65 “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’
To a nation which did not call on My name.
2 “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in the way which is not good, [a]following their own thoughts,
3 A people who continually provoke Me to My face,
Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks;
4 Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places;
Who eat swine’s flesh,
And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.
5 “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My [b]nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
6 “Behold, it is written before Me,
I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will even repay into their bosom,
7 Both [c]their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the Lord.
“Because they have burned incense on the mountains
And scorned Me on the hills,
Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”
This passage speaks of the rebellion of Israel, and many of the things they did in spite of God’s goodness, and all His mighty works. They offered sacrifices to false idols (v. 3) and consulted the dead (v. 4), ate unclean food, and yet said, “I am holier than you!” We could thus focus on the judgment God promises in vv. 6-7, but I want to backup just a bit.
In vv. 1-2, we see God seeking for a people who have not sought Him. God is practically jumping up and down saying “Here I am!”, and they have not called upon Him. God spread out His arms to help them, but they would not listen or follow His ways. Instead, they went after whatever they desired, to their great detriment.
He hasn’t stopped going that though. It reminds me once again of Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” God is still knocking, still seeking us out, still holding His arms wide open and inviting us to come home.
Are we listening? That’s the simple question for today. Do we desire to walk in His ways, or are we so set on our own grand designs that there’s no room for anyone else? Slow down, stop even, and wait on the Lord today. Maybe you’re already on the right track, great! But take some time to listen for God today, and let Him guide you in the way that is best.