Idols profit nothing
Day 331, Tuesday, July 8
Isaiah 43:14 -44:23
God speaks through Isaiah of the worthlessness of idols, speaking of the foolishness of people who God created in turn making their own creations and calling them Gods.
As he gets into the conversation in 43:26, he invites the reader, “Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.”
We rightly place a lot of emphasis on the need to obey God and surrender our wills to his, but it is surprising how often in scripture God seems willing to engage in such real conversation with his own creation. Here he invites conversation, then proceeds to lay out his claims and arguments with logic, showing that is important to him that we not only follow, but also understand and accept why we are following.
He then proceeds to consider how foolish it is to worship idols, including an extended discussion of how a workman might take a single tree and fashion an idol to worship out of part of it, but simply burn the rest as fuel.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Tuesday meditation

Job 3:20-26
“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”

Prayer focus
Lord, we constantly look for things to worship and aspire to that are less than you. Forgive us and keep us focused on you.