Introduction

So, God's Word. What do you think of when you hear these, mmm, Words? The Bible? That book or this book. The stories. The new testament or the Old? Maybe you think of something more...

Do you think more specifically? Let’s say, well why don’t we start at the beginning…because THAT of course it is, a very good place to start ;-)

To Creation - God spoke words and everything came into being. Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. That really is some powerful words there. Being able to create by just saying words. I can’t create anything by just saying it. I’ve never even been able to get a small child to do something I wanted them to, let alone create something. But I’m not alone there, am I.

The word of God also reveals His character, His very nature -
Reveals that He is Loving 1 John 4:8 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love,

That He is, Forgiving and compassionate Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

The word of God tells that He is a Jealous God Deuteronomy 6:15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you

And that He gives Hope to His children in the person of Jesus Christ - John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The word of God is Powerful and equipping - it is “ a double edged sword” 2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
It is Instructive - Psalms 119:1-4 1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—3 they do no wrong but follow his ways.4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

The word of God is much more, it is, a comfort to the weak, vulnerable, the downcast - Psalm 119:165. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble”
Now I could go one and on and on and on and on, you get the picture…. The word of God is more than mere words… SO

-------------------------------------

God’s word - Isaiah the Prophet

What we haven’t talked about is the prophetic word of God. Now there can be a misnomer when it comes to the prophetic. Many of us see it as the old grey wizened man, the wind billowing his great big cloak, standing up before the people and shouting “THUS SAYS THE LORD” someone who lays down the rules and predicts the future. A mouthpiece that speaks “the word of God”

There are elements of future telling in the prophetic but what the prophet does is fortel something as a consequence. A barometer, if you like, of the situation of the holy people of God. So “Thus says the lord” is normally associated with an“IF” as in 2 Chronicles 7:14 IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then (and only then) will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now we love this verse very much, don’t we? However the reason for God speaking these words to Solomon, who in this case, is playing the part of the prophet, was a response to the “not so very good” behaviour of Israel and so there is an “IF” in this proclamation and also the reason we have turn from their wicked ways and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Not many of us read the preceding verse either v 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, So I think it is the Prophets unenviable job - to share God’s word. And it’s not always sweetness and light...

Negative - Our perception can then be a negative one. No shame in that at all. When anything we feel is a negative and especially if it is directed towards us, we are not very likely to accept it very easily. That, I think, is why we are guilty of only using 2 Chronicles 7:14 and not look back a little. And then we are not really that keen on asking the questions that God’s word lays in front of us. “IF” is a call to respond because of the consequences and not good consequences at that. It’s not that God may or may not enact the terrible things upon us. Like some avenging angel. A mean spirited ogre. “IF” is a word many of us use as we endeavour to bring up our children and to warn them. The amount of times we say “IF you do that…” and sorry but my experience is that Boys are the worst. Yours may be very different….

“IF” you climb that high you… “IF your friends told you to… “IF” you continue to do that... “IF” you poke that fork in the plug socket… However it is not ME or YOU that actually enacts the likely outcome of sticking a fork into the plug socket, but the selfish desire to ignore the “IF” statement and when the consequences are felt. Ignoring the word of God “IF” can have the same consequences.

And we have to ask ourselves this “are we the best judges?” - Society today would say “yes, I am the best judge” and here then there can be a problem for us. Do we really know what’s best for us? Are we the best judges for any given situation? Even taking it as simply as possible, we can never, and sometimes will not, assess every possible outcome and consequence. Also our innate love of self and our own desires can blur our thinking and shape any and sometimes all of our reactions. So, is a negative reaction to God’s word a bad thing, or can it reveal areas of our lives that need honing.

And this is one point we need to seriously consider when it comes to our reaction to what we can perceive as criticism. HOW DO WE IMPROVE without it? I mean exactly what I said. It is so easy to be negative about God’s word to us. However without some criticism or constructive review of our actions, behaviour and thoughts, how on earth can we “be better”. How can we see what the best possible us there is without God’s intervention?

-------------------------------------

Positive - There, of course, can be a positive to our reception of God’s word.

In recognising that our reaction has consequences and the ease at which we receive the call is a good outcome no matter what is going on around us.

We can all say “WHY Lord?” to any possible hardship or when things don’t go the way we wish. And that can also lead us to see God as some avenging spirit, mena spirited ogre, doing this or that TO us, but in truth the call of the prophet is NOT condemnation or the action of a mean spirited God but an announcement of hope from a loving Father wanting the best for us.

It is, once again, important to say this…. At no point does Jesus promise sweetness and light. What, He does promise is that He will be there when it’s tough. That our Father in heaven will provide all that we need, whatever the situation. And in the very midst of all the despair and hopelessness Jesus’ word to us is the Holy Spirit will be our counsellor, our peace and our strength.

These are pretty positive words that we can act positively too, but only if we wish and only if we know the word of God.

-------------------------------------

But this word from God is…

Positive - A revelation showing what is really happening and what will happen. A much more positive sense, in the midst of hopelessness.

From current circumstances - My words always accomplish what I set out to do… They never return unfulfilled. Whatever circumstance you may find yourself in, God will answer it. He gives hope. There will be rain and there will be a harvest. Your circumstances will change and change for the better. You will not be under the restrictions of others anymore but released from that strangle hold.

From Self - His word is When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace. There will be a return to peace and to home. It will not be the same as it was, it never can be, but you will know who you are again. The familiar, albeit different, because of your experiences. Knowing who are as God's people once more. There is a journey home and that journey includes… the

Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap. And there will be worship praise and celebration once more for the people of God. The people Isaiah was speaking to may not have felt it much and we may certainly not be feeling it now but We will know what it is to celebrate and worship God again. To know the familiar once more. To know blessing again...

Cypress and myrtle trees will grow in fields once covered by thorns. That place we may find ourselves in now. Unfamiliar, uncertain, sometimes not believing in a future, a place covered and suffocated by thorns, will again be full of growth, life and hope.

And then there will be a charge from God for us to reveal the fullness of his love for us - And then those trees will stand as a lasting witness to the glory of the Lord. God’s word will never return unfulfilled and so like those trees, standing, obvious and tall, we will be asked to do the same. God’s word gives us hope that whatever circumstance we find ourselves in HE will change it. There will be a release from the unfamiliar, the hopelessness and the fear. He will restore His people to their Home and clear the ground so new growth, bigger and better growth will happen. And will we respond to His words of love, care, restoration and hope in the future with Him?

So to our reaction to these words of God

In the light of all that, we can look at the words of Isaiah we heard earlier. Words of God, to the people of Israel, in their particular situation.

Israel's position - in light of their circumstances is very negative.

This was a very NEGATIVE Situation

Exile - They were in exile. Violently ripped from all that they knew to be removed to a strange place they did not understand. No longer able to do the things that they have always done. Those things that allowed a sense of normality and safety, of belonging.

Loss of identity as a people - They no longer knew who they were. The people of God, finding themselves at the mercy of others. Told what they must or mustn't do. What must they have said or thought about it all? Their normal assumptions of how the world was, their comfortable worldview torn apart by a force they could not fight.

They were now, without all that makes them who they are as individuals - Their relationships were strained and sporadic, They no longer had the freedoms they once had and any hope for the future, well they were gone. They only really had a day to day existence not knowing when and how it might change or whether it ever would..

Hopelessness is the only word for it and I think you don't get much more negative than that.

Ezekiel 37:11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’

Prayer

Instead of praying for you, I want to encourage you to read through Isaiah 55:10-13 and ask God to reveal what He might be saying to you and the church, through His words.

Isaiah 55:10-13 New International Version (NIV)

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briars the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.