Isa. 65:2-5

2 I have spread out [paras] my hands [yad] all the day [yowm] unto a rebellious [carar] people [`am], which walketh [halak] in a way [derek] that was not good [towb], after ['achar] their own thoughts [machashabah];

3 A people [`am] that provoketh me to anger [ka`ac] continually [tamiyd] to my face [paniym]; that sacrificeth [zabach] in gardens [gannah], and burneth incense [qatar] upon altars of brick [labenah];

4 Which remain [yashab] among the graves [qeber], and lodge [luwn] in the monuments [natsar], which eat ['akal] swine's [chaziyr] flesh [basar], and broth [maraq] [paraq] of abominable [pigguwl] things is in their vessels [kaliy];

5 Which say ['amar], Stand [qarab] by thyself, come not near [nagash] to me; for I am holier [qadash] than thou. These are a smoke [`ashan] in my nose ['aph], a fire ['esh] that burneth [yaqad] all the day [yowm]. KJV-Interlinear

2 I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, 3 A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks; 4 Who sit among graves, and spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine's flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. 5 Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. NASB

The contrast between the Jews and the Gentiles continues. Isaiah summarizes the attitude of the Jews toward Gods overtures.

And, as we have noted before, this principle of doctrine applies to all peoples throughout history, not only to the Jewish people of Isaiah s time.

And also, since this prophecy applies to that future remnant of folks, who will survive the Tribulation, their recount to God, by means of Isaiah s words, gives them all the more hope that Christ will indeed deliver them from their dire situation.

But these verses speak to the whole of the Jewish nation scattered throughout the world, as well as throughout history. It also speaks to every person who takes Gods word lightly, and substitutes their own ideas for spirituality, rather than using Gods word.

In history, rejection of God takes on this pattern. In the Tribulation, this pattern will reach its peak

God is truth. People who reject God, therefore reject truth.

God means the very best for all people. He stands with His hands and arms held out wide open for anyone who will come to Him. Just like Grandma does when you go to visit. All of the hugs and kisses are intended for the best. Gods hugs and kisses have tremendous blessings behind them.

People who could care less for Gods word, walk through life in the pattern of their own thoughts. Since there are only two patterns of life, Gods pattern and everything else, then by rejecting Gods pattern, the only thing left is the pattern of lies. There is no in between.

People who offer sacrifices in their own gardens and burn offerings on bricks are lazy. They compromise Gods intended spiritual life.

Where does one typically offer sacrifices and offerings? In the Temple.

Where in the Bible was the garden sacrifice authorized? Nowhere.

So what does it all mean?

God set out the pattern of the spiritual life. This includes the rules for salvation by means of faith in Christ, and not by any other means. This includes the rules for fellowship, by means of confession to the Father, and not by any other means. This includes the rules for spiritual growth by means of a daily study, by means of application of Gods mandates to ones daily life, by means of responsibility and accountability in ones life, and no by any other means.

Yet, people everywhere come up with their own ideas of salvation, with their own ideas of fellowship, with their own ideas of spiritual growth. They figure that they can ignore Gods mandates and do their own thing, because their ideas seem so reasonable, to themselves. They also will take this or that idea out of the Bible and reshape it with some of their own ideas. They compromise Gods word in other words, into something more acceptable to themselves.

And, just what do these other ways amount to? They are no better than graves, swine s flesh, unclean meat, secret places.

People who reject God. People who ignore God. People who are defiant against God, live their lives in accordance with rejectionable patterns. When is it normal to live among the graves? It is not. When is it normal to eat foul foods? It is not. Who lives their life by means of beliefs they think are acceptable, but in fact are forced to live them in secrecy? Only those who know deep inside that what they do or think, is wrong.

There are only two patterns of thought in this universe. Gods pattern, which we learn from our daily study of the scriptures, and everything else. All other thought patterns are described as foul, or unclean, and as we have recently studied, they are like female menstrual rags.

What do you find in graves and rotten meat? Dead things, rotting things, worms and maggots. This is the nature of the life, which excludes God.

And yet, people who pursue their own life, say by default, that they are better than God.

God teaches us all that we are nothing more than dust. That we do not know all that there is to know. That we need Him who knows all, and who holds everything in this universe together with the mere power of His word.

But, arrogant humanity will reject the obvious, and despite his limited life font, and obvious limited knowledge of this universe, will believe that he knows all that there is to know about everything.

God is truth. If you reject the truth, then you pursue the lie. If you pursue the lie and presume yourself as pursuing the truth, then who is it that is confused?

The smoke that God seeks is the smoke from the fires of the legitimate spiritual life. These fires exist within your soul when your spiritual life functions properly.

But with great contradiction, people who reject God pursue the burning of their own pseudo-spiritual fires, which is their own defined pattern of life, with hopes of being accepted by another god, one of which they have defined on their own. Go figure!

People who are negative, believe that they know enough about life, in order to define their own future.

People who pursue their negative attitude for a long enough time, will reach a point where they will become extremely defiant toward God, toward Christ and toward Bible doctrine. It is from these types of folks, that the world will become an extremely violent place.

That principle is true today. The present violence in the Middle East is a perfect example. And, this principle will be true in the future, in the Tribulation, when this attitude will reach its peak worldwide.

But, more important for you, if you ignore the Word of God on a daily basis, for a long enough period of time, then this attitude will grow from within you, and you will one day find yourself in a huge world of misery and failure.

Now is the time to post a prayer.