Woe! (Whoa?)

Daily Reading: Isaiah 5

Scripture Focus: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5.20-21)

Devotional Thought: "Whoa!"  That's what I feel like saying to COVID19.  The virus is bad enough, but on top of the virus, we have a never-ending barrage of political and ideological one-up-manship.  That makes me want to say "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"  Or, "Stop!  Focus on the truth!"

The very same events and responses condemned as evil by one group, are lauded as virtuous by another.  This dilemma is not unique to our day.  Twenty-seven centuries ago, the people in Isaiah's day had to figure it out, too.  People were trying to change the definitions: 

• Call evil good and good evil.  There are those who reject traditional forms of morality, saying that the law of God has outlived its usefulness.  "As a matter of fact," they say, "those values are evil and oppressive."

• Put darkness for light and light for darkness.  There are those who reject absolute truth.  "There is not white or black," they say, "only shades of gray."

• Put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  There are those who would "fundamentally change" western society, substituting what they think will work, for what already has worked for centuries.  In other words, "This is what suits our tastes."

• Are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight.  There are those who think that somehow they can rewrite history and ignore moral consequences.  "You can't teach us anything," they say. "We know better than our forebears."

Isaiah cried out, "Woe!" - an expression of mourning and sorrow for what was about to befall those who pushed those fairy tales.  I wonder, if he didn't mean "Whoa!" as well.  "Stop!  Focus on the truth!"

Prayer: Lord, in this day of moral relativism and social reconstruction, we must heed those later words of Isaiah, "To the teaching and to the testimony!"  Help us to focus on the truth of your Word.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 40.9-17

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.

10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"

16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"

17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!