Today’s scripture: Isaiah 47:1-15 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Alex Pittaway):
“What I want to do I don’t do. What I know I shouldn’t be doing, I do all the time.”
Those paraphrased words of Paul from the book of Romans encapsulates my greatest struggle with my faith. I know that if I spend quiet time with God each day I’ll be the better for it. Yet so often I do worldly things before having my God time. That is, if I have my quiet time at all on the average day.
I know with all my heart that quiet time with God, letting the scriptures wash over me, prayer and active listening is so good for my soul. Yet, the world offers instant gratification which is so easy to grab quickly before that quiet time that slows me down, gives me peace, and helps me build a steady, strong relationship with Jesus.
First thing in the morning I reach for my phone and scroll through Facebook, working my way through those little red notifications which seem so interesting and yet are so fleeting.
Our scripture for today, taken from the book of Isaiah 47:1-15, paint a picture of a character who was so interesting at first, yet whose appeal was ultimately fleeting.
The great Empire of Babylon, built on conquest, wealth and cruelty (which according the Ancient world’s standards made Babylon the place to be) was humiliated by God’s justice. Personified as a beautiful woman, forced to stride naked through a river. Her charms and her beauty, which ensnared so many don’t count for much when her ‘nakedness is uncovered’.
In no uncertain terms Isaiah lays out where Babylon went wrong. She showed no mercy to the vulnerable and the aged. She engaged in occult practices, making sacrifices to pagan God’s in an attempt to curry favor for the Empire. Worst of Babylon’s sins was arrogance. The arrogance of an Empire that didn’t want to listen to voices of compassion, but instead pursued relentlessly their own hollow sense of grandeur at the expense of the vulnerable.
It’s a pretty sharp distinction between the ways of the world and the ways of God. The ways of the world are temporary. The ways of the world look good at first. An entire nation of people were convinced that they could make themselves great by being greedy and by being cruel.
God’s ways don’t appeal to the value of what only the eye can see. Babylon thought the enchantments of physical prowess would see them through, but like all things of the world, when they got their day in the sunshine we see the ways of the world for what they truly are, and the aftermath is never pretty. In Babylon’s case it was destruction. They chose the quick and easy path.
It’s my prayer that God helps you and I choose God’s slow way of relationship building and compassion. Our culture values instant gratification, those little red numbers which give us the “sugar high” of online attention.
But we know the ways of the world look appealing…at first. Babylon reached heights of power that made it legendary for it’s day. But another Empire came after them and so on and so on.
Thought for the day: God’s way build’s up your soul day by day, but only if we make the choice to put God first ahead of the world. When we put God first, it’s like falling in love with the one who is the author of love. I pray that you fall in love with God day by day. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.