Rev. Chris Henry

Isaiah 30:1, 8-18

"Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord,
who carry out a plan but not mine;
who make an alliance but against my will,
    adding sin to sin;" (Isaiah 30:1)

"Go now, write it before them on a tablet,
    and inscribe it on a scroll,
so that it may be for the time to come
    as a witness forever.
For they are a rebellious people,
    faithless children,
children who will not hear
    the instruction of the Lord;
who say to the seers, 'Do not see,'
    and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things;
    prophesy illusions;
leave the way; turn aside from the path;
    let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.'
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
Because you reject this word
    and put your trust in oppression and deceit
    and rely on them,
therefore this iniquity shall become for you
    like a break in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse,
    whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;
its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
    that is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a sherd is found
    for taking fire from the hearth
    or dipping water out of the cistern.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused and said,
‘No! We will flee upon horses’—
    therefore you shall flee!
and, ‘We will ride upon swift steeds’—
    therefore your pursuers shall be swift!
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
    at the threat of five you shall flee
until you are left
    like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
    like a signal on a hill.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:8-18)