Thanks for the focus on this text, vagabondservant

The LORD is exalted,
indeed, he lives in heaven;
he fills Zion with justice and fairness.

He is your constant source of stability;
he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom;
he gives all this to those who fear him.
(Isaiah 33:5-6, New English Translation)

Upon reading vagabondservant's earlier contribution to this text, YouVersion reader happened to be on the New English Translation when looking up these verses. I checked out a few versions of these two verses thereafter--TNIV, NASB, NRSV, The Message paraphrase--but I came back to this version because it struck me in particular.

I like the NET's placement of the original Hebrew words in simple, short, poetic phrases. This editing immediately unveils several key messages to my eye upon the first glance:

1) "is exalted" - Our God IS ALREADY held in high regard and esteem by multitudes of angels, and has been by centuries of people throughout history whose spirits now rest in him. I am giving my allegiance to Someone long respected and revered.

2) "he fills Zion with justice" - This text tinges my soul with discomfort. Upon a little introspection ("little" as in seconds; funny how quickly the Holy Spirit can cut to the heart when you open the door), I sense my lack of pursuing justice, my complacence to seek out the poor and the disadvantaged--to find them, listen to them, love them, and serve them.

Recently I worked in downtown Seattle, where the homeless clutter corners everywhere, begging or singing or talking to themselves. Most of the time I ignored them. Sometimes I would look into their eyes. Once I had a good conversation with a bum, and wow did he work up a sour aroma. Occasionally I'd drop a dollar here and there. Overall, I didn't do much justice for them. They could be annoying and pushy, and I had work to do. Besides, that self-righteous thought was never too far from my mind: "Freeloaders, get off your butt and do something for the food and booze."

I'm not eluding to my being a guilt ridden Christian, one who often pines over his shortcomings. Such self pity is not Holy Spirit anointed. I do, however, have such sad Christian moments, but these are of my flesh because they promote focus on me! They "exalt" me in the sense that I sing woes to myself! In these moments I MISS OUT on the grace and healing that comes from praising the God who has been exalted, alone, for centuries by people and for eons by angels (Isaiah 33:5).

God's Kingdom, Zion, is FILLED with actions of justice, as God revealed in the acts of his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). While Jesus walks through the streets of his ratty hometown, he offends the smith, the baker, the tax collector, and more, all people he presumably grew up knowing as a kid, and he ruffles their feathers by acts of JUSTICE: "What deeds of power are being done by his hands!" they say with spite. He is that measly carpenter's kid, and yet he says all sorts of strange "wisdom," teachings from who knows where! (v. 2) He offended them. In his Kingdom, you did justice. Justice is such a stable of who God is that he FILLS the entire space of his Kingdom with it. Jesus longed to overflow justice down the streets of his dear hometown, but he could only do a "few" healings because they did not see the Messiah in him.

God does, indeed, long to fill our towns with justice if in his own hometown, he could only do justice to a "few" A few! To each of those "few" cured, it was a most memorable day! But Jesus was "amazed" at most of the Nazarenes' offense, and presumably troubled by their attitude. Why?

Because in his kingdom, no one is left untouched and changed by justice. The entire space is filled and "overflows" with it (Psalm 23:5).

Created over 2 years ago