Isaiah 45: When Values Flip

 

Warning from Isaiah or "Your Cheatin' Heart"

The difference between a teacher and a hall monitor is not just one of authority. A teacher explains a new concept while a hall monitor enforces an existing rule. Knowledge defines the difference. In one situation the student is ignorant. In the other, he’s just acting like it.

Much of the rebellion from Judah, in Isaiah’s time, demands the hall monitor approach.

“I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, seek me in vain. I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” (Isaiah 45:19).

This is right in the middle of a return-to-me message from the prophet Isaiah. The Lord draws distinctions between His authority, and the worthlessness of the pagan gods they’ve run off with.

Material Worship

Idol worship was common among the people of all over the Middle East. Idols are still, in most cases, carved from wood or other natural material like gold and silver. The golden calf worship that Aaron (Mosses' brother) fashioned at Mount Sinai was the impetus for an ordered system of rules. The worship of materials is a basic law that goes back to the 10 Commandments. It’s an offensive practice to God, because it’s literally placing greater importance on an object than the One who created it.

The children of Israel knew this by the time Isaiah began writing. They didn’t need a new lesson about the nature of God or the created earth. Their value system had flipped and reminders were needed.

I’ve been watching the Ken Burns film Country Music on PBS. It came out a few years ago but I never caught the whole series. The fact that I’ve never listened to Country is beside the point. It’s part of American history I don’t know well. Besides, a lot of the music that’s linked with Country isn’t exactly from that genre. I don’t think of Willie Nelson as Country but he is heavily featured in the series.

Hank Williams is certainly Country. His unmistakably twangy pitch and soulful lyrics drip with regret. You don’t have to know the genre to know who he was. I was surprised that he only lived to 29 years old and had an impressive 55 number one single hits on the Country charts.

For all his success, can you imagine worshiping the creative genius of Hank Williams? No one would do this consciously, make a shrine to the man or his records. Any greatness that stems from human effort, is a reflection of God’s original creative work. We get it turned around sometimes. Our values get flipped.

Isaiah continues “Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.” (verse 20)

Pagan Worship

From the scripture in Isaiah, God draws a distinction between Himself and the worship of created things and ancient myths. In Isaiah’s time, the only truth about the ordered universe, for most people, was found in nature. This was not a broadly literate time in history. Most organized societies had classes of literate people, a lot of them mystics. The Hebrews at least, made sure their Jewish populations understood the law of Moses and the Torah. Even though they didn’t teach reading and writing to the masses, they were expected to know their traditions.

They intermarried with those around them who worshipped idols. The quickest way to make them forget Jehovah was to intermarry and lose their covenant. But God still revealed Himself to pagans. This is what Paul writes about in Romans 1, a natural law. “…For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

The Lord is saying, through Isaiah, that he doesn’t operate the same as idols. He doesn’t hide from them in some dark land or ignore their prayers. He is a relationship God and makes Himself obvious and available. You can’t miss Him because He exists everywhere, and all life speaks to His design. The beauty and order and consistency in nature is all the evidence you need. Stop pretending that the block of wood you carved represents a higher power. You know it doesn’t.

Conclusion

This isn’t a teacher explaining the metric system, it’s not a demonstration on cooking with wine. It’s a game warden pointing to the ‘No Fishing’ sign as you quickly cut your line and tuck the pole under your seat. It’s an admonishment, not a new lesson. The difference is this, you knew better. This is God’s version of “Your Cheatin’ Heart”. Whether you learned it from the rabbi or discovered it from observing the seasons, in your being it’s the truth and you can’t escape it. Even when your values flip, you can’t plead ignorance.

But we serve a God that makes a way. For all of His admonishing (and exasperation at times) He calls us back to relationship. He forgives and restores. He reminds us of our covenant when we lose our way. He did it for Judah; He does it for us.