The Book of Isaiah
Socks and Shoes
A little boy was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, “My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?” “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy’s reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.
By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, “No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?”
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: “Are you God’s Wife?” Author Unknown
Because of this woman’s kindness, the little boy recognized that she knew God. That is different than knowing about God. The book of Isaiah will help us know God – that He is not capricious or cruel but wonderful and compassionate. When we do Gods’ bidding we proclaim to the world that He is good and there is good news to share.
Dear Friends, are you anxious, fretting, stressed by the chaos around you this day? Let’s take a moment to look into Isaiah, Chapter 9. I promise, it will refresh you.
“For our sakes, for our problems and our needs, –unto us,– for our benefit –a child is produced thru great and much travail. This child is born, for us. To us, a son is bestowed, provided, entrusted, granted”. That’s not a Hallmark greeting, that’s the precious Word of God.
Are you serious? Yes, not only that but…
…the government, the dominion, shall be TODAY, tomorrow, in the future and going forward, that government, shall rest upon His shoulders, His back. All of it, totally. This is the place of the whole world’s burdens – between His shoulders and on His neck, shall be the portion of our pain. One man, One burden bearer, One Redeemer.
Breathe for a minute.
Release whatever is laying heavy on your shoulders right now –into His capable hands. The whole world rests on HIS shoulders, not yours, not your spouses or your political partys’ leader. God is not nervous in this hour. He is trustworthy and He has placed ALL rule and authority on the shoulders of His son Jesus. Meditate on His sovereign control of not only you but the whole Universe.
We’ve recently seen the stress and death threats upon former President Trump in the news, we’ve heard of the betrayals and intense scrutiny of Vice President Harris on social media, we’ve watched as leaders around the world like Netanyahu being threatened and other leaders assassinated. Their shoulders are human. None of them were set forth from the foundation of the world to bear ALL the world’s pain. None were born exclusively for OUR benefit. Elected or placed officials are not the same as Gods’ anointed Messiah – Jesus. His loss and death were our gain, His rejection was our victory. Isaiah’s’ contemporaries were looking for their marching orders from human leaders, walking in rebellion against the Lord’s commands, openly sinning and vying for power. Isaiah’s message to them and us speaks of judgment, hope and then the greatest solution ever – Emmanuel, God being with us.
Only ONE is worthy. Only ONE has the eternal strength to hold our trials and the world in His hands.
Consider Christs’ primary goal. To establish Gods’ reign and upset the enemies plans. The Berean Literal Bible says it this way in 1 John 3:8, “The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. He is our true enemy. For this reason –the Son of God was revealed, so that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Pretty clear focus. Only One was free from sin–just one.
We’ve all heard the Hallmark phrase “Jesus is the reason for the season” but the real reason is you, me, us. He came for us. He died for us. He lives for us and to disrupt, and destroy the works of the devil. That is much harder to express on a coffee cup, but Isaiah’s message fulfilled in Christ is that God’s focal point was bringing us salvation, comfort, and hope. That was His mission. It wasn’t a “vote for Jesus movement”, it was a “He is the Answer to pain, suffering, and sin miracle”.
I do not see anywhere in scripture where it says “Invite people to church” as a focus but it does say “Go, tell the good news about Jesus”. It does say “proclaim, bind the broken-hearted”. When churches or people try to become more popular than the Suffering Servant, we lose the “eternal” part of the message. Your church can help people in awesome ways, but not The Way Jesus provides – salvation and freedom. ONLY He can do that for people. Pointing people to Him goes all the way back to Isaiah. That’s a good plan!
In Isaiah 61 we read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me”. It doesn’t say court the rich, or build a crowd. The anointing from God is to be fresh, cheerful, and full (which requires rest and time with Jesus), and it brings hope to the POOR (the afflicted, humble, weary). Immigrants are poor. Pregnant women are poor, Teenagers are poor, and weary families are poor. Those who work in the media may also be “poor”.
I’ll let you work out the political agendas possible in each of those sentences. My point is only to say that we all need Jesus, we ALL need His righteousness and justice. Want to know Gods platform in this hour? Repentance and trust , that’s His jam as the kids say. It’s His heart, then and now. Jesus had a plan and through Him, we have that same plan to bring the good news to those who are low, and afflicted. Poor means a state of heart more than the state of ones wallet. That’s who Jesus concerned Himself with when He was on earth.
When my folks passed away, it was like the Sun stopped shining. The brightness, compassion, and caring, were suddenly gone and the world seemed to be a much darker place. I never realized what treasures they were as individuals because to me that was normal. Their support and encouragement were constant and my love tank was full. In their absence, the world felt cold and for a while I struggled to find joy or comfort. I would crave smiles, people saying “keep your chin up” and other words of life. Any random scripture felt like a lifeline. Dark places need light, warmth. Those without hope need to know there is hope. “Comfort, comfort my people” are the words of a Father wanting His children to know He still lives and cares for them. I don’t want any person to go thru life without the light of Gods love. I’ve made it my mission to never let anyone feel as lonely or hopeless as I did in that season of grief.
What can we bring them? Who can we bring them?
