He Shall Become a Sanctuary
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He Shall Become a Sanctuary
Isaiah’s job was to preach to the disobedient Israelites. Although he preached for about sixty years, he was not at all popular. Tradition says he was sawn in two by those who hated him. They hated him for revealing their sins and preaching repentance. But, Isaiah was appointed by God to continue preaching, even though he was hated and rejected.
This hated prophet wrote many of the prophecies regarding the Savior’s life. They all came true in the smallest details, so we know that Isaiah truly represented the LORD God. So, Isaiah spoke the truth, but, nobody wanted to hear the truth.
In one of Isaiah’s calls for repentance, he told the Israelites their priorities were all wrong and in Isaiah 8:13-14 he wrote,
It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.
Then He shall become a sanctuary;
But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over…
The Israelites were afraid of an Assyrian invasion, but they refused to repent and turn to the LORD — kinda like people today. So, Isaiah’s message shows us all an eternal truth.
When people know in their hearts that God truly is holy — and they have so much respect for the LORD’s holiness that they carefully and lovingly live the way God wants them to — then, this holy God becomes their “sanctuary” — their place of security, rest, and peace.
How can that be?
The world tends to think that we need to steer clear of anything that is so holy that it is something to fear and dread. We do need to shake in our boots when we realize just how holy God is. He is absolutely perfect in all of His judgments, powers, authority, righteousness, justice. All of that condemns every single one of us to death for our sins. We can’t face that.
But, in the same breath, God’s holiness means He is also absolutely perfect in love, mercy, grace, kindness, gentleness, truthfulness, and faithfulness. This holy God has declared in truth that He loves us and desires to give us the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
That is when this holy God becomes our “sanctuary” — our place of security, rest, peace, and total forgiveness in Christ.
But, Isaiah added another truth when he said, “But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over.” Other Bible verses tell us that Jesus is the Rock that many will stumble over.
God gives us a sure Savior, a promise of forgiveness simply through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, but people stumble over that concept. It’s like the idea of a real Savior is impossible. People still want to work their own way into heaven. They simply do not want to trust and believe in the almighty LORD.
As we have regard for the LORD’s holiness, we need to remember that His holiness causes Him to always proclaim the truth. That truth is forgiveness through faith in Jesus. In the truth of our Savior’s work we have our “sanctuary”.
Let us find our peace in our Sanctuary — Jesus Christ.
As we rest in the peace of forgiveness, we say, “Hallelujah! I know that my Redeemer lives.”
Love,
Margaret
A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods
Pray for our country.
The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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