Today I read in the book of Isaiah the command to do away with the pointing finger and the malicious talk.
I’ve been thinking so much about my own pointing finger this week. I like to blame others for the way I feel. I often consider how I’m being let down. This is an absolutely horrible way to live.
What if I remember that the only real problem (insofar as I cannot control anything except my response to my circumstances) is me.
I put my pointing finger away and read the rest of Isaiah 58:
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger<sup class="crossreference" value="(AF)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> and malicious talk,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AG)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AH)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
then your light<sup class="crossreference" value="(AI)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.<sup class="crossreference" value="(AJ)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
11 The Lord will guide<sup class="crossreference" value="(AK)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> you always;
he will satisfy your needs<sup class="crossreference" value="(AL)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> in a sun-scorched land<sup class="crossreference" value="(AM)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
and will strengthen<sup class="crossreference" value="(AN)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AO)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
like a spring<sup class="crossreference" value="(AP)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> whose waters never fail.
with the pointing finger<sup class="crossreference" value="(AF)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> and malicious talk,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AG)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AH)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
then your light<sup class="crossreference" value="(AI)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.<sup class="crossreference" value="(AJ)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
11 The Lord will guide<sup class="crossreference" value="(AK)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> you always;
he will satisfy your needs<sup class="crossreference" value="(AL)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> in a sun-scorched land<sup class="crossreference" value="(AM)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
and will strengthen<sup class="crossreference" value="(AN)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,<sup class="crossreference" value="(AO)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “>
like a spring<sup class="crossreference" value="(AP)” style=”font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; “> whose waters never fail.
If I’m busy spending myself on the needs of others, I’m too gloriously busy to point a finger at somebody. I’m too involved in God’s work to think or speak maliciously.
Yes, I put away the pointing finger today.
0 Responses
Excellent post. In this ego-centric world we need gentle reminders such as this.