Title: There is no peace for the wicked
Isaiah (117) There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:12-22)
< The blessing that comes from paying attention to the Word >
God is the first and the last (verse 12). He is also the ruler of all things (verse 13). Therefore, we must draw near to God and make every effort to hear His word (verse 16). It is good to obey the Word as it is, but in fact, no one lives completely obedient to the Word. So, if you just pay attention to the Word, God promises blessings. What blessings do you promise?
First, there will be peace like a river and justice like the waves of the sea (verse 18). Second, you will have the blessing of multiplying your descendants (verse 19). Third, you will receive the blessing of liberation and restoration (verse 20). Fourth, you will receive the blessing of not being thirsty (verse 21). Obedience to God's Word increases the possibility of spiritual as well as physical blessings.
It takes courage and confidence to live a successful life, but the most important thing is the Word of God. If you draw near to the Word, your anxiety and unhappiness will suffocate. Saints become most beautiful when they are in the Word. No matter what happens, don't leave the place where the Word is. Beauty is being there. When hair is attached to the head, it is beautiful, but when it is in the rice bowl, the taste of rice is lost. No matter how beautiful a thing is, it becomes ugly when it leaves its place.
Saliva in the mouth plays a valuable role inside the mouth, but it is considered dirty when it comes out of the mouth. No matter how precious it is, if it leaves its place, it becomes dirty. Airplanes must follow the route to avoid being hit by the missiles of the air defense system, ships must follow the sea route to avoid hitting reefs, and trains must follow the rails to safely reach their destination. As such, the most successful and happiest life is when believers follow the Word of God.
< There is no peace for the wicked >
On the other hand, what happens if we do not pay attention to the Word of God? We lose many things, but above all, we lose peace (verse 22). Of course, facing the Word honestly may be more painful at first. It is because the truth of oneself is revealed through the Word. What do people hate to see the most? his ugly face. When are people most irritable? It's a time when someone reveals who they are that they don't want to face.
Nowadays, many people mistake the vain image of themselves they have created for themselves. In order to reduce such painful time with them, they often go into the noise, in the crowd, or become obsessed with something and get drunk. The Word acts as a mirror through which we reflect ourselves. So, if you face the Word, you may feel more uncomfortable, but eventually, because of it, you will find your true self and go on the right path.
In Ecclesiastes 12:11, it is said that the words of the wise man are like 'sticks with piercings' and like 'nails pierced'. Just as furniture and a house become strong only when the nails are properly nailed, you must be close to the Word in order to become a healthy soul. How much stronger will your life be if the Word of God suddenly comes to mind at every important turning point in your life and the word guides your life correctly? So, if you draw near to the Word, peace will abound.
Living close to the Word means more than studying the Bible. In fact, it is important to know a lot of the Bible, but what is more important is to live by putting what you know into practice. The problem of believers today is not that they do not know much about the Bible, but that they do not live according to the Bible. It is important to know a lot of the Bible, but it is even more important to have a deep encounter with Jesus through the Bible. The purpose of Bible study should not be wrong.
In the New Testament, there were people who had excellent knowledge of the Bible but did not meet Jesus. These are the Pharisees and the scribes. They knew a lot about the Messiah, but never met the Messiah. The fortress also has such saints. Some lay people even know Greek, but there are many times when such people do not live according to the Word. It is important to know a lot of the Bible, but more important is to show the Word in your life. If you strive to live according to the Word, amazing peace is given to you, but there is no peace for those who do not pay attention to the Word.