Wednesday, March 25 2009
ISAIAH 22
Key Verse: V1 “The burden of the valley of vision, What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?”
The “valley of vision” is a paradox as we should be standing on the mountain and not the valley to get our vision. The reason why it was a valley of vision was because the spirituality of the people of God or the nation of Israel in the city of Jerusalem was at the lowest point. Yet God encouraged them to look up from the valley and see the vision that God had for them.
1. Look to the Maker
V11 “Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago.”
The nation of Israel prepared fortress, walls and ditches for their protection against enemies’ impending attacks but they failed to look to their Maker and Creator. We can prepare our studies, plan our career, serve God in many areas but if we fail to look to the Maker for His direction and instructions, we shall fail in everything we do.
2. Look to God of hosts
V12 “And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:”
The God of hosts desired His people not to just weep and mourn but to truly repent of their sins. It is one thing to be sorry and sorrowful of our sins but it is another thing to repent and turn away from our sins. The nation of Israel had continued in sins and the God of hosts had warned them many times of the consequences of their sins. There is a limit to God’s longsuffering and patience and let us not test God’s limit!
3. Look to the Lord
V24 “In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it.”
When we look to the world and man, we are like hanging our life and everything we have on the nail that one day shall be removed and taken out. We shall be disappointed as we shall be condemned to hell for our sins. The only sure way in life is to hang our life and everything we have on the nail of our Maker, our God of hosts, our Lord, who shall never be removed and we shall never be disappointed!
Food For Thought
Who you look will determine where you go. Look to God and you shall know the way to heaven.
