Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Oct 25 2019 - Isaiah 57 – No peace for the wicked

This chapter paints a vivid contrast between those who have forsaken the Lord their God to devote themselves to idols and those who have humbled themselves before God.

Have you sometimes heard people use the phrase "Only the good die young"? Isaiah 57 begins with a similar statement. It comes in the context of the judgment that God has poured out on his rebellious people – judgment experienced at the hand of the Babylonians. Many righteous and devout people have perished at this time of distress, but those around them have not taken it to heart; they have not seen that God has deliberately taken away many of those who were devoted to him that he might spare them his judgment and enable them to enter into peace and rest through an early death (vv. 1-2).

The following verses then describe the idolatrous practices which had marked a people whom God had taken into covenant relationship with himself (vv. 3-10). They had turned to Baal worship, including some of its most revolting practices such as performing sexual acts on high places to persuade the fertility god to give abundant harvests. They had even resorted to child sacrifice to try to gain the favour of their idol-gods. The Lord asks them why they had turned away from him; why had they not called to mind all that God had done for them in the past and taken it to heart? (v. 11). The Lord has taken note of their rebellion against him and has brought down his judgment upon them. None of their idols has been able to save them, says the Lord:

But whoever takes refuge in me
    will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain. (v.13)

This verse leads us into the second half of the chapter in which the Lord now promises to rescue his people. He had been angered by their idolatry, greed and injustice and had punished them with exile (v. 17). But his anger will not last for ever (v. 16); despite their continuing waywardness (v. 17), the Lord will heal and restore them (v. 18). In particular, the Lord promises to comfort (note the use again of this lovely word) those who have been humbled by their experience of the Lord's judgment, those who mourn over their past rebellion and its consequences (v.18). The Lord promises to dwell,

with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. (v. 15)

He will put a song of praise on their lips and a sense of peace in their hearts. But, says the Lord, "There is no peace for the wicked" (v. 21).

Idol-gods demanded that their devotees sacrifice their own children, but still they had no power to save. The Living God gave his own beloved Son over to death for us. The judgment that our sins deserved fell on him and through his death and triumphant resurrection the Lord has begun the healing not only of us but of the entire creation. He has declared that his warfare against us is over and has given us a precious sense of his peace which nothing can destroy. This is the fruit of the work of the Suffering Servant, a fruit in which he delights. He has turned our mourning into songs of praise. He has lifted us up from the place of our humiliation to reign with Christ in glory.

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
  The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Living God, we thank you for the wonder of our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has taken us from the realm of your judgment into the realm of your peace. Help us to be a people characterised by a contrite and lowly spirit; a people who constantly recall the great things you have done for us. Heal all that remains broken in our lives and our relationships. Guide us in the way that you would have us go and put a song of praise on our lips that will testify to others of the joy of your salvation.

Oct 25 2020 - James 2:18-3:18 – Taming the tongue

The passage we have read today continues the themes we looked at yesterday. Our actions, says James, are to be consistent with what we say we believe. Faith must be set to work, it must be put into action, or it is empty faith; it is dead. This is evident from the life of Abraham; he did not merely say he believed God, he trusted God and obeyed his word even to the point of offering his son Isaac upon an altar. Our faith in God and our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are to shape our lives.

One of the key areas where faith is to shape conduct is in our conversation with others. James goes so far as to say, "Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check" (James 2:3). He says that all kinds of animals have been "tamed" by mankind (here he is probably reflecting on the mandate given to Adam to rule over all the animal kingdom), but no one has managed to tame the tongue. The tongue is the most unruly of all creatures.

One of the most shocking things is that we can be so inconsistent in the words we say. One moment we are complimenting someone and saying lovely things to them and the next we are saying something unkind about them to someone else, or even to their own face. “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (3:10-11). James calls for consistently kind and helpful words springing from a clean and loving heart.

A week or two ago I decided to monitor my use of the tongue; to reflect each day on the things I had said and the character they reflected. On the very first day of this exercise I caught myself reacting to a situation with unhelpful words – I felt that I was being criticised and I reacted instinctively by shifting the focus back upon someone else. And that's what's so shocking – the instinctive reaction to self-justification, self-defence or to blame shifting. Words, spoken without considered judgment betray the orientation of the heart. It's the heart that needs continual transformation; the spring needs to be purified at source.

The shocking truth – a truth we quickly learn by experience – is that we cannot change ourselves. Praise God for Jesus and his transforming power. Paul reminded the Ephesians that the power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in those who belong to him (Ephesians 1:19-20). And don’t we need it!

James returns to the subject of wisdom at the end of this morning’s passage: "The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (3:17). This wisdom is the likeness of Christ formed in us by the Spirit of the living God. We stand in continual need of wisdom from heaven – particularly if we are to tame our tongues. James concludes, "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (3:18). It's a mark of the presence of the Spirit if, when we feel ourselves under attack, we are able to speak words of peace rather than words of war.

Lord Jesus, may more of your image be formed in me and be evident in all I say and do today. "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Peter Misselbrook