Unchanging God
Scripture References: Hebrews 13:8, James 1:26-27, Isaiah 58:3-9a, Micah 6:8, Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 28:19-20a
Introduction:
The God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament. Perhaps the author of Hebrews states it even better:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8 ESV
I begin with this, because I think we are often guilty of perceiving that God’s character and actions are somehow different in Old Testament scriptures than they are in New Testament scriptures. Some may perceive the ‘Old Testament God’ to be a raging, vengeful God…whereas the ‘New Testament God’ is a loving, caring, compassionate God. Of course, a careful reading of the entire scope of Scripture reveals that this is absolutely not the case. In other words, God’s character, actions and expectations are unchanging…whether we are reading through the Old Testament or the New Testament. This came to mind following last Sunday’s sermon. One passage that Pastor Chuck highlighted that always seems to grab my attention is this:
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” -James 1:26-27 ESV
This goes hand-in-hand with the idea that we are to not just be ‘hearers’ of the Word, but also ‘doers’ of the Word. When we are focused on just going through the motions and doing things that make us appear to be ‘religious’, but neglect the needs of those who are made in the image of God, then we are missing the point. Today we’re going to look at an Old Testament passage that speaks to this same idea…
Devotional:
Israel was caught up in this very problem during the time of Isaiah the prophet. We read these words from God through Isaiah in Isaiah 58:
3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,[a]
and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day
will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the Lord? – Isaiah 58:3-5 ESV
We see Israel questioning God here at the beginning of this passage. ‘We’re fasting and humbling ourselves, yet you do not answer us! You don’t seem to care or take any notice!’
God’s response cuts right to the heart of their problem. ‘Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist.’ (Vs 3b-4a).
In other words, you are doing things that make you appear ‘religious’, but you are doing it for your own pleasure and self-satisfaction. Meanwhile, you are neglecting, oppressing and abusing people! You are being ‘hearers’ of the Word, but not ‘doers’ of the Word. God tells them straight away…’Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high’ (Vs 4b).
The Word of God through His prophets are consistent with this kind of messaging throughout the Old Testament…
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b]
and to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:8 ESV
This is the intent of the law. Any ritual act, law or command that we read in the Old Testament is good…but if it does not produce fruit that result in the people of God ‘loving God and loving others’, then we are missing the whole intent of the law. Jesus himself confirms this:
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
Back to our Isaiah passage…God tells His people exactly what he is looking for:
6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[b] go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ -Isaiah 58:6-9a ESV
Notice what God is doing here. He is not condemning the act of fasting itself…he is condemning the actions and intent behind it. They are fasting to satisfy their own desires, yet they abuse, oppress and neglect people. God then shows the type of fasting he takes pleasure in. A fasting which is coupled with loosing the bonds of the oppressed, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. This sounds awfully familiar to the words of Jesus…
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ -Matthew 25:34-36 ESV
Why does this sound so familiar and why do the words of the Old Testament continuously echo in the words of the New Testament? Because the God of the Old Testament is the same God we see in the New Testament. We come full circle.
What is our takeaway?
‘Religious’ acts, if you will…whether that is prayer, fasting, singing, tithing etc…are wonderful things that reflect our heart for God! But we must continually examine ourselves to see what they are producing. If our actions show that we are oppressive, or neglect the needs of others…then as James would say…our religion is worthless. We also know that it is not our good works which truly save us. We are saved through faith, and as a result, our acts of worship (prayer, fasting, singing, tithing etc..) should be coupled with actions which reflect our saving faith. In other words, this faith should be evident in how we treat others.
Finally, our love of God and love of others should propel us to fulfill the great commission. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’ (Matt 28:19-20a ESV). We can only accomplish this through God’s strength. May we ask for this strength daily, to fulfill the commission given to us. In the words of the hymn writer, Charles Wesley:
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name. -O for a thousand tongues
Amen.
Sean Wagner