The Book of Isaiah continues to be so meaningful. I found a warning in Isaiah 22:12-13 about repentance. Those verses read: “Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: [as you say] “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.” (NASB).
If we refuse God’s call to repentance, two things can often happen:
1. there is the hopelessness of despair: the people gave up. There was no hope for the future. They weren’t trusting God and looking to Him for their protection and deliverance from the approaching Assyrian army. They gave up.
2. there is the hopelessness of self-indulgence. If there is no hope, why not do everything you really want–without regard for your health and safety?
Of course, I immediately thought of if someone is on a diet. If we don’t trust God and ask for His help in keeping to the diet, we splurge/eat what we shouldn’t, and what’s our reaction? Instead of repenting, we give up. “Oh well, I’ve already blown it, so I might as well eat everything in the house. I give up.”
When we’re tempted to give up, let’s ask God for His help. And if we have blown it, He is waiting for our repentance so that He can forgive us and prevent hopelessness.