Mercy for stiff-necked people
by Pastor Tim Klein
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For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze (Isaiah 48:4).
This word today, Isaiah 48:1–11, takes a bit to digest and unpack – but it is worth the effort. Today, the Lord focuses Isaiah on the hypocrisy and stubbornness of his people.
It seems to be an age-old problem that is still with us today and was alive and well in captive Israel.
They claimed they were God’s people – claimed citizenship in the holy city – and claimed to rely on the God of Israel, but they also ignored the mighty works of their God, even ascribing them to their own efforts or idols. They were rigidly stubborn about it – to the point of inflexibility in their thinking and actions. That’s how they were described by Isaiah: ‘For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze’ (Isaiah 48:4).
Does that sound familiar? Is this problem still ours in any way today? Are you and I tempted to ascribe our successes and blessings to our own efforts, luck or good fortune, and even to some of our common idols? God observed his people and their treachery as they claimed his things for their own. What does he see in our lives, homes, churches and worship?
But even then, the Lord did not destroy them – even now, the Lord does not destroy us.
He relents. He has mercy. He does new things that bless us – undeserving as we are. ‘For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely’ (Isaiah 48:9).
Yes, we sin too. We can be stubborn and even treacherous, but our Lord Jesus has love and mercy that constantly reaches out to us with forgiveness. We, too, can rightly claim our place in the Holy City through our participation in the body of Christ. All glory to him and no other.
All glory, praise and honour to you, redeemer, king, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. You are the king of Israel and David’s royal son, now in the Lord’s name coming the king and blessed one. (Theodulph of Orleans, 821 AD, TIS 333)
Tim is the husband of the lovely Joylene, father of three and their spouses, and Pa to nine grandchildren. Tim loves family time. He also loves family time with his faith family at Faith Warradale, where he has served as the pastor for eight years. He has served as a pastor of the church in various capacities for more than 30 years. Tim also enjoys photography, pushbike riding and gardening and is a self-taught guitarist, Adelaide Conservatorium-trained singer, and writer of an occasional song. Tim says he looks forward to a couple more years as a full-time pastor and is open to where the Lord would use him beyond that.
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