Isaiah 55:8-9 PLEASE ANSWER!!? ASAP

[1yugioh]

Okay serious question please answer.

Isaiah 55:8-9

King James Version (KJV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So I have had serious anxiety over this verse. WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN?
I mean obviously we think differently than he does. But what is the significance of that?

Does this mean that if I don't think something is a sin, he thinks it is?

Or does it mean that he just has a perspective on the same thing or what.

Cuz I was raised to believe that god understood our struggles with sin, and he understood when we slipped up and sinned and he would forgive us if we were genuinely sorry and did our best not to sin again. But this simple scripture is making me question that to its very core.

PLEASE HELP!

 

[St_Worm2]

Okay serious question please answer.

Isaiah 55:8-9

King James Version (KJV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So I have had serious anxiety over this verse. WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN?
I mean obviously we think differently than he does. But what is the significance of that?

Does this mean that if I don't think something is a sin, he thinks it is?

Or does it mean that he just has a perspective on the same thing or what.

Cuz I was raised to believe that god understood our struggles with sin, and he understood when we slipped up and sinned and he would forgive us if we were genuinely sorry and did our best not to sin again. But this simple scripture is making me question that to its very core.

PLEASE HELP!

Hi 1yugioh, the first thing I would do is read these verses in context. Here are v6-9 to start:

6　 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

7　 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
8　 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9　 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.​

When God tells us that His thoughts and ways are "higher" than ours, it means, in its most basic form, that they are 'better' than ours.

The prophet (Isaiah) joins the invitation of Yahweh with a call to the people to have faith in him and to openly show their faith by repentance from their evil works (55:6–9). There is still the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness. Yahweh is greater than man; as such, his thoughts cannot be likened to man’s thoughts. Man’s thoughts are evil for evil, but Yahweh can be gracious even when he has been hurt, dishonored, and disobeyed. Now is the day for the people to come to Yahweh in faith. From: The Evangelical Commentary on the Bible​

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And as long as you're reading v8-9 in context, why not go ahead and read through to v13 to be even more awestruck by the Lord and by the kindness and graciousness that is His intention towards us.

Yours and His,
David

 

[meinahanna]

First of all Paul says

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11-12)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (hebrews 4:12)

Ok its very clear that God in his mercy gave us the Holy Spirit that we may understand the things that are from God and that means understanding his word. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to understand what sin is as our conscious convicts us through the word of God. God's ways are higher than ours, but that doesn't mean we don't understand as above stated "what he has freely given us". That is that through his words we can understand what he wants from us. Read Galatians 5:16-26

Thats why God says to the disciples

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18).

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

So as Paul says the Holy Spirit that is from God teaches us all things and we are no longer orphans as Jesus makes it clear. So Pray and ask God for wisdom as James says

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)

Now that that is clear and you don't have to worry about not knowing what God wants YOU to do for HIS name's Sake. You have to understand that Jesus Payed for all your sins( Hebrews 9:26, 10:10, 10:12, 10:14, 10:17-19) and you have been saved (Ephesians 2:8) and now that you have been saved, God himself will sancitfy you.

"23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 23-24) and again "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (1 Philippians 6) and again "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." (1 Ephesians 13-14)

So if you Love Christ (the beatitudes) and crave after him, then you have been saved and you are sealed. Watch out though for those who love sin will use this as a license to sin and will not accept this fact, because it will cause them to continue on sinning. But if you are a true christian, then rejoice , because you will be made holy and I can see that your concern is a good sign.

Grace be with you

 

[Johnnz]

Look at the entire chapter to get the context.

Is 55 is about a wonderful restoration ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. It is a promise that, in spite of past failures God will forgive and renew his blessings. Our understanding of God's mercy and grace is far too limited; God's heart and thoughts are far grander than we easily perceive. How wonderful. No need for fear or condemnation. God is faithful to His promises. Hallelujah.

John
NZ

 

[1yugioh]

So its not saying that If I don't something is a sin that he thinks it is or anything like that.
Its just pointing out that he has a broader, clearer and pure perspective on our lives than we do. Right?

 

[St_Worm2]

So its not saying that If I don't something is a sin that he thinks it is or anything like that.
Its just pointing out that he has a broader, clearer and pure perspective on our lives than we do. Right?

Right. Try to get that first sentence out of your head forever .. This passage is not about condemnation or some secret sin that only the Lord knows and is going to use to strike you down.

Read Johnnz post just above yours again as it is so very nicely put (Thanks Johnnz .. ). Read Isaiah 55:1-13 again and understand what v8-9 is actually saying. It is all about forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and the fact that because He is holy, righteous, good, merciful, and trustworthy, He doesn't think like us or act like us ..

This passage, like Psalm 103, is hard for me to read through w/o having my eyes well-up with tears of joy ... not of sorrow!!

Yours and His,
David

 

[Purge187]

So its not saying that If I don't something is a sin that he thinks it is or anything like that.
Its just pointing out that he has a broader, clearer and pure perspective on our lives than we do. Right?

Indeed. That verse is actually one of my favorites, because it helps me to avoid "bearing false witness against God" and blaming my troubles on Him the way I used to do.

Same thing with God's answer to Job from the whirlwind. Presumption and trying to figure everything out all at once is futile.