Isaiah 49: 8 This is what the Lord says:
“In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.
12 See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.[b]”
13 Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Thoughts
This passage from Isaiah is brimming with joy–elation, excitement–all because he brings good news: the one person we can count on promises to take care of us, to free us from our captivity, to take care of all our needs–hunger, thirst, and to comfort us in our afflictions.
Most of our world is brimming with fear, whether of wars or rumors of wars, of technology causing destruction and death, of governments unable to provide the basic needs for their citizens. There is no escaping these fears–we are attacked with news reports, over caffeinated stories about relentless anger and disregard and disrespect, an endless stream of people treating each other as subhuman.
And yet we have the truth from Isaiah, the words of our creator himself, testifying that he has not forgotten us. We are his, and he will rescue us. Our soul cannot be destroyed, and he will be with us and restore us to him regardless of what chaos this world churns up.
Reflection
What keeps you awake at night, or causes you to lose your temper, exposing frayed nerves and psyche? Bring it to the Lord. Put it at his feet. Trust in him, throw yourself at the foot of the cross and ask him to help you even in your unbelief.
Personal Prayer
Lord, I need you. Every hour, every minute, I need you. I submit my thoughts, my words, and my attitude all to you. Please remind me throughout the day to keep my eyes on you. Help me to remember to lift up thanksgiving for the hundreds of ways you have rescued me, saved my bacon again and again, and that you will continue to provide for me and comfort me for eternity.
Shared Prayer Focus
Lord Jesus, teach us your songs of praise and joy that we may sing them throughout the day. May our eyes shine with your glory, and our tongues spread your comfort and peace to all we meet.
