Isaiah 27:6-13: a reflection

6In days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will blossom and bud. They will fill the surface of the world with fruit. 7Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them? Or are they killed like those who killed them were killed? 8In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them. He has removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind. 9Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherah poles and the incense altars shall rise no more. 10For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness. The calf will feed there, and there he will lie down, and consume its branches. 11When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off. The women will come and set them on fire, for they are a people of no understanding. Therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them, and he who formed them will show them no favor. 12It will happen in that day that the LORD will thresh from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, children of Israel. 13It will happen in that day that a great trumpet will be blown; and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, shall come; and they will worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

In the midst of a word of judgment, Isaiah reveals something about the nature and purpose of God's discipline of his people. In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them, he says; the discipline is measured, not boundless. And its purpose is redemptive: by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin, that the idolatrous altars be removed. God's discipline of his people is measured, and aimed at a good end: the removal of their sin, that they might take root and blossom and bear fruit.

Notice two things about God's discipline here: it is measured, and it is purposeful. It is measured, in measure, not poured out without limit; God contends with his people in a measured way, not to destroy them. And it is purposeful, aimed at taking away their sin, removing the idols, that they might be fruitful. The discipline was not God's abandonment of his people, nor a boundless wrath, but a measured, purposeful dealing meant to purify them and make them fruitful. God disciplines his people in measure, and for their good.

That is a comfort when we are under God's discipline, which can feel boundless and purposeless in the midst of it. When God disciplines us, allowing hardship or consequence, it can seem overwhelming, without limit or aim; but Isaiah shows that God's discipline of his people is measured, not boundless, and purposeful, aimed at removing our sin and making us fruitful. When you are under God's discipline, do not imagine it boundless or purposeless; it is measured, in measure, and aimed at your good, at taking away your sin and making you fruitful. God does not contend with his people to destroy them, but disciplines them in measure, for their purifying. Trust that God's discipline of you is measured and purposeful, not boundless wrath but a measured dealing meant to remove your sin and make you fruitful, as he disciplined Jacob in measure, that his iniquity might be taken away and he might take root and blossom.

Lord, in the midst of a word of judgment, Isaiah reveals something about your discipline of your people. In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them, he says; the discipline is measured, not boundless. And its purpose is redemptive: by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin. Your discipline is measured, and aimed at a good end: the removal of their sin, that they might take root and blossom and bear fruit. Show me two things about your discipline here: it is measured, and it is purposeful. It is measured, not poured out without limit; you contend with your people not to destroy them. And it is purposeful, aimed at taking away their sin, that they might be fruitful. Your discipline was not your abandonment, nor a boundless wrath, but a measured, purposeful dealing meant to purify them. Give me that comfort when I am under your discipline, which can feel boundless and purposeless in the midst of it. When you discipline me, allowing hardship or consequence, it can seem overwhelming, without limit or aim; but Isaiah shows that your discipline is measured and purposeful. When I am under your discipline, keep me from imagining it boundless or purposeless; it is measured, and aimed at my good. You do not contend with your people to destroy them, but discipline them in measure, for their purifying. Help me trust that your discipline of me is measured and purposeful, Lord, meant to remove my sin and make me fruitful.