The Heart's Cry: Seeking the Lord in our Wanderings
"¶ O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance." - Isaiah 63:17
Isaiah 63:17 (KJV) captures a profound moment of introspection and dialogue with God, revealing the human experience of wandering away from His ways. It reads: "O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance." This verse is not only an expression of lament but also a heartfelt plea for restoration, and it invites us to consider our own relationship with the Lord.
### The Cry of the Heart
The opening question, "O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways," expresses a deep sense of disarray and confusion. As believers, we are often confronted with the reality of our sins and shortcomings. The word "err" captures the essence of straying off the path set before us by God—a path meant for our good, to lead us to peace and fulfillment. Yet, we find ourselves entangled in choices that lead to spiritual desolation. In this lamentation, we see an acknowledgment of our propensity to deviate from God's commandments and our reliance on Him alone for realigning our hearts.
### The Hardening of the Heart
The phrase "and hardened our heart from thy fear" elucidates a significant spiritual condition: the hardening of the heart. A heart that once quaked in reverential fear of God now stands resistant and obstinate. This hardening can happen gradually, often through repeated sin or neglect of our spiritual disciplines. As we allow the distractions of life to intercept our focus on God, our sensitivity diminishes, leading to a barrier between us and the Almighty. We risk becoming desensitized to His voice and guidance, missing the sweetness of His presence and the joy of obedience. The prophet calls out to the LORD, recognizing that it is while we are distanced from Him that we suffer the most.
### The Plea for Return
In the next segment of this verse, we hear a yearning cry for God to "Return for thy servants' sake." The urgency in this plea is palpable. Despite recognizing the consequences of their waywardness, their hope is anchored in God's character—His mercy, love, and faithfulness. Here is where our identification with the Israelites becomes profound: in our moments of spiritual lethargy or outright rebellion, do we too plead for God to return to us? Are we willing to confront our inadequacies and confess our need for His presence anew?
### Restoring Our Relationship
The final phrase, "the tribes of thine inheritance," reminds us that we are a chosen people, beloved by God. We are His inheritance, and when we stray, it grieves His heart. When we request His return, we do so with the recognition that we belong to Him. The inherent dignity in being called His children compels us to yearn for restoration. In the same way we desire to restore relationships in our own lives, God yearns for the intimacy we once shared with Him. It is vital to note that His desire for us precedes our desire for Him; He is the hound of heaven, pursuing us, even when we falter.
### The Path Forward
As we meditate on Isaiah 63:17, let us examine our own hearts—where have we erred? In what areas have we allowed our hearts to become hardened? Today, find a quiet moment to engage the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to reveal to you the paths in your life that have taken you away from Him. Confess those areas where you've strayed and invite Him to break any hardness of heart that has built up over time. Remember that the journey back to Him can begin with a single step of sincerity and an open heart.
In conclusion, the cry of the Israelites is an invitation for us today—a call to examine our hearts and seek Him earnestly. Let us be bold enough to ask Him to return to us, knowing that His love is steadfast and His mercy is limitless. May we find joy in His presence as we walk in His ways once more.
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Isaiah 63:17 - "¶ O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance."
"¶ O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance." - Isaiah 63:17
Isaiah 63:13 - "That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?"
Isaiah 63:4 - "For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."
Isaiah 63:8 - "For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour."
Isaiah 63:2 - "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?"
Isaiah 63:19 - "We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name."
Isaiah 63:10 - "¶ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them."
Isaiah 63:18 - "The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary."
Isaiah 63:12 - "That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?"
Isaiah 63:6 - "And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."
"For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." - Isaiah 63:4
"That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?" - Isaiah 63:13
Isaiah 63:14 - "As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name."
Isaiah 63:1 - "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." - Isaiah 63:1
"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." - Isaiah 63:9
Isaiah 63:5 - "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me."
Isaiah 63:2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
"For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour." - Isaiah 63:8
Isaiah 63:9 - "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
Isaiah 63:16 - "Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting."
Isaiah 63:15 - "¶ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?"
"Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?" - Isaiah 63:2
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.
Isaiah 63:11 - "Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?"
"We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name." - Isaiah 63:19
Isaiah 63:3 - "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."
"¶ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them." - Isaiah 63:10
Isaiah 63:7 - "¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses."