Isaiah 55
Scripture Reading & Pastoral Prayer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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We fall short of the glory of God
We fall short of the glory of God
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
Our thoughts and our ways fall short of God’s thoughts and God’s ways. And the chasm between our thoughts and our ways and God’s thoughts and God’s ways is beyond measure.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This infinite chasm is evident. The ideas that are debated on the political front; how they are framed, what we are told is virtuous and what is rejected demonstrates our thoughts and ways are not God’s thoughts and ways. The temptations to which we are vulnerable in our flesh is a reminder that our natural thoughts and ways fall short of the glory of God.
But people are not without hope, and that’s because God has spanned the chasm between us and Him.
God spans the chasm betwen us and Him through His Word
God spans the chasm betwen us and Him through His Word
Verse 10 opens a door of hope. The rain and the snow come down. Heaven is brilliant and distant and its glory is unattainable, but God condescends, draws near and waters the earth.
Verse 11 makes it clear.
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word of God is the span from heaven to earth. Whenever a prophet spoke the word of God, His thoughts and ways are brought to bear on our thoughts and ways. Whenever the word of God is proclaimed today, the glory of God shines into the darkness of this corrupt world that falls short.
And remember, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word was God. Jesus, the all-sufficient span between heaven and earth.
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
