PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 65:1-9 “Hello, are you listening?”

Time to reflect:The ancient society was ignoring the real God, involved in other concerns and issues and being drawn to more exciting and interesting religious practice. God had every right to walk away from Israel. But didn't, at least not entirely.

Moving through the day: How about our society, are we doing the same thing? How about you personally?

Scripture:

Isaiah 65

Judgment and Salvation

 1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
       I was found by those who did not seek me.
       To a nation that did not call on my name,
       I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

 2 All day long I have held out my hands
       to an obstinate people,
       who walk in ways not good,
       pursuing their own imaginations-

 3 a people who continually provoke me
       to my very face,
       offering sacrifices in gardens
       and burning incense on altars of brick;

 4 who sit among the graves
       and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
       who eat the flesh of pigs,
       and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat;

 5 who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me,
       for I am too sacred for you!'
       Such people are smoke in my nostrils,
       a fire that keeps burning all day.

 6 "See, it stands written before me:
       I will not keep silent but will pay back in full;
       I will pay it back into their laps-

 7 both your sins and the sins of your fathers,"
       says the LORD.
       "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains
       and defied me on the hills,
       I will measure into their laps
       the full payment for their former deeds."

 8 This is what the LORD says:
       "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes
       and men say, 'Don't destroy it,
       there is yet some good in it,'
       so will I do in behalf of my servants;
       I will not destroy them all.

 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
       and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
       my chosen people will inherit them,
       and there will my servants live.