You Will Go Out - Isaiah 55:11-12

Isaiah 55:11-12 NASB 

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It will not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

 “For you will go out with joy

And be led forth with peace;

The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

The living word goes forth bringing life to those who would receive it. 

It is for this purpose it was spoken and that purpose will be accomplished. 

His joy and peace peace will be ours. 

We leave this world for the kingdom of heaven and live that word. 

My Preference

Denominations ought to be called preferences. 

There is one name and one Spirit. 

One Church was established and it is the body of Christ. 

Denominations tend to differentiate and fragment the true Church. 

There is a way and one Book is given so it may be found. 

It tells of a Savior that will lead us to peace. 

To follow Christ is my preference. 

Precious Stones - Isaiah 54:11-13

Isaiah 54:11-13 NASB 

“O afflicted one, storm- tossed, and not comforted,

Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,

And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.

 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,

And your gates of crystal,

And your entire wall of precious stones.

 “ All your sons will be taught of the Lord;

And the well- being of your sons will be great.

Isaiah speaks of the restoration of Jerusalem and the people within its walls. 

The New Jerusalem in Revelation is depicted in a similar way with streets of gold, walls made of precious jewels, and gates each of a single pearl. 

There will be no stone more precious than the living stones that are the children of God. They will be taught of The Lord for they are one with the Spirit. The word is written on their hearts.  Their well being will be great and everlasting. 

The Meaning Of Life

How then shall we live?

The same way we found life: through Jesus. 

Find what this means and you find the meaning of life. 

His Holy Arm - Isaiah 52:7-10

Isaiah 52:7-10 ESV 

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;

together they sing for joy;

 for eye to eye they see

the return of the Lord to Zion.

 Break forth together into singing,

 you waste places of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comforted his people;

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

 The Lord has bared his holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations,

 and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God.

Jesus Christ brings the good news. He alone is our salvation He will redeem Jerusalem as His city and the city of His people. The land will no longer be divided, but will be healed. 

The nations that would cast lots for the cloak of the land will see at last Jerusalem is not their's to divide. 

The nations will see Jesus Who is the Holy arm of The Lord and the salvation of the world. There will be much joy and singing as The Lord returns to Zion. 

Living God

To know the living God, one must first be alive. 

To know the Son is to know the Father. 

Awake Oh Zion - Isaiah 52:1-2

Isaiah 52:1-2 ESV 

 Awake, awake,

put on your strength, O Zion;

 put on your beautiful garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city;

 for there shall no more come into you

the uncircumcised and the unclean.

 Shake yourself from the dust and arise;

be seated, O Jerusalem;

 loose the bonds from your neck,

O captive daughter of Zion.

Awake, oh sleeper

Your King approaches

Your strength and salvation 

Is drawing near

To the dust you've gone

From the dust you will return

Clothed in righteousness 

And jewels pure and precious 

Free from the yoke at last

Turn and gaze upon your Savior

Oh daughter of Zion

The new Jerusalem  descends

Luke 15:22-24

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. ’ And they began to celebrate.

Listen

Where are you?

On the earth. 

What are you?

Of the earth in the midst of the deep. 

What did God do?

Brought light to the face of the deep. 

What did Jesus do?

Gave a face to the word of God. 

What should we do?

Listen. 

Is Listening - 1 Samuel 3:7-10

1 Samuel 3:7-10 NIV

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord:The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. ’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

  21  The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word

If you don't know The Lord you can't know His voice.  The first word from The Lord is usually your name.  The Lord calls out to all of us using our most intimate and true name, calling us closer to His love and light.  It may take a little while before we're ready to listen. 

If we answer, The Lord is pleased to bestow His grace and mercy on all that seek Him. He reveals Himself through His word. 

No Better light - Isaiah 50:10-11

Isaiah 50:10-11 ESV 

Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the voice of his servant?

 Let him who walks in darkness

and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord

and rely on his God.

 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire,

and by the torches that you have kindled!

 This you have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment.

Relying on God for light will bring us through the night. When we light our own torches we tend to burn ourselves and others around us. 

The light of The Lord illuminates the way to God. The torches to rely on are depicted in Revelation before the throne of God.  There is no better light. 

Psalms 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!

Psalms 128:1-2

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways!

 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Romans 10:3-4

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Psalms 32:10-11

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Restoring the tribes of Israel - Isaiah 49:3-7

Isaiah 49:3-7 NIV

He said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

 But I said, “I have labored in vain;

I have spent my strength for nothing at all.

Yet what is due me is in the Lord ’s hand,

and my reward is with my God.”

