Isaiah 59-61

Chapter 59: The reality of this life / of who I know myself to be / of the really tragic, disappointing consequences of sin.

• Broken relationship to God (1-4)
  
• Inability to affect change - we look for light but always find darkness (5-14)
  
• Need for God - both for justice and for salvation - He had to do it himself and that's our only hope. (15-20)

Chapter 60: The reality of hope / of who God says I am and will be / of the faithful, sure promises and glory of God.

• Glorified by God - his glory upon us - He will make us whole.
• Repaid for wrongs - materially and morally - He will make things right.
• Union with God - he will be their light - We will know Him fully and openly.

Chapter 61: The call to the priesthood.

• To own God's agenda in the world - not just as our holy chores, but as our real desires and mission in life
• Then you will be an agent of God's restoration - a kingdom of priests
• Then you will enjoy the "double portion" - the blessing of the firstborn son - and JOY.

In the OT, there were these concentric circles of closeness to God: the high priest, then the priests and Levites, then the rest of the Israelites, then the rest of the world. All the tribes were part of God's covenant. All were in relationship with Him but that mostly consisted of receiving His blessings and coming to the temple a few times a year to kill an animal and receive the work of God. I think God is calling us to step up and become priests. Become part of the work of God. To look outward at how we can actually, physically (and spiritually) bring God's redemption into the lives of those around. To make sacrifices to see those things happen.

I think this is the Biblical answer to living in this crazy tension between chapters 59 and 60. To look past ourselves, our fulfillment, hurts, and whatever and begin meeting the needs of those around us. I don't know how to do that all the time, but I want to learn.

Mark