The Servants

And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

You know, sometimes prophecy sounds rather startling all on it's own. This little text right here is known as one of the prophetic books or one that tells the future before it has ever began. Is that not just like the Lord. He knows the end from the beginning and what was not from what ever was. Last time we had seen how that God had meant good towards his people. In all our trials then can we rest in the certainty that our God is working and so will bring us safely back out. It might be a trial right now. Yet when God is in the house, it will not be for long. Sickness must bow before him. All else must flee from his presence.

Then too can we only be still before him, this God who holds within so much power. Found within the promise then of him bringing good from all things lies the quiet certainty of this truth. Look at it now with me if you will. The only proper response to this God who holds all things in himself is that of the servant and child. How often do servants have just one response to their Lord. So too do that of the children, calling him Father who has done such for them. Should we not then give of our own selves, whether in life or in service for him in return.

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

It seemed there was only one small problem with that as seen in the text. He lacked his fear and honor of all he had done, this God, and Father, and Lord. Maybe some of you remember that mustard tree seed that had been stolen and so carried off. In another's field it grew straight and tall yet still quite far away from home. Now perhaps some of us don't quite despise his name just yet. Speaking of his name, it is a strong tower indeed to whom the righteous run and thereby are safe. How much rather should we ought then to lend our bodies, mind, soul, and spirit back to the One who has made us. For we are his people and the sheep of his pasture as seen in right relation back to his Son. Sure none of us would ever do it intentionally, much less try our Lord as we don't understand. But see this thing here. The whole thing hinges on the role of the priests.

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

See, it was up to the priests to offer sacrifices to God under the Levitacal law for sin offerings and the like. Now that Christ has come and in himself fulfilled them all, just as our sins and our sorrows he had also borne, there is a different problem to be seen just yet. The priests then, those who offer ought to the Lord have had two main issues. The first, is their despite of the Lord in their treatment of both the pollution and that which follows after. The second concerns that of their treatment of the body, the vessel, even that of themselves. For are we not as vessels fit for the Master's own use. So then the vessel is used to contain that of the offering fit to give unto God.

There's an issue here you see. The last thing then is simply this. By his goodness in all his providing, there remains the question of the goodness of his table. Perhaps the thing set before you seems empty and bare. But in all that, there remains the goodness of God to his people and the certainty of a portion appointed. It better be good I know that for it comes even from God. So herein does the goodness of God yet appear. He delights in doing good and being good to his children it seems for he is our good, good Father even one yet to be seen.