A REMNANT WILL RETURN
Opening Prayer
Lord of Christmas. Your breath is mercy and Your arms are grace. I pray I may be reborn in the spirit of Christmas.
Read Isaiah 10:20–27
The Remnant of Israel
20 In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
21 A remnant will return,[a] a remnant of Jacob
will return to the Mighty God.
22 Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel,
only a remnant will return.
Destruction has been decreed,
overwhelming and righteous.
23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
“My people who live in Zion,
do not be afraid of the Assyrians,
who beat you with a rod
and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
25 Very soon my anger against you will end
and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.”
26 The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip,
as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb;
and he will raise his staff over the waters,
as he did in Egypt.
27 In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders,
their yoke from your neck;
the yoke will be broken
because you have grown so fat.[b]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 10:21 Hebrew shear-jashub (see 7:3 and note); also in verse 22
- Isaiah 10:27 Hebrew; Septuagint broken / from your shoulders
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Coming home to somewhere you feel safe, known, and loved is wonderful. One day we will experience the ultimate homecoming …I enjoy dressmaking and love choosing beautiful materials from fabric shops. Tucked in a corner somewhere there is always a remnant basket. It is filled with fraying scraps of fabric. These are sometimes shop-soiled, usually crumpled beyond recognition, occasionally even ripped.
This is what I picture when I think about the remnant of Israel – a battered, crumpled, fraying bunch of people, devalued by the loss of their land and liberty. And yet, they are beloved by God. They are the faithful ones who have endured, despite great temptation and opposition, and God will bring them back and restore them fully.
And this is a dual-level restoration. He would bring them back to the Promised Land, but more importantly, because Jerusalem symbolized His presence, bringing them back would bring them back into full, close, holy relationship with Him (21). Those who trusted Him could cling to this promise, just as we can cling to its ultimate fulfillment when all His faithful ones are brought to the New Jerusalem.
Ask God for His strength and courage to stay faithful during current trials as you await the ultimate fulfillment of His promise, that we will one day be united with Him in glory forever.
Apply
Do you ever fear that you wouldn’t have the courage to remain faithful through difficult trials? God has promised to always give us a way out of temptation. Cling to His promises today.
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for Your empowerment. I can’t act justly, love mercy, or walk humbly with You, unless You enable me.
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