When Things Are Turned Upside Down

“Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, ‘Who sees us? Who knows us?’ You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me; the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding?’ ” -Isaiah 15-16 (ESV)

“Thou art the Potter, I am the clay!

Mold me and make me, After thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.”

So declares the beloved hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” with words by Adelaide A. Pollard (1862-1934), set to the tune “Adelaide” composed by George C. Stebbins (1846-1945). But what about the words from the prophet Isaiah in the focal passage for this devotional? When we read it carefully, Isaiah is talking about people in his day who “hide counsel deep from the Lord,” those who perform deeds “in the dark;” those who say (after all) ‘Who sees us? “Who knows us?” Those who “turn things upside down.” Those who regard God, not as the Potter who formed the world and the people in it, but who regard Him as the clay and themselves as the potter, denying Him as the Maker or as One with infinite understanding.

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, Bible scholar and writer of the Wiersbe Bible Commentary states: This “woe” exposed the devious political tactics of the rulers of Judah who thought that God would not hold them accountable for what they were doing. They were trying to turn things upside down, the clay telling the potter what to do (See also Isaiah 45:9; 64:8; Jeremiah 18; and Romans 9:20. If only people would seek the counsel of the Lord instead of depending on their own wisdom and the fragile promises of men!” (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary. O.T. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, p. 1174).

Read the Isaiah passage above again carefully? Does this not remind you of our own day? Are things not “turned upside down today?”

Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787 told his fellow gathered countrymen: “I have lived a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning.” (Wiersbe. Ibid. p.1175).

Oh, that we as citizens would sincerely seek God’s guidance for our country! Oh, that we as church members would see that we are in a strategic position to make a difference in our church, in our community, our county, state, nation and world! Oh, if we as individuals, saved by the grace of God and with a purpose ordained by Him for this life could realize our strategic position in God’s plan! God knows each of us. He knows where we are. He is our Potter; we are His clay. Let us rejoice and take the responsibility He grants us seriously and gladly. When, as now, things are “turned upside down,” we, as individuals, can make a difference by seeking God’s face and asking for His power to right wrongs and to allow us to be His person where we are, for Jesus’ sake. Selah! -Ethelene Dyer Jones 02.04.2018