Thoughts for the Day

Thus says the Lord:
In a time of favour I have answered you,
on a day of salvation I have helped you....
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standar d Version)

Thoughts

However, when we allow God's Servant into our life we can break the. chain of sin and devastation, and shout for joy that the Lord will have compassion on His suffering ones.o take their fertile land, and had recently suffered under the Babylonians, so they knew what Isaiah meant. Today, we only have to think of cities laid waste in Ukraine to imagine what Isaiah is describing. God says that through the work of His Servant, the land will be restored to its original prosperity - cities will be rebuilt, land reclaimed, vineyards re-planted and peace will exist. Isaiah uses these images to show how the Messiah will restore people - Jews and Gentiles - from the ravages of sin.

Having read the whole of the Bible aloud twice I can tell you that after some days I became so cross with the way God's people fell away from His laws and began worshipping idols that I found all my sympathy was for God. Why did He put up with human sin? It's no different today. We still want to go our own way; to worship gods of our own making; and to start a war because someone else's land is desirable.

However, when we allow God's Servant into our life we can break this chain of sin and devastation, and shout for joy that the Lord will have compassion on His suffering ones.

Lord God,
You promise pardon and peace
to Your people -
that is to us, and all
who are suffering this day.
Enable us to withstand all the wiles
of the Devil,
and to strive for the healing
of Your people and Your world.
Amen.