August 26 - Isaiah 66:5-11

August 26 – Isaiah 66:5-11

Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame. Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve.

“Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.  “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.”

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus says, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Those who loved the Lord came up against their brothers – other Israelites who didn’t want to live according to not only the letter of the Law, but the spirit of the Law.  They mocked this group, yet the Lord promises that He will deal with them.  He will stand by those who love Him, no matter what is done to them.

The exiles are promised a quick return to Zion … to Jerusalem.  In fact, it will happen so quickly that it will be like a woman giving birth to her child.  God promises that when they return to Jerusalem, they will return to their Temple and to the protection of His hand.

He loves His people and though they were taken into exile and felt as if they had been separated from the Lord, though He was angry at them for their sin and dealt harshly with them, their return to Jerusalem was promised.  Not only would he bring them back, it would happen quickly and when they were there, they would be cared for as a mother nurses her child.

The Lord is always working to restore the relationships that He has with us.  We think that we are in charge, but it is Him that continues to care for us beyond anything we can desire or deserve.

Israel faced His anger and He is the one who brought them back into favor.  They had done nothing extravagant while in Babylon to deserve a return to His grace.  It was His doing, it was His work, it was His mercy.

In our lives, we can do nothing to deserve a return to God’s grace.  It is His doing, it is His work, it is His mercy.