Contemplative Bible Reading

Isaiah 30:22 (New Living Translation)

Then you will destroy all your silver idols
and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags,
saying to them, “Good riddance!”

God is talking to the people through the prophet Isaiah. The people have been disobedient. God, however, tells them that if they return to God, God will be there for them.

Repentance and return to God will cause the people to destroy their idols of silver and gold. All those precious metals will be like filthy rags. “Good riddance!” Finally, done with that junk. It was a complete waste of time and everything else. Why did we ever have those things sitting around?

Yes, why did we ever have those things sitting around collecting dust? That was all they did; collect dust. That’s how they became so filthy.

Many things of this world are just like that. Junk collecting dust until it is filthy. God gives us things to enjoy, and we righteously enjoy them in God’s will and God’s grace. Sometimes, however, well sometimes we fall in love with some of these things and just… We wake one morning wondering where we are and what we are doing.

Please God, help me to wake every morning looking to You. Help me to enjoy the things You give me without treasuring them beyond all reason.