The Future Is Bright
Opening Prayer
Holy God, Your ways are always good, proper and best for me. I praise and thank You and wait before You.
Read Isaiah 54:1-17
[1] “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD. [2] “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. [3] For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. [4] “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. [5] For your Maker is your husband- the LORD Almighty is his name- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. [6] The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit- a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. [7] “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. [8] In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. [9] “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. [10] Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. [11] “Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. [12] I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. [13] All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. [14] In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. [15] If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. [16] “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; [17] no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How is God's love of Israel shown in this passage?We now explore all that the suffering Servant is going to make possible. Shalom, Hebrew for “peace,” is one of the richest concepts in the Old Testament. It was understood to be the complete enjoyment of all God had promised. In Old Testament times it was considered shameful for a woman not to be married and not to have children. Yet here they are invited to sing (1) and to prepare for fruitfulness (2). Look again at verse 2. What a lovely picture it conjures up! A small group of disciples left to spread the Gospel after Jesus’ resurrection did not look as though they would achieve much. Church growth in the wake of the Cultural Revolution in China did not look hopeful. But think what happened in both cases! What are you dreaming of as you think of the growth of the Kingdom of God? The picture changes from dwelling in tents (2) to a city (11-17). Not only will the walls be beautiful, but they will be filled with the peace of God (13). This chapter resonates with Revelation 21. The fulfillment of God’s promises has a glorious end in sight.
Apply
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20). How do God’s promises resonate with you?
Closing prayer
Lord, adjust my spirit to be in harmony with Your Spirit today. In the noise and clutter of the day, I do not want to miss Your call.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.