Feeling the natural rhythm of life…

We continue our journey through the Book of Isaiah from chapter 27 today. We have seen the devastation and destruction that is to come – to individual nations, stretching out across the whole planet.

But there is a day to come when things will be different.

In that day, God will punish the fierce, the strong and the powerful with His fierce strong and powerful sword.

He will defeat the legendary monster. Leviathan, the gliding monster, the coiling monster, the monster of the sea.

Because nothing can separate us from the love of God, remember?

In that day, the vineyard will finally bear good fruit. God will provide and protect and nurture and the vines will be good vines, the fruit good fruit. He will gather all His people to worship Him together on the holy mountain.

But before that…

Woe to the leaders of Ephraim and Judah…

to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!  Isaiah 28:1

In that day the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people.

And here’s a prophecy that Jesus recognises and refers to –

See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb-line.  Isaiah 28:16-17

The cornerstone is the most important stone in the whole building. It’s the stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls. It keeps those two walls in line. It makes sure the whole building is aligned correctly. It makes all the measurements accurate. So the plumb-line will always hang true. You can rely on the cornerstone. If the cornerstone is right, there is no need to panic.

Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”?  Luke 20:17

And so, more widely, the cornerstone has come to mean ‘an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based’. And Jesus is that quality. Jesus is that truth. We can rely on Jesus. There is never any need to panic.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  Ephesians 2:19-21

As believers in the one true God, we are like bricks in His holy temple, His body on earth. The apostles and prophets have gone before and laid a firm foundation of experience and teaching. Jesus is the cornerstone. In him, the whole building is joined together. We would do well to remember that.

And this is what we’re talking about when we sing the song Cornerstone – because my hope is built on nothing less.

Here’s another analogy I found surprisingly helpful as I read it just now.

Think of a farmer. Think of his field. Right now, he’s ploughing. He’s breaking up the soil. Does he keep on ploughing forever? Is he going to keep on breaking up and working the soil forever? No, of course not. This time of breaking up the soil is for a season. There will be a season of sowing and a season of watering. A season of waiting and a season of harvesting. Everything is for a season. Whatever is happening in your world right now, everything is for a season.

Here’s another way of putting it –

Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it for ever.  Isaiah 28:28

Grain is ground for a reason. And the grinding does not go on forever. When it is ready, the grinding ceases. And bread is made.

All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent.  Isaiah 28:29

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Woe to David’s city…

These people come near to me with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.  Isaiah 29:13

Going to church and doing what you are told to do is not enough. It will never be enough. Stand up…stay sitting…clap…lift your arms in the air…pray aloud..do the actions…join in, join in, join in…

None of that is enough in itself. If it comes from an external instruction or an external pressure, then it is worthless. Whatever we do to worship should come from an internal desire, urge, prompting. It may not look the same as everyone else – why should it? We are all different and will all respond in different ways – if we all felt the confidence and freedom to do so. But how much more authentic would our worship together be then? No more going through the motions!

In that day, there will be healing. There will be wholeness. The deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see.

Woe to the obstinate nation…

Because they have carried out plans that are not from God.

They have made alliances that are not from God.

They have relied on the nations around them for provision and protection and not God.

They don’t want to hear the truth if the truth is going to be uncomfortable –

They say to the seers,
‘See no more visions!’
and to the prophets,
‘Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.  Isaiah 30:10

And yet. And yet. I love this image. It speaks to my soul.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  Isaiah 30:18

In that day, all will be well. The cattle will be well fed. Streams of water will flow. Streams of living water. The light that brings light and life and healing will shine bright.

Woe to those who rely on Egypt…

To those who trust in physical strength.

To those who rely on worldly help.

Who do not trust the one true God.

But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;
their horses are flesh and not spirit.  Isaiah 31:3

In that day, everyone will realise. Everyone will see how worthless all this stuff is.

This one has all been about seasons..

The Woe to… season followed by the in that day… season. There’s a rhythm to it. And ebb and a flow. A natural coming and going. Maybe you will be able to find some comfort in that today…