 And now the Lord says—

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord

and my God has been my strength —

 he says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

 This is what the Lord says—

the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel —

to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,

to the servant of rulers:

“Kings will see you and stand up,

princes will see and bow down,

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

God is not done with Israel. Once again Israel will hold out the light of God and that light will shine to the ends of the earth.  We are told this in many places in the Bible, in both testaments. 

A remnant of the tribes will be saved.  In Revelation we are given a specific reference to their restoral, naming the tribes. The nation then gives witness to the nations of the glory of God.  A great multitude will be saved. 

Revelation 7:4

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

The Way Of Peace - Isaiah 48:17-18

Isaiah 48:17-18 ESV 

Thus says the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you to profit,

who leads you in the way you should go.

 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

 Then your peace would have been like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

Isaiah 48:22

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

The Lord alone teaches us and leads us in the way we should go, the way of peace. 

The riches of the earth pale in comparison to the riches in heaven. His commandments lead to life and His word is given that we might hear it if we pay attention. It seems an easy enough request, but then we encounter so many distractions and we find it easy to put the word aside. This is human nature. 

We have been given the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit. The living water flows from within, as we are sealed with the Spirit. Our conscience bears witness to this reality, for we have been raised with Christ alive and conscious into the kingdom of heaven. 

The way of peace is before us. 

Or Remember Their End - Isaiah 47:4-7

Isaiah 47:4-7 ESV 

Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—

is the Holy One of Israel.

 Sit in silence, and go into darkness,

O daughter of the Chaldeans;

for you shall no more be called

 the mistress of kingdoms.

 I was angry with my people;

I profaned my heritage;

I gave them into your hand;

 you showed them no mercy;

on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.

 You said, “I shall be mistress forever,”

so that you did not lay these things to heart

or remember their end.

This is portrayed in Revelation.  In Revelation Chapter Four on we see the end and fulfillment of God's purpose. Israel is redeemed and Babylon is cast out into darkness. 

The mistress of the kingdoms will give way to the Bride of Christ. The offspring of the slave women will not share in the promise of God. They can become offspring of God if they choose to partake in His mercy and life. Those who will not remain in the dominion of death. 

He Will Do It - Isaiah 46:8-11

Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV 

“Remember this and stand firm,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

 remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

 declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

 calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

 I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

The one God and Creator has spoken creation into being.  Within those words, His purpose is contained to their completion. We have been blessed to share in that word. The word took on flesh that we may join with Him by taking on His Spirit. The end that lies before us is the creation and fulfillment of man to the glory of God, the union of heaven and earth.  This is the destiny for all of us who believe. This is the end seen from the beginning. 

A bird of prey from the east is used by The Lord to punish Israel for their transgressions. This might remind us of the birds of the air which will come to roost on the tree of life. The birds that surround and threaten Israel will serve their purpose.  A remnant of those nations will find God and He will have mercy on them. 

He will do it. 

Turn To Me - Isaiah 45:22-23

Isaiah 45:22-23 ESV 

“Turn to me and be saved,

 all the ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other.

 By myself I have sworn;

from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

a word that shall not return:

 ‘To me every knee shall bow,

every tongue shall swear allegiance. ’

The word has gone forth and will not be broken. It will endure and is everlasting. 

All authority has been given to Him. 

It is the power of grace and love that comes from God. 

Turn to me and I will give you rest. And it is so.

Hunger And Thirst - Matthew 5:6

Matthew 5:6 ESV 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Not blessed are those who hunger and thirst after their belly only, for their hunger and thirst will never depart. 

Besides Me There Is No God - Isaiah 44:6-8

Isaiah 44:6-8 ESV 

 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel

and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

 “I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no god.

 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

Let him declare and set it before me,

since I appointed an ancient people.

Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

 Fear not, nor be afraid;

have I not told you from of old and declared it?

 And you are my witnesses!

 Is there a God besides me?

There is no Rock; I know not any.”

He is our Rock and Redeemer, the first and last, declaring the end from the beginning. 

The King of Kings, our God. 

"Besides me there is no God"

Proclaiming anything else is empty and void.  God's light has not penetrated that darkness upon the deep. 

A Close Relative - Ruth 1:19-20

Ruth 2:19-20 ESV 

And her mother- in- law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother- in- law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” And Naomi said to her daughter- in- law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

In this story we are shown a parable of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the kingdom of God. Boaz represents Jesus who redeems the the dead and provides life of the truly living. 

He is blessed by The Lord and shows us the mercy of The Lord. He came as one of us and is our close relative. He returned to heaven to wait as we journey through this land to glean the fields of His righteousness. He blazed a trail and made a way for us to follow. This is the way that leads to Him, God Almighty. 

A Great Light - Matthew 4:16-17

Matthew 4:16-17 NASB 

“ The people who were sitting in darkness saw A great Light,

And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,

Upon them A Light dawned.”

 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

In the beginning and from the beginning, The Lord said "Let there be light". 

And it was so. 

The light was separated from the darkness and the truth of God began to be revealed. 

Therefore, repent for the kingdom is near and while He can be found.  

Even I - Isaiah 43:11-13

Isaiah 43:11-13 NASB 

“I, even I, am the Lord,

And there is no savior besides Me.

 “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,

And there was no strange god among you;

So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,

“And I am God.

 “Even from eternity I am He,

And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;

 I act and who can reverse it?”

The Lord is the Savior. God is the Savior. They are one. 

The word of God comes from God and has always been and will always be. 

Jesus said that He has the key of David. What he opens no one can shut. What He closes no one can open. 

When The Lord places His hand on us, no one can move it. 

Declare New Things - Isaiah 42:6-9

Isaiah 42:6-9 NASB 

“I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness,

I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,

And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the nations,

 To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the dungeon

And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

 “ I am the Lord, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another,

Nor My praise to graven images.

 “Behold, the former things have come to pass,

Now I declare new things;

Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

The light shines forth in the darkness. The command, "Let there be light" continues to unfold and be carried out. That light shines on every man and causes him to flee, or be drawn to the light. 

The Lord's name is The Lord. It is all His names, for it is the fullness of Who He is, like a rainbow of many colors which make up the one. We become part of that rainbow which appears after a rain and reminds us of the splendor and glory of our Father in heaven. 

In the earth of former things the seed of the new things take root and grow. God's word declares the end from the beginning.  It will flower on that new day and the glory of God will finally take shape. 

The Spirit Of The Lord - Isaiah 40:13-14

Isaiah 40:13-14 NASB 

Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,

Or as His counselor has informed Him?

 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?

And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge

And informed Him of the way of understanding?

Acts 2:46-47

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Romans 8:27

and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

An astounding assertion, that we have the mind of Christ, but there it is. We are not perfect, but the one who dwells with us is perfect. Our spirit is informed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit learns nothing from man. 

We who participate in the one Spirit are of one mind just as God is One. 

Wonderful - Judges 13:17-18

Judges 13:17-18 ESV 

And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

 and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

 Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the increase of his government and of peace

 there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

 with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The angel of The Lord identifies Himself when He says His name is wonderful. 

We share in His life when we believe on His wonderful name. 

It is the life of God, the light of the world. 

Isaiah gives us other names which show us the Triune God. 

Wonderful Counselor -  Holy Spirit

Mighty God, Everlasting Father - The Father

Prince of Peace - The Son

Is Working - John 5:17

John 5:17 nasb
But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

Jesus is telling us that God is not at rest, that He is working even now. The new creation is still before us. The light of God has risen, but much darkness remains. The earth of man continues to form as we journey to perfection. This is a work of God. 

God's People - 1Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

We are a chosen and peculiar people called out of the world, from the darkness that reigns over the earth. We step out of the wilderness when we begin to walk in the kingdom of heaven. We are reborn when we perceive the light of life. 

It is that light we proclaim which warms us with His mercy and love. It is that light we share with others, not our own, but the light of Him Who is light.

Psalms 22:30-31

Posterity shall serve him;

it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,

that he has done it.

Psalms 106:5

that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,

that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,

that I may glory with your inheritance.

Deuteronomy 26:18-19

And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

Hosea 2:23

and I will sow her for myself in the land.

And I will have mercy on No Mercy,

and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’;

and he shall say, ‘You are my God. ’”

Way Of Holiness - Isaiah 35:8-10

Isaiah 35:8-10 ESV 

And a highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

 the unclean shall not pass over it.

It shall belong to those who walk on the way;

even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

 No lion shall be there,

nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

but the redeemed shall walk there.

 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

A highway is made in the desert, narrow but true. It is a straight way that God has provided in this wilderness. The redeemed will cross over to Him in joy and they will begin to journey in the kingdom of heaven. God will be with them and will guide even the foolish, for they will be children of the light, led by the light in the holiness of that light. 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Revelation 21:27

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Who Among Us - Isaiah 33:13-17

Isaiah 33:13-17 NASB 

“You who are far away, hear what I have done;

And you who are near, acknowledge My might.”

 Sinners in Zion are terrified;

 Trembling has seized the godless.

“Who among us can live with the consuming fire?

Who among us can live with continual burning?”

