Ep 850 – Isaiah 57:14-21

It's difficult for most of us to admit when we have a need. We have been hardwired to be self-sufficient. And we've been trained to believe that any confession of need is an admission of weakness or failure on our part. But when reading the Bible, it becomes increasingly clear that God tends to pour out His favor on the weak, the needy, the helpless and the hopeless. He has a soft heart for the down-and-out and the underdogs of society. Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, tended to spend much of His time with those whom the world considered outsiders and outcasts. He was accused of befriending prostitutes, tax-collectors and sinners of all kinds and He was more than willing to plead guilty as charged. And in Isaiah 57:14-21, God is going to call on the people of Judah to admit their need for Him. He wants them to humble themselves, confess their sin, and admit their need for His help. They could turn to their false gods, but it would not turn out well. Or they could humbly turn to God and trust that He would do what was best. They were sinners. That was non-debatable. But were they willing to confess it and place their hope and trust in the only one who could save them?