Forgetting the Sacred: A Call to Remember
"But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number." - Isaiah 65:11
**Scripture Reference: Isaiah 65:11 (KJV)** “But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.”
### Understanding the Context
In the Book of Isaiah, we encounter a profound message directed to the people of Israel, who were called to a covenant relationship with God. Isaiah speaks during a tumultuous time—an age of moral decay, spiritual apathy, and rampant idolatry. The verse highlights a striking reality: a people once set apart and called by God have chosen to abandon their commitment, forgetting the very essence of their identity as God’s chosen nation. The reference to “my holy mountain” suggests a divine dominion and a sacred place, a symbol of God’s presence and holiness. Here, God is expressing deep concern over His people's inclination to divert their devotion elsewhere, specifically towards idolatrous practices.
### The Danger of Forsaking God
The phrase “forsake the LORD” serves as a warning against the gradual drift from faithfulness to God, which mirrors the tendencies of our time. When we forsake the Lord, we make conscious choices to disregard His commandments and neglect our devotion. We see a clear illustration within the verse: these individuals have not only abandoned God but have actively chosen to prepare a table for “that troop” and offer drink offerings. This troop could easily symbolize other godly influences, or perhaps mortal desires, that distract from true worship.
Today, we often face the allure of modern idols—career ambitions, societal pressures, and an incessant push for personal gratification—that vie for our attention and devotion. Much like the Israelites, we might unknowingly set our tables and prepare offerings for what this world presents, neglecting our sacred and holy calling.
### Remembering the Holy Mountain
The directive to remember “my holy mountain” is not merely a call to recall a geographical location but a beckoning to reconnect with God's holiness. In prayer, worship, and community, the holy mountain represents a space where we encounter the divine. It is where sacred ordinances and covenants are reaffirmed. In essence, it is the place of communion between God and His people.
When we prepare a table for God—spending our time in His Word, worship, and prayer—we truly recognize His majesty. Conversely, each moment spent in service to the trivial distractions of life steals away time we could have invested in nurturing that vital relationship. We must ask ourselves: What are we preparing our tables for?
### The Divine Invitation
Although these words carry a tone of judgment, they also resonate with grace. God’s heart breaks when His followers forsake Him, yet through this lamentation, He continually invites us back into His fold. The exhortation is a call for restoration—a reminder of God’s eternal grace that waits for our return even when we’ve wandered.
The ill-fated tables we prepare will never satiate our deeper longings for fellowship with God. They may offer temporary satisfaction but fall short of true fulfillment.
### A Call to Action
To truly heed the exhortation of Isaiah 65:11, let us reflect on our lives. Are there altars of distraction we have erected in place of our devotion to the Lord? Let us commit to remembering “my holy mountain”—finding ways to engage with God that feel genuine and heartfelt.
Consider aligning your priorities toward activities that deepen your relationship with Him: joining a Bible study, committing to daily prayer, or serving others in love. Instead of preparing a table for the passing fancies of this world, let your table be set for communion with God—filled with His Word, His presence, and a true understanding of who He is.
In our journey of faith, may we always strive to live in remembrance of the sacred and steadfast love of our Lord, honoring Him above all else.
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Isaiah 65:11 Artwork
Isaiah 65:11 - "But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number."
"But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number." - Isaiah 65:11
Psalms 65:11
Isaiah 65:8 A new wine
Isaiah 65:21 - "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them."
Isaiah 65:6 - "Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,"
Psalms 65:11 - "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness."
Isaiah 65:17 - "¶ For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
Isaiah 65:23 - "They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them."
Isaiah 65:24 - "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
Isaiah 65:3 - "A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;"
Isaiah 65:4 - "Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;"
Isaiah 65:19 - "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
Isaiah 65:10 - "And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me."
Isaiah 65:18 - "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."
Isaiah 65:14 - "Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit."
Isaiah 65:2 - "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;"
Isaiah 65:9 - "And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there."
Isaiah 65:15 - "And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:"
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." - Isaiah 65:17
Isaiah 65:5 - "Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day."
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." - Isaiah 65:24
Isaiah 65:22 - "They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
Isaiah 65:1 - "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name."
Isaiah 65:8 - "¶ Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all."
Isaiah 65:7 - "Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom."
Isaiah 65:25 - "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD."
"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness." - Psalms 65:11
"And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them." - Isaiah 65:21
"Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom," - Isaiah 65:6