Fascinating. These verses are similar to Deuteronomy 10:12-13 except that the Isaiah phrases are “on steroids”. To fear, love,obey, heartfelt repentance brings about unmeasurable mercy. G-d is good and long suffering. The question that remains is, Will His people listen?
Thank you for such a clear understanding of this familiar passage! I appreciate the idea of context as so many times people like to pluck a scripture and try to make it fit somewhere it was never meant to. May God continue to bless you and give you wisdom and discernment as you teach us!
Interestingly, in the Greek Septuagint 55:7 says "abundantly forgive" but carries an alternate meaning of "send far away," which puts me in mind of Psalm 103:12 "as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Reflection question 3.
What would it look like to trust that God's mercy exceeds my internal calculations?
Oh boy. This feels aimed right at me. I'm absolutely guilty of thinking that everyone else's sins can be forgiven
(no hesitation. I'll be there first to tell you that even a man like Hitler or Stalin, if they truly, deep in their heart, repented and asked forgiveness for their sins, would be welcome in heaven with the saints)
But me?
I don't know. I mean, I know His grace and forgiveness are infinite, so I know, intellectually, just how absurd it is. But there's still that part of me, deep down, that thinks I can't be forgiven for the things I've done.
Clearly this is something I need to work on. I know there are no bounds to his grace.
I need to internalize that fact and apply it to my own life now.
So thank you for this. I needed this confrontation.
I think we all, on some level, at times feel like we are somehow less deserving of God’s grace and mercy than others. I don’t know why that is but we all have a tendency to see ourselves as less worthy. I used to describe it as I would feel like there was this velvet rope that sectioned of this VIP section and somehow I managed to sneak inside but wasn’t supposed to be there. That is how I felt in my salvation. But then I learned that it is not about my feelings. I don’t have to “feel” worthy. I just have to believe His Word is true.
Fascinating. These verses are similar to Deuteronomy 10:12-13 except that the Isaiah phrases are “on steroids”. To fear, love,obey, heartfelt repentance brings about unmeasurable mercy. G-d is good and long suffering. The question that remains is, Will His people listen?
Amen!
Thank you for such a clear understanding of this familiar passage! I appreciate the idea of context as so many times people like to pluck a scripture and try to make it fit somewhere it was never meant to. May God continue to bless you and give you wisdom and discernment as you teach us!
I am so glad you enjoyed the post and yes, context is so vitally important!
Yes! Absolutely this.
Interestingly, in the Greek Septuagint 55:7 says "abundantly forgive" but carries an alternate meaning of "send far away," which puts me in mind of Psalm 103:12 "as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Reflection question 3.
What would it look like to trust that God's mercy exceeds my internal calculations?
Oh boy. This feels aimed right at me. I'm absolutely guilty of thinking that everyone else's sins can be forgiven
(no hesitation. I'll be there first to tell you that even a man like Hitler or Stalin, if they truly, deep in their heart, repented and asked forgiveness for their sins, would be welcome in heaven with the saints)
But me?
I don't know. I mean, I know His grace and forgiveness are infinite, so I know, intellectually, just how absurd it is. But there's still that part of me, deep down, that thinks I can't be forgiven for the things I've done.
Clearly this is something I need to work on. I know there are no bounds to his grace.
I need to internalize that fact and apply it to my own life now.
So thank you for this. I needed this confrontation.
I think we all, on some level, at times feel like we are somehow less deserving of God’s grace and mercy than others. I don’t know why that is but we all have a tendency to see ourselves as less worthy. I used to describe it as I would feel like there was this velvet rope that sectioned of this VIP section and somehow I managed to sneak inside but wasn’t supposed to be there. That is how I felt in my salvation. But then I learned that it is not about my feelings. I don’t have to “feel” worthy. I just have to believe His Word is true.
That's actually a perfect way to describe it. Thank you!
SO GOOD!!! Thank you!
Thank you!! I am happy that you liked it!!