"Seek the LORD while he may be found; Call upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6
My current Bible study in the book of Isaiah has now landed me in the 54th and 55th chapters of Isaiah. These chapters are full of beautiful words which paint soul-shattering promises of God's everlasting LOVE.
The question on my study of this verse asked: "How does one seek and call on the Lord?"
I didn't really like this question - perhaps it is too simple sounding, too direct. The first one-word answer that popped into my head was, "Prayer." But that is too easy. There must be more to the answer. I thought of the verses about salvation found in Romans 10:
"For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved...For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:10, 13
But I realized that these verses, do not answer the question. They only expound of the need of man to call upon God for salvation.
So how does one call upon God?
I thought that maybe the answer would be in the word. Maybe God made it clear what He meant in the word He used. So I looked up the Hebrew word used in this Isaiah passage for "Call."
And I was amazed.
In this world and age of technology and instant communication, the English word "call" does not carry much weight. The casual use of cellphones, laptops, Ipods and pagers doesn't leave much room to the imagination. But this Hebrew word fills in the gaps. The literal meaning is something in the sense of "accosting someone." To follow, pursue...frantically, loudly, desperately.
My mind went instantly to the story of the blind beggar found in Luke 18:35-43.
This beggar called upon Jesus from the dusty, dirty alley in which he sat - inhabiting every sense of the Hebrew word found in Isaiah 55:6.
He called out to Jesus while He was near and passing by...this beggar who was overcome with a debilitating condition. All of his life he had felt the warmth of sunshine, and never seen the brilliance of it's light. He had heard voices, angry and annoyed, but never seen the smile of a stranger. He was hopeless...helpless. Yet, here was One who could help him. One whose fame he had heard of.
And he had one chance.
Creating a din, this man did everything he could to get Jesus' attention. All around him, crowds of people tried to silence him - rebuking him for his annoyance and his disrespect. But not caring what others thought or felt or said, this man screamed and yelled and called for Jesus. He accosted him, knowing he may never find this Man again, if he did not get His attention now. For here was help and salvation and healing. He could not let it pass him by.
And Jesus stopped.
He did meet this man's need.
He brought healing and help and salvation.
And sunshine and a smile.
Because that's what He wants to do. He wants us to need Him desperately - to realize that we have a need that only He can meet - a disease only He can heal. And He knows when we realize that...nothing in hell or earth can stop us from seeking Him...calling to Him. To throw ourselves at His feet in rest and worship.
Even apart from salvation, He still wants to meet those needs. Those everyday battles that rip and gnaw and wound. That threaten with encroaching darkness and blindness. To shut out sunshine and joy. But He is here. To carry those sorrows He has already carried and our oppression for which He was already afflicted. He wants us to know what He means to carry a light, easy burden. To live the abundant life He suffered for.
And He is there. Passing by...
Accost Him.
"For a brief moments I deserted you, but with GREAT COMPASSION I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with EVERLASTING LOVE I will have COMPASSION ON YOU," says the LORD, your REDEEMER.
Isaiah 54:7-8
My current Bible study in the book of Isaiah has now landed me in the 54th and 55th chapters of Isaiah. These chapters are full of beautiful words which paint soul-shattering promises of God's everlasting LOVE.
The question on my study of this verse asked: "How does one seek and call on the Lord?"
I didn't really like this question - perhaps it is too simple sounding, too direct. The first one-word answer that popped into my head was, "Prayer." But that is too easy. There must be more to the answer. I thought of the verses about salvation found in Romans 10:
"For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved...For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:10, 13
But I realized that these verses, do not answer the question. They only expound of the need of man to call upon God for salvation.
So how does one call upon God?
I thought that maybe the answer would be in the word. Maybe God made it clear what He meant in the word He used. So I looked up the Hebrew word used in this Isaiah passage for "Call."
And I was amazed.
In this world and age of technology and instant communication, the English word "call" does not carry much weight. The casual use of cellphones, laptops, Ipods and pagers doesn't leave much room to the imagination. But this Hebrew word fills in the gaps. The literal meaning is something in the sense of "accosting someone." To follow, pursue...frantically, loudly, desperately.
My mind went instantly to the story of the blind beggar found in Luke 18:35-43.
This beggar called upon Jesus from the dusty, dirty alley in which he sat - inhabiting every sense of the Hebrew word found in Isaiah 55:6.
He called out to Jesus while He was near and passing by...this beggar who was overcome with a debilitating condition. All of his life he had felt the warmth of sunshine, and never seen the brilliance of it's light. He had heard voices, angry and annoyed, but never seen the smile of a stranger. He was hopeless...helpless. Yet, here was One who could help him. One whose fame he had heard of.
And he had one chance.
Creating a din, this man did everything he could to get Jesus' attention. All around him, crowds of people tried to silence him - rebuking him for his annoyance and his disrespect. But not caring what others thought or felt or said, this man screamed and yelled and called for Jesus. He accosted him, knowing he may never find this Man again, if he did not get His attention now. For here was help and salvation and healing. He could not let it pass him by.
And Jesus stopped.
He did meet this man's need.
He brought healing and help and salvation.
And sunshine and a smile.
Because that's what He wants to do. He wants us to need Him desperately - to realize that we have a need that only He can meet - a disease only He can heal. And He knows when we realize that...nothing in hell or earth can stop us from seeking Him...calling to Him. To throw ourselves at His feet in rest and worship.
Even apart from salvation, He still wants to meet those needs. Those everyday battles that rip and gnaw and wound. That threaten with encroaching darkness and blindness. To shut out sunshine and joy. But He is here. To carry those sorrows He has already carried and our oppression for which He was already afflicted. He wants us to know what He means to carry a light, easy burden. To live the abundant life He suffered for.
And He is there. Passing by...
Accost Him.
"For a brief moments I deserted you, but with GREAT COMPASSION I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with EVERLASTING LOVE I will have COMPASSION ON YOU," says the LORD, your REDEEMER.
Isaiah 54:7-8
