to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the LORD.
“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the LORD. Is. 59:20-21 NIV
There are two sides to any covenant, both sides have to give something. This one is often overlooked, but is perhaps the one we need to remember most in these days. For our part, we have to repent. Repent of all the sins that we have commited against God and our brothers and neighbors; repent of all the selfishness and self-centeredness that has become our lives. It's all an illusion and so empty anyway. When we give that up, when we truly repent, God will give us in return what we really need but are not wise enough to ask for. He will give us his spirit and his words.
I have been thinking a lot about the difference between image and substance. We live in a world obsessed with image alone. We're obsessed with the lives of those who project a flashy image. Our leaders are elected on that basis and we often even choose our churches based on the same criteria. . We get what we deserve. How different our lives would be if we were guided by God's spirit and his words. How needy we will always be without them. How empty our deeds and phrases.
Isaiah 58-59: A Rebellious People (con'5)
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