord refers to their stubbornness of spirit. "For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze." (Isaiah 48:4) This paints the picture of a stubborn donkey or mule who resists the harness and will not allow itself to be guided.

Because the Lord has foretold things to come, and because they will happen exactly as He said, the people should remember what He said when the things come to pass. No false prophet told them; no idol told them. "Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.' You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them?" (Isaiah 48:5-6)

The Lord is reasoning with people to acknowledge that He alone is God. If we put God first in our lives and allow Him to be Lord of our lives, everything else will fall into its proper place. We will have His power on our side. He alone is our source of security.