“Our holy and beautiful [d]temple, where our fathers praised You, is burned up with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste.” (Isaiah 64:11)
These words from Isaiah are a continuation and conclusion from the prophet’s prayer for the nation Israel. The focus of this lesson is from the last 8 words, “…all our pleasant things are laid waste“.
Remembering the pleasant things they lost because of their sin is reason and motivation to return to the true and living God. Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil 4:8).
Some pleasant things that God provides to the members of His body: Unity, Wisdom and Knowledge, His own Special People, Singing His’ Praises Together, The Words of the Pure, Family/Children, and Our blessings through Giving of Ourselves to the Work.