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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