In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, verse 9 reads; Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity: this verse is a clear example of one of God's "if" blessings. By that I mean, God will bless us all if we just obey his words. In John 15:14, the Lord Jesus Christ said, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. In Isaiah 58:9, the Lord promised that he will answer when called and would make himself available to the caller if they first would " take away the yoke ", or remove unfair burdens of injust servitude placed on the necks of the less fortunate. Whatever the cause or purpose of the yoke the Lord's command was that it be removed. The next sentence in verse 9 reads; the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; You can imagine someone with forefinger pointed at the accused, giving them a piece of their mind. Now imagine what many viewers of pornography say in defense of what they do, here's a few examples: YOU put on so much weight after our 5th child, unlike your sister who after six kids looks great. Anyhow, I'm only thinking of how YOU used to look when I watch porn. Will YOU relax! YOU act like I'm cheating or something! YOU are so, overreacting! I'm doing this because YOU put on fifteen pounds since we married a few years back, and I need the motivation! This is the Blame Game. Now, I must point out that pornography is not a problem for men only, that being the case, just imagine what some wives are saying to defend their viewing of pornography. Here are a few examples: Well, if YOU were more attentative to my needs, I wouldn't have to turn to porn. I was watching a talk show the other day and Dr. Blah Blah Blah, said porn. would put some excitement back in our marriage. Well I have no choice, YOU obviously don't care enough about this marriage to do anything. Every since YOU came back from your second tour in Iraq, YOU'VE become so withdrawn,and so distant that I thought if we would view a little porn. together you'd feel better. This is the Blame Game, and the finger of blame is extended by one or both partners in homes and marriages, worldwide. I believe the Lord himself (through the scriptures) is pointing a finger of correction at us all admonishing us that; ...if thou take away the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; That last sentence further instructs us that we not speak vanity. In verse 13 and 14 of chapter 58 of Isaiah, it reads in part; If thou turn away... from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; The message in these verses is clear. We shouldn't be attacking or oppressing our own loved ones, but rather we should be breaking off those things that leave them hopelessly and helplessly burdened. Sometimes our determination to pleasure ourselves without regard of the price to ourselves or our spouses mixed together with words that are carelessly spoken can have a devastating effect. These words are somewhat like projectiles that once fired cannot be called back, but they can be stopped. How so? By not speaking them in the first place, and by not doing it wrong in the first place. Here are a few priceless words of wisdom from the book of Proverbs which are just as helpful as they are beautiful. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Proverbs 15:1,2. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32.
