God’s voice was calling him back to his roots

Friday 7-1-2016   Home in Modesto

Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 1 – 3   Titus 3

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Isa 1:2-3  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, my people do not consider."  NKJV

O.  Isaiah announces the purpose of his book: God’s voice is calling to the nation of Israel.  They are like children who have been brought up in a godly home, but have rebelled and forgotten their roots.

A. 1863: A Scottish medical doctor, W.P.Mackay had been raised in a Christian home, but as a young adult had rebelled and forgotten his roots.  Years later a poor laborer who had suffered an accident was brought to the hospital.  Dr. Mackay was struck by this conscious, but dying man.  His face radiated joy.  And he asked for someone to bring him “the Book.”  The doctor visited him daily and was impressed by his happiness while facing death.  After he was gone the doctor was present in the room.  The nurse found a book hidden under the covers.  “What is that book?” asked the doctor.  He took it in his hands and was astonished.  It had his own name in it.  It was the Bible his mother had given him and which he had later sold for a small amount when he needed some money.  He writes: “With a deep sense of shame I looked upon... the precious book.”  Dr. Mackay recognized that this was God’s voice calling him back to his roots... back to his loving Creator.  Later he wrote the poem copied below which... I sang in church as a boy: “Revive us Again.” **

P.  Lord, your prophet wrote: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken”.  Am I listening?  Are You calling me back to my roots?  Are You asking me to stir the coals into blazing flames once more?  I hear You Lord, loud and clear.  Take me back to my roots and then, help me not to stay locked in the past, but lead me on by Your Holy Spirit today and tomorrow to new unexplored heights.  Amen.

Ralph

Revive Us Again

Lyrics by Doctor W. P. Mackay

We praise Thee Oh God for the Son of Thy love

For Jesus Who died and is now gone above.

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Revive us again.

We praise Thee Oh God for the Spirit of light

Who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Revive us again.

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain

Who has borne all our sins and has cleansed every stain.

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Revive us again.

Revive us again; Fill each heart with Thy love,

May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Hallelujah!  Thine the glory!  Revive us again.

**Then Sings My Soul, Robert Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003, pg 147