Isa. 65:7

7 Your iniquities [`avon], and the iniquities [`avon] of your fathers ['ab] together [yachad], saith ['amar] the LORD [Yahovah], which have burned incense [qatar] upon the mountains [har], and blasphemed [charaph.] me upon the hills [gib`ah]: therefore will I measure [madad] their former [ri'shown] work [pa`ullah] into their bosom [cheyq]. KJV-Interlinear

7 Both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together, says the LORD. Because they have burned incense on the mountains, And scorned Me on the hills, Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom. NASB

The iniquities of the current generation and the iniquities of the prior generations, which is plural for the many generations prior to the current, is a reference to the pattern of sin which continues from one generation to the next to the next and so on.

Incense is a part of the Levitical ceremonies. If you recall the pattern of the Temple, the brazen alter is the first alter which was located out in front of the tabernacle. The second alter, on which the incense of prayers are offered, was located within the Tabernacle.

The incense offered on the mountains is a reference to the patterns of worship, which people embraced. Patterns, which were in opposition to, Gods prescribed worship plan.

The organization of the Tabernacle was very specific. The attitudes that people have, who are in defiance toward God, are just the opposite.

The first alter represents the work of the Savior for salvation. The second alter represents the prayers or communication, or the function of the spiritual life, from within the design of Gods worship plan.

That is, salvation must come first. The spiritual life does not exist for unbelievers. Prayer is a function, which must be offered from within the fellowship sphere. Recall that immediately behind the brazen alter, the first alter, is the brazen washbasin where the sins of ones life are washed. This washing represents the forgiveness, which God provides us when we confess our sins.

Remember that at the Cross, our sins were judged, not forgiven. That is an important principle in the spiritual life. Forgiveness occurs initially when one believes in Christ. But, with all of us, soon after we first believed in Christ, we commit a sin. For most, it isn t very long after we first believed in Christ before we commit a sin.

Now we are saved, but in a carnal state and out of fellowship with God. God provided us with a method of getting back into fellowship. That method is called confession. Confession is a form of prayer, wherein we list our sins to God the Father. Father I did this or that. Immediately God forgives us our sins, no judging here, and washes them away permanently forever. This study is found in 1,2,3 John. 1 John 1:9 is the key verse.

All that we do from within the legitimate spiritual life, is the same as burning a pleasing smelling aroma from incense. God appreciates this because it is what He authorizes.

All illegitimate spiritual activities are nothing more than foul smelling smoke. They are not pleasing, and therefore not acceptable to God.

Burning incense on the mountains is the function of man, in his efforts to one-up God. To do something better than that which God desires. It is a function of arrogance.

There is nothing that any of us can add to, or take away, from Gods plan. Yet history is filled with religions and beliefs of all kinds where folks are trying to invent their own path to God, or to some higher region of enlightenment.

People do that which is near and dear to their heart. When we love something very much, we take hold of it and hug it to our chest. This is the symbolism indicated by the use of the word, bosom. This is the pattern that people truly believe.

In this case, these iniquities are what people symbolically hold to their chest, with eyes closed, as they express their deep love for them.

We are either for God or we are against Him. We either, love the legitimate functions of the spiritual life, or we love the illegitimate functions of the carnal life. There is no third choice.

God will deal with all sin, from all of history, in the same fashion. Whether it was Adam s sin wherein he was evicted from the Garden, or your sins in our current day, wherein God deals with you in some fashion.

First, all sin was judged on the Cross, the penalty of eternal death has been cancelled. Second, all sin must be confessed in order to be forgiven, and in order to live within the fellowship sphere of the spiritual life.

Those who refuse to believe in Christ will condemn themselves as they attempt to match their human works against the work of Christ on the Cross. Human works do not match Christ s work, and therefore unbelievers condemn themselves to the Lake of Fire by means of their works.

For those who believe in Christ, then confession is the issue. They are saved, and therefore will go to heaven. However, confession must be exercised in order to live and grow within the spiritual life. Those who obey Gods mandates, advance to spiritual maturity and become the recipients of phenomenal blessings both in time and in eternity.

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Those who ignore Gods mandates, become the recipients of Gods discipline in time, and they lose those phenomenal blessings in eternity.

What you hold near and dear to your heart is exactly what God pays you for.

Hold onto your sins, or human do-gooder attitudes, and you will be dealt with accordingly in discipline. Hold Gods mandates near and dear to your heart, and your blessings will be phenomenal.

God is consistent in His policy, throughout history. From the trial of Lucifer, now known as Satan, to the very last act of discipline or judgment, at the end of history, God is consistent and fair.

Now is the time to post a prayer.