Isaiah’s vision of the Lord high and exalted with the hem of His robe filling the temple

What is “new normal”

Have you ever experienced a time when you wondered if things would ever get better? If things would ever be “normal” again?

2020 has been the year that we all have had this thought several times a day!

Isaiah’s dilemma

This was Isaiah’s dilemma! Isaiah the prophet received a message from God about the rebellious nation of Judah. It was not good news for Judah. Their rebellion has become so bad that God was going to judge them. Isaiah had the task of bringing the message to the people. “The preacher became a troubadour and sang a folk song.” (Weisbe) His message is harsh for the people, however, they don’t receive it. In song or in words, the message falls on deaf ears.

Isaiah is discouraged, grieved for the people. Then it got worse, King Uzziah died. Uzziah has reigned 52 years. He was a good king until His pride brought God’s judgment. Leprosy! A horrible disease that condemned Uzziah to isolation. His version of “shelter in place.”

Tradition states that Isaiah was a cousin of Uzziah or a nephew of Amaziah (Talmud Meg. 10b) He was probably a scribe or keeper of the official chronicle of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:22). https://bible.org/article/introduction-isaiah

Things look bad

Therefore, not only has Isaiah had to deliver a harsh message, he now loses a family member in death. His situation was looking really gloomy. His beloved nation was going to fall and be exiled. Sounds vaguely familiar?

But God gives Isaiah a vision. He sees the Lord high and exalted. (Jesus, See John 12:41 NIV) The hem of His robe fills the temple. This is where hope is found! The shul, the hem, of Jesus robe fills the temple with His Shekinah glory. GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!

Question??? Why the hem of His Robe?

To answer that question, we need to go back to Exodus 28: 31-35. It is there that God gives Moses the instructions for the priestly robes. Specifically, the hem of the tunic. God instructions Moses to have the embroidery pomegranates, (turquoise pomegranates?) and sew bells in the hem. What then is the symbolic meaning of these two items? The bells were to let the people know that the priest was alive and was performing atoning sacrifices for their sins. The people knew that their sins were being forgiven for one more year. Also if the bells stopped, the other priests were to pull the high priest out of the Holy of Holies. When the bells stopped ringing, the priest was dead because he offered the sacrifice while unclean before the LORD.

Bells and Pomegranates?

Bells are significant because they sound forth the joyous sound of “good news”. We have bells at Christmas, we ring bells after the wedding ceremony! Bells tell us something good has happened. Pomegranates are red, signifying the blood that Christ spilled for our sins. Plus they have many, many seeds as fruit. Seeds that will multiply and spread that fruit.

Message for us

The bells tell us that we have good news about forgiveness of our sins. The pomegranates tell us we should spread that good news.

When all seems lost, when we are discouraged, when we are almost ready to give up, we have good news! God is still in control!

Look up my fellow treaders. God has a plan. He will complete it.

There is more to this story and I will complete it next time. Until then, keep treading water. Our redemption draws near!.. Jesus will come quickly.SOON!

https://youtu.be/q7jIZt3qUVQ  Christ for The Nations Worship   You are Holy

Rosh Hashana  begins this weekend September 18-20.  Are you ready?

New Beginnings