Passage Read: Isaiah 63-66
Meditation Verses: 66:3-5
Thought
It is amazing to think that there are people who think they worship the Lord, but who have no fear of Him! They don't care what He thinks; they do whatever they want. They offer sacrifices--why?--but then live however they please. They don't fear God, they don't fear what God's Word says, instead they do whatever they think is good and right, even when it is exactly opposite from what God has commanded! And they look down on those who do tremble at God's Word to do what He commands. They consider such people to be ignorant fools--because of course they think they're so wise. They even challenge God to prove His power, so that He might justify those who believe and obey His Word. When nothing happens, they consider themselves justified. God will multiply His wrath on such people. Their sacrifices disgust Him, while they somehow think they're pulling the wool over His eyes! They are the fools, and they will be judged most severely. Yet somehow they gain the power and influence to exclude those who tremble at God's Word! Better to be excluded from their fellowship than tainted by it! Better to be excluded from what God instituted--but which they've taken over and completely corrupted--than to be led astray by their ungodly behavior and teaching. Contrary to their belief, they don't actually control the house of God or the family of God. They are the rejected ones, and their destruction is coming.
Application
What happened then still happens today. It has happened again and again throughout the history of God's people, both Israel and the Church. Watered down Christianity is more attractive than the real thing. All people want to be accepted by God, but they don't want to bow the knee to His rule and conform to His standards. So eventually, godless rulers rise to power and take over God's institutions. Those who tremble at God's Word recognize it. Those who humble themselves and trust and obey God's instruction find themselves unwelcome among those who consider themselves wiser than some dusty old book. So be it. They don't control my destiny; God does. He's the one I need to please, even if everyone who considers themselves an expert in God's Word says I'm a fool. They're the ones who say the Bible is hard to understand, because they want to obscure it to justify their own ideas and ways. I don't want to be caught up in their judgment; I want to please God rather than fit in with those false experts. I choose to tremble at God's Word.