Dear Ones:
If there is one thing that is true of this physical creation, of nature, it is that there are patterns everywhere. Science reveals to us physical laws. Nature reveals to us the out working of those laws, the intricacy and beauty of which is incomprehensible. In Romans 1:20, we read the reality of this: “For the invisible things of Him (God) from the creation of the world are CLEARLY seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” What is Paul saying? It is simply that every day God is speaking…declaring to us His glory (the revelation of His nature…) through “the heavens” and the “firmament.” (this physical world) (Ps. 19:1) How does He speak? By laws and patterns. The revelation of the physical laws of nature is the prelude to his perfect Law, His word…and eventually, the unveiling of His Living Word in Christ, “…full of grace and truth.” Why is the knowledge of the laws and patterns so essential? It is because God can only be known according to, and by, truth. Faith is ALWAYS based on the truth, never upon a lie. What is the eternal blessing associated with these laws and patterns? It is that God can be KNOWN, experienced, communed with in accordance with these laws and patterns. If the heart and the life of the individual can be “awakened” to newness of life, or a new beginning, a study of laws and patterns essential. Let us look at an example of a pattern, with laws, that can lead us to a knowledge of God…either for the first time, or in a new way.
In Isaiah 51, we have written where the Lord is seeking to bring Israel back to her “point of beginning,” point of blessing. In addressing those who are seeking the Lord, He says: “Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit where ye are digged,” (v.1) i.e., go back to the beginning and rediscover the laws and patterns, even the basis for which God works in the heart. The first prayer of Isaiah, with regard to the “awakening” is as follows: “Awake, awake, put on strength; O arm of the Lord as in the ancient days.” (v.9) Why begin here? Because the first thing is always appealing to the goodness, mercy, and power of God, to intervene. We are talking about a true intervention of God in the life, not a “possibility,” or just an “aspiration” of the heart. And the first question we must ask ourselves is this: Does God desire, even WILL, to answer such a prayer from the seeking heart? The answer is “Yes,” because He is Love, and will as such, never deny Himself, or what He IS.
The second mention of the “awakening” is found in the words of the Lord to Jerusalem: “Awake, awake, stand up O Jerusalem…” (v.17) The command like the sound of a clear trumpet, is calling Jerusalem to hear, to respond, to rid herself of the slumber where hopelessness, faithlessness, has trapped her. God is announcing to her that indeed, He has awoken, and this, in order to meet her by meeting her need.
The third mention of the awakening is found in Isaiah 52;1: “…Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments….shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down…loose thyself from the bands of thy neck.” (v.3) What is He commanding here? The Lord has “awakened” in answer to prayer. He has chosen to intervene in the life of Jerusalem, and in our own lives. Now comes the reaction to this realization when the command comes to shed the past, the sins, the bonds of mind, heart, soul, and body. Christ has come to set the captive free…the call is to believe it, and obey Him.
The result of such an intervention of God in the life, where there is the wholehearted response to His call, is this: “Break forth into joy; sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem.” (v.9)
Father, open our eyes to see, and return to the patterns of Thy dealings with us, and this, since the creation of the world. Grant us to see Thy commitment to intervene in the life in answer to prayer and faith. And, enable us to truly, and with our whole hearts, believe Thee to do the wonderful thing. Strengthen us to rise up and follow Thee. Then, we shall truly not be slumbering in hopelessness or lack of purpose, but KNOW Thee, our blessed Counselor and Life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad