MEDITATIONS
FROM ISAIAH
March 22,
2006
Reading
“Come near to Me, hear this” Isa 48:16
My soul, take note and grasp to your innermost self this very important principle of your relationship with God. If you desire to hear God speaking to you, you must first “come near to Me.” There are a few occasions when the voice of God is heard above the storms of life, but, when He wants to minister to your heart, you must be close to Him. It is recorded of Mary, Martha’s sister, that she “sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.”
Hear the word of God, “Listen to Me, O Jacob,” “Assemble yourselves, and hear,” “Come near to Me, and hear this.” The condemnation of God’s people was that they did not “heed His commandments,” they were not close to Him when He spoke. The very heart of God cries out, ‘Oh, that you had heeded my commandments, then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
How those words pierce your heart, my soul. When you needed to be taught by Him and to know the way you should go you were far from Him and could not hear. But these words are no less prevalent today as they were years ago. Take heed of them now. Cling to them as Ruth clung to Naomi. Hide them in your heart.
My God, to call you mine is my pure delight,
To know that you called me from sin’s
dreadful night;
Your mercy and love you’ve extended to me,
You healed my eyes that your glory I may
see.
I love you, adore you, I know you are mine,
The blood of my Savior our hearts have
combined;
Now draw me nearer that your face I may see,
That resting on you, by your side I will be.
To sit in your presence and hear your sweet
voice,
When faced with temptation to make the right
choice;
You know I love you and I know you love me,
I long to know more as I sit at your knee.
To be in your presence is all that I need,
Hungry and thirsty, at your table to feed;
With nothing between us ‘twill be you and I
Enjoying each other as heaven draws nigh.
O, Sun of Righteousness, I bask in your love,
To know you are here and not just above;
You, the Light of the World, enlighten my
way,
Bright and Morning Star, forever with me stay
DTP
“Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you” James 4:8.