On the Cusp of Isaiah's Prophecy

I am on the verge of beginning something that I cannot help but think will be life-changing.

Life-changing . . . what is that? Isn't it just an over-used hyperbolic expression of a self-indulgent age? Perhaps. No, certainly it is. Regardless, I believe it to be true in this case. Experience teaches us that all events, all journeys in life affect us, change us, for good or ill. If this be so, what of a journey through God's word? What of a journey through a book, a prophetic word given some 2800 years ago yet quoted more, perhaps, than any other ancient writing?

Words, words are very powerful things. Once written down they live, they breathe, they act, they survive, they do things. They effect change sometimes years and generations after they are spoken. The written word lives, and if this be true of any written word, how much more so of that which is written by inspiration of God? No wonder the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews said,

". . . the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

It is God's Spirit, through his word, who transforms us into his image. Jesus confirmed this when he prayed to the Father for us:

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

I, we, are going to read, to meditate, to memorize (and why not?), to study, to delve into, to think about, reason with, reflect upon one of the greatest documents ever penned by human hands. Imagine that! When you open this prophecy, think of the providential miracle it is that you even have this material in your hands today. And yet you do. You! The holy has somehow (by God's direction) fallen into the hands of the unworthy.

Treat it well. It is a gracious gift--a gift of love. See yourself in it. But more importantly, see God. For it is he who has condescended to reveal himself to us in our own language, in ways we can understand. Yes, we will be different, for no one comes to him without being changed.

I am trepidacious. Who wouldn't be who approaches the holy? I am naturally fearful of truth because truth exposes me. I would rather lie to myself and tell myself I am okay the way I am. But truth will show me otherwise. Truth will reveal me, confront me, demand things of me. How will I respond? How will you respond?

It is easy to go shallow is it not? We do this as a matter of habit. We hear a truth and we say, "Sure, sure, I know that, I've heard that, I believe that, what of it?" We hear, but we don't hear. We see, but we don't really look, do we? We don't delve. We don't question. We are content with who we are. Most of all we don't apply truth--not to ourselves. We don't really consider.

I am frightened because I am comfortable with being comfortable. God's word makes me uncomfortable.

I am being very honest with you when I say that I do not know where this study is going to take me--take us. I don't know because it is a journey upon which I have never gone. I have often wanted to go . . . and now we are here.

To God be the glory.