 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity,

He who rejects unjust gain

And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe;

He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed

And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;

 He will dwell on the heights,

 His refuge will be the impregnable rock;

 His bread will be given him,

His water will be sure.

 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty;l

They will behold a far- distant land.

Who among us can live before The Lord?

We can, if we accept the righteousness of The Lord.  He came among us with His life. 

The bread of life from heaven will satisfy his hunger. 

Living water will slake his thirst. 

Our eyes shall behold the King of Kings and will see the land of our inheritance. 

This is the life for which we are made. 

Two Laws - James 2:8-13

James 2:8-13 NASB 

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “ DO not commit adultery,” also said, “ DO not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

James indicates that law remains in the sight of God. The first covenant law applies to all who do not accept The Lord.  It brings us to the law of liberty if we accept His grace. Mercy is fundamental to the law of liberty.  Judgement remains for the law that holds us accountable in the chains of death. Life is made possible when we are freed from judgement through the grace of His mercy. We are to live the mercy we have received.  

There two laws in effect, but we are able to choose the one we prefer. One might wonder why someone would not choose life. 

Trial And Temptations James 1:2-8

James 1:2-8 NIV 

Trials and Temptations

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double- minded and unstable in all they do.

Trials and temptations are good for us in two ways. Looking back to the Garden, God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  This was necessary for God's plan in the creation of a people that He would call His own.  Those that would choose Him would qualify and be rewarded with God's eternal life. 

It is in the fall that we learn of our weakness.  In our weakness we come to know our need. In our need we are able to look to the one that can satisfy every need. We find that turning to Him does not happen once, but becomes a way of life, the way of life. 

This is what endurance and persevering are all about. We are forged and refined in this furnace of life, so we will be mature and complete. Joy is made possible only when one understands what is going on and what lies ahead. It is there we find rest and peace beyond understanding. 

Hear No More - Isaiah 30:9-11

Isaiah 30:9-11 NASB 

For this is a rebellious people, false sons,

Sons who refuse to listen

To the instruction of the Lord;

 Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”;

And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right,

 Speak to us pleasant words,

Prophesy illusions.

 “Get out of the way, turn aside from the path,

 Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

This should be familiar to many. It is happening today and all around us. Our prophets today are likely to be of and in the world. We leave behind the instructions of The Lord for the smooth and pleasant words easy on the ears that provide comfort in the way of the world. 

Increasing and with growing stridency and hostility we hear these words:

"Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel".

He is still here, but has turned us over to our desires. 

Born Anew

Not just changed, but born anew.

Become One

God enters creation through a man and becomes the bridegroom.

Man enters heaven through a man and becomes the bride.

They become one.

We leave mother and father to journey in the light.

Their Hearts - Isaiah 29:13

Isaiah 29:13 NASB

Then the Lord said,

“Because this people draw near with their words

And honor Me with their lip service,

But they remove their hearts far from Me,

And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,

Later the kingdom of God would draw near with the words of Jesus Christ. These words would address the heart. The intent of God would be known and written on hearts, rather than what had been written and honored over time by men. Isaiah is bemoaning a people with the appearance of Godliness, yet with their hearts in another, distant place. 

His people were no longer engaged with The Lord. They had grown comfortable in their own righteousness. They had lost sight of the light of God. God would use this to call others to Him who were not encumbered by traditions and were free to listen to the voice of The Lord. 

We are to be that light that Israel failed to comprehend. Instead of speaking to a nation, He speaks to each one, calling us to His heart. It is only when we respond with our heart that we honor God.

We Went Out - Hebrews 11:8-10

Hebrews 11:8-10 NASB 

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

We are doing the same as Abraham. We have responded to a call to receive an inheritance we have not seen. No longer are we of the world, though we remain in the world, as we have become citizens of heaven. We went out. The way of the world can look strange and hard to understand, like a wayward child totally self absorbed. 

God is our inheritance and portion, and He is ever before us. 

Its Inhabitants - Isaiah 24:1-6

Isaiah 24:1-6 NASB 

Judgment on the Earth

 Behold, the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants. And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

In the creation story we find an earth formless and empty. It was invisible until God's light gave it form. The Spirit hovers over the face of the deep. The Garden was established for the dwelling of God and man. 

Its inhabitants were cast out for violating God's word. The earth was cursed for their transgression. 

We see another scattering at the Tower of Babel, which seems to echo the expulsion from Eden. Both actions are rooted in the the same ground of disobedience and self-will. There is a way to heaven, but it's not our way. 

These inhabitants are called earth dwellers in Revelation. They are not citizens of heaven. The inhabitants of earth are passing and the earth will be made new when the sons of God are revealed.  They will remain in the life of God.