"Here Is Your God"
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When Isaiah brought the word of God's comfort to Israel, he spoke to a people who were bound in idolatry. Through Moses and Joshua, God had commanded the Israelites to remove the gods of the gentile nations from their land. But they had not obeyed.

By Isaiah's time, idolatry dominated the daily life of God's people. Although they worshipped God outwardly at the temple, the hearts of many were hardened towards God and turned towards idols. And all the people lived in the midst of the defilement caused by that idolatrous worship. Thus Isaiah spoke to a people so oppressed and confused that they no longer recognized their God.

Isaiah wrote:

"Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" (Isaiah. 40:9 NASV).

Just like Isaiah, the Word Based Counselor must speak into lives which are bound by idolatry and the darkness, confusion, and destruction it brings. The counselor must say to them, "Here is your God! Look, this is who God is! Not that over there. You have put your trust in an idol--in philosophy, in psychology; in a false concept of God; you've trusted in the world, in your own flesh, in the enemy. These things in which you have put your hope have let you down. Turn to the living God.

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