Thoughts From Isaiah

This morning as I read from Isaiah some thoughts came to mind.  I read chapters 2-6.

Yesterday one of the girls and I went to the grocery store. The people who go to Winco in Longview seem to dress particularly disgusting. Elsie and I were able to get through the store pretty quickly and stayed focused on the items we needed to get. As we got back to our vehicle there was a woman at the car next to us putting away her groceries. I was just struck at how awful she looked. She had on a thin little white shirt that had very little fabric to it. She also had on thin little white short pants. Her whole shape was defined and the little fabric she had put on that morning was so thin she almost looked naked. The stark white fabric in the bright morning sunshine actually drew our eye to her. It was disgusting. That poor woman looked so gross. I looked over at my daughter and she looked so beautiful. Fresh, bright, happy. She was well covered with clothes and yet her beauty was popping out. The woman next to us was just the opposite. We wanted to turn away quickly from her to not have to view what she should be covering up!

So what did I see in Isaiah today?

2:3 Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.

2:8 Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

2:11-12 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up – and it shall be brought low.

2:17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

3:6-9 When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father saying, “You have clothing; you be our ruler, and let these ruins be under your power,” in that day he will protest, saying, “I cannot cure your ills, for in my house is neither food nor clothing; do not make me a ruler of the people.” For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because of their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory. The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.

3:18-23 In that day the Lord will take away the finery:   .  .  .  .  . 

6:1 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

6:9-10 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.

I cannot help but think that we can so easily become like the people in verses 9-10. Did that woman in the parking lot not look in the mirror and see how she really looked that morning? All her negative physical attributes were going to be shown off to all who looked her way. Did she see but not perceive? Is her heart so dull, and her ears heavy and her eyes shut so that she cannot see with her eyes, and hear with her ears and understand in her heart that she needed to be healed so that she would understand that she needed to put more clothing on to be pleasing in the sight of others?

I have had to see pictures of too many females lately (warmer weather is here) with too little on. These are people I know. These are supposed to be “His people”. With knowledge and understanding we glory in the covering God provides for us. He has given us cover for everything in our lives. Why do we resist? 6:1 is a beautiful verse: I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Why do you think God put that last little part in there? As we read facebook today you would think that if God had less and less and less on, it would be lovely and pretty and beautiful! Females are getting” likes” and “loves” from “friends” when they are wearing less and exposing more of their bodies.  This just does not stand with scripture. The Lord was high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple. Just think of it. How glorious. But it will most likely not be his robe or train that we are drawn to but His countenance. That will be true beauty. I cannot wait to behold it for myself in person. What a day that will be!! And that day will go on for all eternity. Because of Him, I am choosing to dress and choose and “do” all for Him.

6:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.

Let us encourage one another toward the things that bring glory to our Lord and Savior. Clothing is only meant as a covering. Dwelling on the covering over what is underneath it will not draw us closer to our Creator. Acquire clothing that is fitting for a child of a King and move on with your life. There is so much out there to do to advance His kingdom and it takes much time with Him to know how He wants each one of us to do that.