Tuesday - Isaiah 48 - No Peace

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OMINAL Christianity is nothing. Wearing a religious badge is nothing. Having a pious label and a spiritual heritage is of no value. Here in Isaiah 48:1 the Jews of old were described as the ones who called themselves by the name of Jehovah, and yet there was no truth or righteousness in them. They claimed that they were people of faith and that their faith was aimed at the one true God.  Well now, that's good as far as it goes. There are others who have no faith at all and who certainly do not know the one true God. And of course, that's not good.

Still, despite the elevated position of the Israelites, they are described in Isaiah 48:4 as an obstinate lot with an iron neck and a brass forehead. Is it possible to be both rebellious and religious? I mean, rebellious, and also smack dab in the middle of the right religion? The answer is a resounding and a disappointing, yes! However, living in error while surrounded by truth is a peaceless & miserable existence. In fact, it is much worse to rebel against God while knowing Him than to live sinfully in ignorance (2^nd Peter 2:21, Numbers 15:24-28 & 1^st Timothy 1:13). So, this passage (which is clearly addressed to the people of God) ends with a fast warning, "There is no peace, says the LORD, unto the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22). This is why we find in the New Testament, "Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity (1^st Timothy 2:19), because, unfortunately we who are the children of God are still quite capable of acting like the devil.