Exposition by Max A Forsythe
A few years ago there was a popular movie called The Ghostbusters. With a very New Age premise, the director imitated the same image in another movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The premise I have in mind here is what we may well call “God in a Box”. Like many of the ancient sculptors who thought they were carving out the shape of the spirit already in the wood or stone, the force fields (ancient and modern) of the special effects would limit captured spirits to the particular box of their fancy.
Some might even go so far as to see the Hebrew God as a spiritual force captured by Moses in his ark and for his special service. Why else would some who offered sacrifices believe that the gods needed the smoked fat, entrails and bone for sustenance? And in return for such sustenance, the gods would protect the source of their worship and feeding. Certainly we would groan at any such suggestions in our day and time, wouldn’t we? But, aren’t there many people who serve God for their own selfish reasons? The “name it, claim it” school of theology might as well have an ark in a smoke filled room as they attempt to manipulate the God of heaven for material blessings. Our modern culture is not so far off from paganism as we would like. I once read a short article about our “covenant responsibilities” in a liberal Presbyterian periodical. Their Moloch-like call was for women to abort unneeded children as part of their responsibility to hold down the population of a crowded planet and as a means to contribute to their own quality of life.
The box that these two groups would put God into is one of their own design. God is seen as a being whose responsibilities consist in blessing whatever actions serve the deified self. In many New Age quarters this deified self is becoming godlike in declaration. I know one arrogant young stud who is mystified by my refusal to recognize his superior qualities. And more and more I am hearing young people blaspheme the Holy Name by assuming Godlike proportions in their posture and expectations. You have only to turn to the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes to get the general drift of things! Or you can see a popular movie StarGate to appreciate the self-appointed god who enslaved young humans to serve in his spacecraft heaven.
Were our very own God of such a kind, it would not take a very big heaven to contain him as our imagination required. However, the real, the true, the absolute and only GOD of Creation is far far beyond such meager imaginations. At one time, the knowledge of the heavens was limited to the naked eye. Today, the heavens have expanded beyond comprehension. Little points of light that we once thought were mere stars have been found to be whole galaxies. The further out we see, the more we find. Every time scientists think the edge of the universe is discovered, more powerful instruments take us further and further out. How much more we know than the ancients, and yet we would still try to put God in a box and limit His power and authority.
Look at the report of Isaiah as the Lord speaks through him: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things and so they came into being?” Ahah! Do you see here that we are not the box makers? Indeed, the role is quite reversed. Our Creator God has formed all the starry host; he has hung this little orb of dust and water in space and given it material light. For some of the inhabitants, He has also given spiritual life as well.
A long time ago, my family brought an unwanted kitten home. For the journey, we took a cardboard box and cut a few holes for light and air. One hole was big enough for a little paw to scratch around outside. The kitten made a lot of noise coming home, but once home he was fed and pampered and lived a life of ease. I guessed that her brothers and sisters were probably tossed into a large bucket instead. That little kitten was tamed and finally became content with the blessings she received. And so, as we come to realize who is really in the box, so ought we tame our passions and count the blessings of spiritual captivity.
Look at the second half of verse two: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” When my family first handled that wild little kitten, it trembled and quivered and quaked. When it grew up, and learned to hunt, like many other tamed cats she brought the first fruits of the hunt to our porch almost like an offering.
Yes, even as we are tamed by the Spirit, we ought to seek to worship the God of our salvation. In the next few verses here through verse four, we see that some tithes, offerings and gifts are not acceptable. Dr Young notes that in the four examples here, legitimate sacrifices are contrasted with abominations. The emphasis here is on the real spirit of the offering. Years ago I read a modern proverb that is too terribly true. It was copied out of some church bulletin and it read: “God loves a cheerful giver, but we will accept money from a grouch”. About that same time, a very wealthy man who had not been seen in the Church for decades passed away. A month or so later, we heard that he had left fifty dollars to the Church. The trustees discussed that little gift for at least an hour and a half. We argued the merits of accepting a gift from one who had systematically gouged the community for his profits for over fifty years. Did we accept money from the grouch? To tell you the truth, I can’t remember. But I am certain that the God of heaven well knows the state of your hearts when you bring to Him the tithes and offerings that He commands.
Just as that little mouse offering was of no use to our family ,we ought to remember that there is no gift great enough that we can bring to the God of heaven that can satisfy the debts of sin. God Himself paid our ransom and He invites us to consider Him with fear and trembling until we understand His gift of salvation.
Again in verse five we are invited to hear the words of the Lord and tremble at them. Here we may see the worldly church of Isaiah’s time and any other who mock the true church. “Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!” they despairingly challenge. And what word does Isaiah report? Merely that the explosions and hellish tumult of combat at the Temple square is none other than the Lord’s punishment for the ungodly who would steal the bridal gown meant for the Lord’s elect. Too often in the history of Christ’s New Covenant Church, the very buildings, the accumulated wealth, the schools and libraries have been stolen by infidels, pagans and humanists. These bridal gowns and treasures will do them no good, and the vain empty treasures will be consumed in the same fires of their torment.
And yet, even though the true bride of Christ is often left naked and poor in a worldly way, still there is spiritually induced labor and God graciously grants the increase. Our commentators would interpret this verse as a prophecy of the New Covenant community being born out of the remnants of the Old Covenant. Verse eight is very much like the outpouring of the Spirit on the three thousand at Pentecost. A country born in a day! Or is it like the increase of the Reformation? From a tired, old and senile Roman Madam there was suddenly a whole host of reformers and their seed. A country born in a day!
Ah, do we not earnestly pray for and desire a revival and reformation of Christ’s Church in our day? Be patient and cling to the promise of verse nine. And let us look forward to the promise of the following verses as we hope for spiritual increase even in the midst of such a hopeless time! And even as we wait, may we know the peace of verse twelve and the comfort of being part of Christ’s Church. In many many times and places, the Church has been run down and despised. Such was the case in Isaiah’s time and things only got worse afterwards. But, even as Isaiah saw the future of the Old Covenant Community so he also sensed the promise of the New Covenant Community as well.
So we ought to take heart and know that our future is in the hands of our great God who is so much larger than the mere material universe in which we are presently contained. And even as Isaiah promises, He will come and He will not be slow. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly your Church to restore.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
Youngblood, Ronald F. The Book of Isaiah: An
Introductory Commentary.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
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(c) 2001
19 March 1995
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.