Come Down, Lord #2 – Does God Notice?

As Isaiah prays, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,” he has some specific pictures in mind (Isaiah 64:1).

He was concerned for his country. He could foresee the Babylonians coming in, ravaging the land, taking the people into captivity, leaving their homeland utterly desolate. Did God notice?

“Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious” (Isaiah 63:15).

Have you noticed that when we’re also in desperate situations, we ask the same things of God? “God, can you see what I’m going through? Don’t you care? Are you really paying attention?”

Of course God sees and cares and knows.

God had shown his power repeatedly for God’s people. The prophet rehearsed the great display of God’s power for them – when he miraculously opened the Red Sea and enabled them to escape from Pharaoh and his army (Isaiah 63:12-14).

Yet, like Isaiah, in our present situation we may ask God the same question, “Where are your zeal and your might?” (Isaiah 63:15).

Where is God now? Is God withholding his power from us? Why hasn’t God shown himself strong on our behalf as he has so often done before? Why does it feel like we’re left to struggle all by ourselves?

Isaiah further feels that God’s “tenderness and compassion are withheld from us” (Isaiah 63:15).

Still, he acknowledges that even if he can’t feel God’s love, he knows God is still their Father.

“But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name” (Isaiah 63:16).

We long to experience God’s favor. See evidence of God’s power. Feel God’s near presence.

Yes, God does see. He is concerned. He does care. He will come through as we cry out to him. He is your heavenly Father.

Theologian Millard Erickson writes:

“Because God is a person (indeed, he is pictured as our Father), the relationship we have with him has a dimension of warmth and understanding. God is not a bureau or a department; he is not a machine or a computer that automatically supplies the needs of people. He is a knowing, loving, good Father. He can be approached. He can be spoken to, and he in turn speaks.”

Action Step: Make the urgency of Isaiah’s prayer yours: “Lord, take notice. Show yourself strong and mighty again. Let me sense your nearness. Come down.”

~ Pastor Dave