Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Aug 2 2019 - Isaiah 1:1-28 – A rebellious nation

Today we start one of the major prophetic books of the Old Testament, the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah ministered during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (1:1).

These years were marked by growing threats from surrounding nations such as Assyria in the north and Egypt in the south. These empires were competing with one another to gain control over surrounding lands, and especially Israel and the land of Judah where Isaiah was prophesying.

Meanwhile, the people of the land, instead of turning to the Lord in repentance, faith and obedience, continued to live rebellious lives. God says of his people:

I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. (1:2-3)

They have, "forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel" (v.4).

By speaking of God as "the Holy One of Israel", Isaiah is seeking to underline the fact that the Lord God of Israel is a God of burning holiness who expects his people to reflect his own character – to be a holy people. Instead the people are oppressing one another and treading roughshod over the widows and the fatherless (vv.17,23). In particular, their rulers are leading the way in corruption (v.23). No wonder the Lord their God has left the land to be ravaged by foreign raiders (v.7).

Because of his people's unfaithfulness and rebellion; God has no time for their worship. When they bring animals for sacrifice at the temple, in God's eyes (or ears), this is a mere "trampling of my courts" (v.12). It is useless to oppress others and then come piously before God in prayer. God says, "Even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening" (v.15). The behaviour of his people has become like that of Sodom and Gomorrah (vv. 9 and 10), and they deserve the same fate.

But God does not want to leave his people to be destroyed. He has reared and brought them up like children; he loves them. God wants them to turn to him again in repentance and obedience.

‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the LORD.
‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’
  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (vv.18-20)

Jerusalem the once "faithful city has become a prostitute" (v.21). God plans to come in judgment against them, but it is to purge away their dross and remove their impurities (v.25). The fire of God's judgment will be a refining fire after which Jerusalem/Zion, "will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City" (v.26).

We too are, by nature and self-inclination, rebels against God. He is holy and we are not. But the wonder of the Christian message is that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He is the perfect sacrifice for sin – a sacrifice pleasing to God his Father. Jesus has settled the matter on our behalf and through his shed blood our sins which were scarlet have been washed away and we are made whiter than snow. His Spirit is now at work within us to refine us like gold and to purge away all that cannot live in his holy presence (see 1 Peter 1:7).

Thank you Father for your great love for us, even when we were rebels against you. Thank you Lord Jesus for your shed blood through which our sins are washed away. Holy Spirit, continue your refining work in our lives that we might be holy even as you, our triune God, are holy.

Aug 2 2020 - Mark 11:1-25 – Nothing but leaves

In this morning's reading we come across the strange incident of Jesus' judgment on a fig tree. On his way into Jerusalem, Jesus is hungry and goes over to seek fruit from a fig tree which is in leaf. But not finding any fruit on it he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again" (Mark 11:14). The following morning, when they again pass the spot, the disciples notice that the tree has withered from the roots (11:20).

This seems to be a very strange incident, particularly as Mark tells us that it was not the season for figs. Why would Jesus pass such harsh judgment upon an unfortunate fig tree? It seems almost like a case of bad temper; it seems so out of character.

We should note the way that this incident is recorded in Mark. Between Jesus' words of judgment upon the fig tree and the disciples' discovery that it has withered we read of Jesus cleansing of the Temple. The two incidents are closely connected and we should interpret the one in terms of the other.

Jesus' actions in the temple are a fulfilment of Malachi 3:1-2, "'Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?" Jesus is the Lord come to his Temple; the Lord come in judgment upon his people. His actions that day in the Temple anticipate a greater judgment to come when the Temple and Jerusalem will be destroyed.

Jesus' judgment upon the fig tree is a prophetic enactment; it is symbolic of the judgment which is shortly to fall on a fruitless people. It proclaims the same message as is taught in the parable of the wicked tenants (12:1-12). This incident is recorded that it might be a challenge and warning to us also. The hymn by Lucy Akerman, written in the middle of the nineteenth century expresses it quaintly:

Nothing but leaves? The Spirit grieves
O'er years of wasted life;
O'er sins indulged while conscience slept,
O'er vows and promises unkept,
And reap, from years of strife,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!

Nothing but leaves! No gathered sheaves
Of life's fair rip'ning grain:
We sow our seeds; lo! tares and weeds,
Words, idle words, for earnest deeds.
Then reap, with toil and pain,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!

Nothing but leaves! Sad mem'ry weaves
No veil to hide the past;
And as we trace our weary way,
And count each lost and misspent day,
We sadly find at last,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!

Ah, who shall thus the Master meet,
And bring but withered leaves?
Ah, who shall, at the Saviour's feet,
Before the awful judgment seat,
Lay down, for golden sheaves,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!

What an indictment of our lives if, having professed to follow Jesus, nothing of his character, nothing of his beauty, nothing of his compassionate and loving devotion to the needs of others, can be discovered in our lives – nothing but fruitless show. Rather, let this be our prayer and continual passion:

Make my life a bright outshining
  Of thy life, that all may see
Thine own resurrection power
  Mightily put forth in me;
Ever let my heart become
  Yet more consciously thy home.

Peter Misselbrook