Isaiah 65:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 65:1-9 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 65I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that did not call on my name. Verse 2I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; Verse 3a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; Verse 4who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; Verse 5who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. Verse 6See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps Verse 7their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions.
Verse 8Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it," so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. Verse 9I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.
Devotion
In my ceaseless efforts to always be "right," I often assume righteousness for myself while denying that attribute to others. This chapter of Isaiah reminds us that righteousness belongs to God and God alone. That means that my duties—and yours, my brothers and sisters—are derived from God's Word alone and not from any rites or regulations that we make up for ourselves—or for others. God's Word tells us that in every cluster of grapes there is a blessing. No matter the mess we make of things, God is always making all things new. And for that we can certainly give thanks and praise.
Prayer
God, come to us anew in this season of turbulence and division and draw us out of ourselves towards you and towards each other. Amen.