April 16, 2020
Isaiah 51
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (verse 3)
LET IT GLOW
What brings us comfort? Are things feeling like they are out of control? Is your routine interrupted and not running smoothly? Don't we tend to get comfortable in our scheduled and normal routines? There is comfort available for us. Continue to find out where it can be found.
Read our key verse above. How many times does God use the word comfort? Twice here and once in verse 19.
Comfort means to console; to sigh (breathe strongly); to pity.
Sounds like God is going to console and pity Jerusalem and Israel after their 70 years of captivity.
How will they experience His comfort/pity?
- He is going to have pity on their ruins, the places of waste.
- Her desert will blossom like Eden; her barren wilderness will be like the garden of the LORD.
- Joy and gladness will be found there.
- Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.
Don't give up friend. God is preparing us to rejoice.
Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. Say yes to the ways Jesus works in our life. Trust Him, and don't be afraid. (Sarah Young)
Until that day when we are free to go wherever, may our trust in Jesus make us joyful. We have a hope of eternal life. Be sure to share it with others.
LET IT GROW
Listen to what God says in verse 1. The message is for those who follow after righteousness, those who seek the LORD, and those who look unto the Rock. We are to consider the rock from which we were cut, the quarry from which we were mined.
The prophet assured the nation of deliverance by pointing to God's past covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), who was the rock in the quarry from which they were hewn as a people. Originally, Abraham was only one person, but God multiplied his descendants as He had promised (Gen. 13:16).
The MacArthur Bible Commentary)
Abraham was Israel's father and Sarah was the one who gave birth to their nation. Spiritually speaking, they are our ancestors, too. Abraham is our father of faith. Sarah is our quarry from which we are dug. Isn't it amazing to think how many descendants of faith does Abraham and Sarah have?
Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham was called to go out into a place he should after receive for an inheritance. He obeyed, not knowing where he was going. There was no point on a map circled. He and Sarah dwelled in tents and in a strange country. But he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And Sarah was given strength to conceive and deliver a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Isaac was their only begotten son.
How encouraging it is when we consider God's faithfulness in times past. Since He is the same yesterday and today, He is faithful to us today. So take comfort-this too shall pass.
LET IT GO
Thank You Heavenly Father for Your faithfulness to us.
Thank You for what You are going to do in people's hearts and lives and families.
Fill us with joy and gladness today.
You alone are worthy of honor and praise.
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