NOTES for Isa 48:17-19

It sometimes seems that in the Holy Scriptures God expects from us all the time unconceivable efforts, that we have to fight and work. We hear first of all in commandments what we do not have to allow ourselves, not always realizing, why. It turns out that our life owes a constant overcoming. Although it is sometimes like that, but only partially. God speaks about Himself through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah-" God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." Each of us has his way, to find it by oneself is rather difficult, how then one can understand where it is, this road, in which we are called? And God lets us know that commandments are pegs indicating the edge of the way, protecting against the fall into the abyss. As the watersides of a plentiful river, giving it the direction, and protecting it so that it spreads not on the meadows and floods everything all around. According to the words of the prophet, our life can really become as such river, if we begin to believe in God and understand that commandments don’t limit our will, but just warn of the danger.

The Lord says that there is only one source of peace - hearken to the commandments. We look for peace, we want more that everything on earth comfort, the internal light … But for some reason it goes wrong all the time. Why? And here is why. Because it is necessary at first to listen to the Lord, to accept His teaching, because He teaches good, to obey and to walk by the way that He leads. And we hear in His voice an obvious pain: "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!" If only… if only we could lift up our eyes and look at Him, open our heart and accept His word …