Jesus’ role, and by extension our role, is to deliver words of joy and hope, to bind up the broken-hearted. The word “bind up” means wrapping someone up – to go round and round like you’re placing a turban or blanket around them. It’s not just a one-time tract or platitude. It means to bring actual tangible healing to someone. To “gird” them looks less like throwing a pair of socks out your car window on a cold day when you are scared to do evangelism and more like visiting again and again when you find someone wounded or grieving. Emotional bandaging – what if the world saw this in us? Instead of people pointing out injury, they come alongside and bandage, bring love and support.
Jesus still wants to bring salvation, and healing. Sending a giant arm from Heaven might freak people out so He nudges and stirs you and me. Smile. His ways are best and He wants to use the likes of you and me. Isaiah 9 tells us Jesus came to bring LIBERTY. Liberty as a free-flowing, pure wellspring of delight from the Father. Wait, that’s His purpose for me? Yes, that we would be FREE before the Father, delighting in His presence, deeply loved and enveloped by His peace. Come down Lord, come rest on us!
Not all in prison are bound and not all who are in churches are free. In the middle of a sin-ravaged society, a time of great rebellion and wickedness, Isaiah prophesied of a God who loved justice and righteousness. They only saw it as a hope, a feel good prophecy, a Utopian fantasy …. Until one day Jesus walked into the room and it became possible. He didn’t say “I’m here to take over”, He told them “the Spirit of the Lord is on me”. At the very start, Jesus let us know He was following Gods direction. It wasn’t about Him, though He was Messiah. It was about glorifying the Father and fulfilling a greater purpose. Emmanuel in the flesh – that was Gods idea way back then. Is Emmanuel with us today?
How?
Jesus said He would release the Holy Spirit to change men’s hearts, set people free, bring healing … What was once just a hope, became reality. People with no hope, get hope. People dying get a healer. Bound people, prisoners get free. With Christs government, the Holy Spirit would be released on earth to men and women who would receive Him. That Holy Spirit would be the onboard law, the onboard minister, the onboard One who would walk beside those chosen by God, His priests and ministers. (See 1 Peter 2:9 if you need reminding who that includes). It wasn’t meant to be a one or even several minister system, but anointed ones, set apart, seeds set forth by God, ministering in a broken, fallen world. Empowered to love, to proclaim, to bind.
Jesus did not reach everyone. There is this little Hebrew word (shawlack) “sent”, that tells us Jesus went to those to whom the Father sent Him to reach. He was sown into people’s lives. God knew where the ground was fertile. In order to be sent and receive Gods’ orders we need to rest in Him, listen to Him, spend time with Him. Maybe that is the reason many Christians DON’T want to slow down. On the other side of that is your victory, your testimony, your fulfillment of Gods purpose. We must follow Jesus, not the culture.
If we want to celebrate This Messiah, we need to know that He is:
- Wonderful – marvelous, extraordinary, a wonder of Gods’ acts of justice and redemption. So, we watch and get to know Him.
- Counselor – An adviser, to guide and bring purpose, one who gives counsel. So, we bring Him our problems and hurts.
- Mighty God – powerful, warrior, champion, chief, giant, valiant man who fights for His people. So, we trust Him for ourselves and family with difficulties. We trust and have courage to do what He leads us to do.
- Everlasting – Perpetuity, forever, lasting, world without end, continuous. So, we know He is forever, stable and will not abandon us.
- Father – Head, Founder, Producer, Chief, papa. So, we love Him and have intimate fellowship with Him, listening for His heartbeat and delight.
- Prince – the chief, governor, master, General, Captain. So, we rest in His ultimate authority and power.
- PEACE – Favor, rest, wholeness, Shalom, prosperity, Completeness, soundness, safety, tranquility, contentment, friendship, health, freedom from war. So, we thank Him for all His benefits and love.
As CeCe Winans sings, “that’s my King, altogether worthy!”
Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah and his precious wife prophesied of a Messiah that would come. Trusting ANY other leader (male or female) more than Messiah, is idolatry. We need this leader, Jesus, more than ever. Not just to make “Jesus is the reason for the season” coffee mugs or have plays that share about His birth. That is just a small token of what represents our faith. Being “sent ones” like Jesus, is what will proclaim who He truly is. He is fully grown, fully risen, LORD. He is the One that can cleanse sin. Calling on Him, obeying Him would not only be wise for individuals, families and churches but this One, the One who has the government on His shoulders, can heal our nation as well. Who will tell them that, who will listen and be sent?
We’ve been given a warning and hope through this prophetic book. We have a redeemer, we’ve been given bandages and healing. Let’s use our “anointing” for more than decorating trees or churches this year. Let’s step out and bring hope to the poor, bandage the broken-hearted, and proclaim liberty to those who are bound up– physically, spiritually or emotionally. THAT is the reason for Jesus coming and the season. Then come, come to the altar at Christmas and hear stories of what took place when you followed HIS voice. Share in God’s delight, God’s plan and purpose – for us and those we are sent to.
If we read AND heed Isaiah’s words , it’ll be a much, much merrier Christmas.
RenaeRoche2024