Shouted… How do you feel about being shouted at?
I suppose it depends on the message of the shout. A shout-out ‘Hi!!’ from a friend compared to a shouted ‘Get out of my way!’ from a stranger… ?
Ever think about God shouting?
"Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back--a trumpet-blast shout! Tell my people what's wrong with their lives, face my family ……. with their sins! They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people-- law-abiding, God-honoring. They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side. But…………” (Isaiah 58:1-2 The Message)
You drive your employees much too hard. v.3
You bicker and fight v.4
You aren’t sharing your food with the hungry,
You aren’t inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
You aren’t putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
You aren’t being available to your own families.v.7
Your hands are drenched in blood,
Your fingers dripping with guilt,
Your lips smeared with lies,
Your tongue swollen from muttering obscenities.
No one speaks up for the right,
No one deals fairly.
They trust in illusion,
They tell lies..(ch.59:3,4)
You fast, (religious activity)…..but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, (religious activity)…but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting (religious activity) you do won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day (religious activity) I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? (Isa. 58:4-5)
God shouted thru His prophet and servant Isaiah. And we would all do well to listen as He tells us what is wrong. We would be wise to examine our hearts, our attitudes, our intentions. I’ve heard His shout, and have been faced with His questions.
What is at the core of my religious activity?
Is it based on ritual?
Or is in based on an intimate relationship?
Does my religion have any effect on anyone but me? Does it go beyond my personal growth?
Or is it just all about me after all? (…which would in fact be idolatry…the worship of ME.)
The purpose of a shout is to get attention.
He got mine.
What about you?
