Thursday, April 13, 2006
Israel's Fall
Israel's Fall
(Isaiah 1)
The book of Isaiah, the prophet, was written long ago,
seven hundred years before Christ came to earth,
called sometimes the “fifth Gospel” for the riches it contains,
so many prophecies about his birth.
The rebellious Hebrew nation, a brood of evildoers,
again and again had turned their backs on God.
Beaten and bloodied by discipline, yet refusing to surrender,
they scorned the lessons of the chastening rod.
But for the precious remnant still loyal to the Lord,
their nation would have rightly been destroyed.
Though they went through all the motions of sacrifice and worship,
with their evil attitudes God was annoyed.
Their meaningless rituals, beautiful prayers,
the incense they offered was vain.
God wearied of evil, detestable deeds,
their hypocrisy causing him pain.
He loved them because of their heritage,
their forefather Abraham,
and Isaac and Jacob, the faithful three,
but their religion now was a sham.
They were to influence their neighbors for God,
but the opposite happened, alas.
They worshiped the pagan idols,
relegated the Lord to the past.
Depending on their blood line
to save them in the end,
they pushed aside the Living God,
and lost their only friend.
The door to repentance was opened wide,
but the rebels preferred their own way.
Their idols required no righteousness.
Sad will be their judgment day!
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin
left the other rebellious ten,
who were captured to serve as common slaves
and were never heard from again.
(From a lesson by Lane Brown)
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
(Isaiah 1)
The book of Isaiah, the prophet, was written long ago,
seven hundred years before Christ came to earth,
called sometimes the “fifth Gospel” for the riches it contains,
so many prophecies about his birth.
The rebellious Hebrew nation, a brood of evildoers,
again and again had turned their backs on God.
Beaten and bloodied by discipline, yet refusing to surrender,
they scorned the lessons of the chastening rod.
But for the precious remnant still loyal to the Lord,
their nation would have rightly been destroyed.
Though they went through all the motions of sacrifice and worship,
with their evil attitudes God was annoyed.
Their meaningless rituals, beautiful prayers,
the incense they offered was vain.
God wearied of evil, detestable deeds,
their hypocrisy causing him pain.
He loved them because of their heritage,
their forefather Abraham,
and Isaac and Jacob, the faithful three,
but their religion now was a sham.
They were to influence their neighbors for God,
but the opposite happened, alas.
They worshiped the pagan idols,
relegated the Lord to the past.
Depending on their blood line
to save them in the end,
they pushed aside the Living God,
and lost their only friend.
The door to repentance was opened wide,
but the rebels preferred their own way.
Their idols required no righteousness.
Sad will be their judgment day!
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin
left the other rebellious ten,
who were captured to serve as common slaves
and were never heard from again.
(From a lesson by Lane Brown)
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
