Rev. Don Campbell

Isaiah 64-66

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 1, 2019

“THE SIN OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Our readings in Isaiah come to an end today. He opened the book by denouncing the sinful nation, saying that it was sick from the sole of its foot to the top of its head (Isaiah 1:1-6). For 66 chapters he denounced their sinfulness, while pointing to a better day, the day of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59:20). The pattern is repeated in chapter 66 when he declares a final judgment against Israel and the bringing in of the Gentiles (vv.15-21).

In chapter 65, God says, “I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices” (v.2). For a fuller listing of their sins read vv.1-4. Our focus will be on v. 5: “Yet they say to each other, ‘Don’t come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.”

Just as the smell of burning garbage is repugnant to our nostrils, God declares their holier-than-thou attitude stinks to him. The Pharisees had developed self-righteousness into an art: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14).

God’s word certainly condemns extortion, injustice, and adultery. Tithing was a part of the Law of Moses. However, one can be right and still be wrong. It is one thing to be convinced that we hold correct beliefs. It is quite another thing to believe that we are right and cannot be wrong and all who disagree with us are wrong and cannot be right.

Isaiah said, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (64:6, KJV). The ESV has “like a polluted garment,” but that doesn’t tell us by what the garment is polluted. Strong gives the following information: “A masculine noun referring to filthiness, menstruation. It indicates a woman’s menstrual period or cloth that was considered unclean.” That, my friends, describes how self-righteousness appears to God.

CONNECTIONS

1. Leon F. Seltzer, Ph.D. writing on self-righteousness and narcissism said, “For in challenging circumstances it’s almost as though their very survival depends on being right or justified, whereas flat out (or humbly) admitting a mistake—or, for that matter, uttering the words “I’m sorry” for some transgression—seem difficult to impossible for them” (Psychology Today, 11/7/13). Forget politics for a moment. Do you know people who must always be right? Does one of them stare back at you every morning in the mirror?

2. It has been said that “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” What does that mean to you?