My thoughts are not your thoughts, Isaiah 55:6

The Second Song of Isaiah
Quaerite Dominum Isaiah 55:6-11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, *
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.


For as the heavens are higher than the earth, *
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.


For as rain and snow fall from the heavens *
and return not again, but water the earth,


Bringing forth life and giving growth, *
seed for sowing and bread for eating,


So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; *
it will not return to me empty;


But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, *
and prosper in that for which I sent it.



A trap that we can easily fall into is the trap of thinking, feeling, and even believing that God is really something like us, though with some attributes we don't have or that God has what we have in greater intensity.  If we consider ourselves quite helpful, we might think that God is also helpful - and most helpful.  If we consider ourselves thoughtful and wise, we might think that God is also thoughtful and wise - and most thoughtful and wise.  If we consider ourselves compassionate, we might think that God is also compassionate - and most compassionate.  Of course, this is probably true - God does have some attributes that we have, and it seems that God has them in spades.  However, God is not a "thing" in the world, God is not a created, dependent thing, person, or being in the world.  God as creator is that which all depend.  When we say that God is redeemer in the person of Jesus Christ, this is something beyond any category that we can be to one another.  When we say that God is sanctifier as the Holy Spirit, this is almost beyond our imagination.




In the words of God written in the book of Isaiah, "my thoughts are not your thoughts, *

nor your ways my ways, says the Lord."  This statement affirms the way that God is something else entirely, and even saying "something else" isn't quite right because God is not a "thing" in the way that my computer or coffee cup is a thing.  Our thoughts are not God's thoughts, and our ways are not God's ways.

However, the passage from Isaiah affirms the fact that God does not leave us alone, that God has somehow come to us, has brought us the gift of life, has sent us the gift of God's love, and has sent us God's word.  The universe is not Godless or loveless, rather, God is holding it in his "hands" and is caring for it with compassion and love.

So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; *

it will not return to me empty;

But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, *

and prosper in that for which I sent it.

God's word has been sent in the world and it will accomplish the good that God has laid out for us, and we are meant to prosper and live lives full, abundant and loving.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey