Bow the Knee – Isaiah 45:22,23

U2 has a song on their How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album called Love and Peace or Else.  I love the lyrics and apply them to dealing with my sin addiction:

Lay down, Lay it down, Lay your sweet lovely on the ground.  Lay your love on the track.  We’re gonna break the monster’s back.  Yes we are, hey, hey, hey.  Lay down your treasure.  Lay it down now brother.  You don’t have time For a jealous lover.  As you enter this life I pray you depart With a wrinkled face And a brand new heart.

I don’t know if I can take it.  I’m not easy on my knees.  Here’s my heart you can break it.  I need some release, release, release.

Isaiah has some thoughts about being easy on our knees.

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!  For I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:  ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’  (Isaiah 45:22-23 ESV)

There is no other God but Yahweh.  All other gods are figments of men’s imagination or demons posing as gods.  Yahweh has made it clear that one day every single knee will bow to Him and all will swear allegiance.  This is good news unless it is a forced allegiance in that day.  If forced then it is accompanied with judgment.  Only those for whom it was a willing allegiance are rewarded.

Consequently Yahweh offers an invitation to every member of every nation.  “Turn to me and be saved!”  Only if you turn now will you be rewarded then as you bow your knee to Him.  If you wait until that day it will be too late.  Answer the invitation now.

Discussion Questions

1. What postures have you utilized in prayer?
2. What is it about being on one’s knees in prayer that you find good or bad?
3. Why does the world find it so hard to get on their knees to God?
4. When do you find it hard to get on your knees?
5. How do we get Yahweh’s message to the world out?