Daily Readings and Thought for June 26th. “LISTEN TO ME YOU WHO KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 5,6 Isaiah 51, Revelation 12,13
How few there are today who “know righteousness”! This is because there are few who meditatively read God’s word – to absorb it into their hearts. We read today of the LORD’s appeal to us to “know righteousness” – it is in ch. 51 of Isaiah. We meditate on the contexts in which the word “know” is used in God’s word.
We remember the challenging message God gave to Israel we read a few days ago in Isaiah ch. 43. “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”[v.10] Do we “believe … and understand” as an outcome of the way we “know” God? Ponder that question carefully!
To “know” God and His “righteousness” is clearly of a higher dimension that knowing within human experience. We read last week the woman gleaning in Boaz’s field, she said to Ruth, “all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.” [3 v.11]
Consider how our Isaiah chapter starts! “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD …” They are then reminded of Abraham and Sarah and way they ‘knew’ God. Then comes God’s challenge to “Listen give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me ….” [v.4] They do not ‘hear’ God actually speaking – but they heard the prophet speaking on his behalf – and we “read” and in that way ‘hear’ God’s speaking! Are we really, fully, giving attention? We must each, individually answer that question.
God’s message through Isaiah is so critical that he repeats it with added emphasis in v. 7. “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man…” Hear is a vital question for us today! Do we “know righteousness”? We do, IF we have pursued it! A vital factor in doing that is to read – and meditate on God’s word every day. We started by looking at Isaiah ch. 51- have a look at it now – as we finish our thoughts.
