Thoughts for the Day

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused....

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Written by Isaiah to cope with a current situation where Jordan's leaders are seeking to side with Egypt against Assyria, nevertheless this little passage from Isaiah has much to say to us as well, concerning our attitude to God. In the first few lines there are some important words: 'returning', 'rest', 'quietness", and "trust", as well as "be saved". These words can be understood in a physical way. They might refer to a military or political situation - a sort of 'keep your head below the parapet, or it will get knocked off' attitude! But they also have a spiritual meaning.

Isaiah is not just saying 'If you remain passive, Assyria will not cause a problem'. 'Being saved' also refers to remaining in a relationship with God. If they 'return' to God, if they listen to God, and put their 'trust' in God, then they will 'be saved' spiritually. Poignantly, we see in the second paragraph the opposite thought - that God 'waits' patiently and faithfully for the people to 'return' to Him in repentance, and to have faith and 'trust' in His word as the God of justice.

This Advent let us return to God, and rest patiently in His love, trusting that as His children we shall be saved.

Heavenly Father,
amid the busy chaos of this time of the year,
let us find some time to return to You,
to rest awhile before You
in quietness and peace,
trusting in Your promises,
that when we repent we shall be saved.
Then, may we go out into the world
renewed and revived to continue
Your work of calling people to You.
Amen.