The very first time I heard the phrase "you better recognize," I was picking my son up from high school and he asked me could he turned the radio to another radio station, and I said yes. I was listening to some old school R&B, and I understood that the station was boring to him. He turned the channel to a hiphop station, and he also turned the volume up. What I heard next, in my opinion, seem like someone was trying to sing in a foreign language. It was called rap music. I remember my son telling me that one of the songs was titled, "U Better Recognize" by Sam Snead, featuring Dr. Dre. I do not mean any disrespect, but I didn't know either one them at the time. But I do remember that the title of the song was very catchy and it became a very well known catchphrase. So well known, a lot of my church members repeated it often.
Urban Dictionary says that the phrase "you better recognize" is what you say when you want someone to acknowledge your authority. Roderick Brereton says, "This famous quote, widely known for its affiliation with urban culture is used to relay the importance of realizing what is happening in real time. The recipients of these words are urged to process the underlying meaning within the message."
I would like to focus on part of Mr. Brereton's definition, "to relay the importance of realizing what is happening in real time." Scripture says, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). Let me start off by saying, "you need to recognized" the importance of the Word of the Lord.
Isaiah, whose name means Salvation of the Lord, was, according to Scofield, the greatest of the writing prophets. Isaiah was the son of Amoz. He was married to a prophetess. He had two sons, Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash-baz. The Book of Isaiah is the first of the writings of the Prophets in the Bible. He carried on his ministry in Judah, possibly during the seventh century. It was a time when Israel and Judah had been invaded. As God's messenger to Judah, he prophesied during the reigns of several kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
The theme of the Book of Isaiah is, "Israel's Messiah." Isaiah's writings reflects the eternal counsel of God, the creation of the universe, and looking forward to the time when God will create a new heaven and a new earth. He also enlightens us with the birth, suffering, and death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we look upon the three Scriptures given above, it is my hope to give an explanation and/or interpretation of the prophet Isaiah's message. In chapter 55, verse six, the prophet called his people to, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." As I read this clarion call, I was reminded of the words of John the Baptist, centuries later, "Repent ye for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 3:2). He was also calling on the people to seek God.
As the prophet Isaiah makes this call of repentance to God's people, it is a legitimate attempt to get them to turn from their wicked ways while they still had the breath of life in them. They were to, "Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord" (Isaiah 55:7). If they listened to the prophet and "return to the Lord," He would have mercy on them and pardon their sins.
These words of Isaiah were directed to Israel, but today we are not told to "seek the Lord while he may be found." Why? Because it is not the Lord who is lost, it is the sinner who is in need of a living Savior, who imparts life to all. Not by seeking Him, but allowing Him entry into the door of our hearts.
In the eighth verse, Isaiah parts the water with such profound and yet elegant words, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Now let's open this nugget and see what was the prophet talking about. The things that God thinks about and His purposes, are not the things that we think, nor the purpose that we have in mind. Therefore, our thoughts are different, the outcomes of them are indeed divergent. God's "ways" are His acts. The manner and course of His working is considered as a path on which He moves, and on which, in some sense, we can also journey. Our "way," our manner of life is not parallel with His, as it should be.
In the garden of Eden, we were created in His image. The thinking of Adam and Eve was divinely inspired by the Lord, but when Adam sinned, the image of His people was marred, and for six thousand years, we have not recovered to that position, that once was. As each day passes, we are being given the opportunity to be more like Jesus, to possess the mind of Christ, which the Apostle Paul called on the Philippians to do.
In the eleventh verse Isaiah states, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah, 700 years before He would come in the flesh, these words are very true and relevant today. Isaiah said, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). And again, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Please let me say this, "You Better Recognize," that the Word of God is our stepping stone to that heavenly abode that awaits us.
We should never feel that because we can't see the hand of God working in our lives, that the Word is not able to do His will. The children of God was so far out there and steep in sin that they could not receive the Word. Doubt, unbelief, and disobedience had cut them off from the blessing of God. But if only they would turn from their wicked ways, they would be able to go. Go where? "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace" (Isaiah 55:12a). Now this is enough to pause and shout Hallelujah! The promise of God is His Word. When all else fails, His Word will always stand.
God had already made it plain to Israel that if they were obedient to His will, they would receive the abundance of blessings. Why not, they were His chosen people. They were His covenant people. They were to be His holy nation. But if they choose not to give Him the honor, then the thorn and briar would be their reward.
God's Word is capable of endless transformation. God's truth, His Word, was coming down like rain or snow from heaven, and it would not return to Him void, but transfigured and transformed into character. God's Word, His truth, was like a mighty powerful force, undergoing an unimaginable metamorphosis. The history of Christianity itself, is the history of the truth of God's Word, working in the hearts of man, achieving the desired effect of His Word. Oh, you better recognize the importance of God's Word. "God's word is alive and working and is sharper that a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts" (Hebrews 4:12).
There is also so many wonderful benefits in God's Word. Psalm 19:7-11 says:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making the wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
You better recognize that God's Word revives the soul. His Word is trustworthy. His Word gives joy to the heart. His Word gives light to the eyes. His Word is more precious than pure gold. His Word is sweeter than honey. When you keep them, there will be great rewards. AMEN!
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