Desperately needing comfort today and to understand how and why the events of the day were unfolding like they were the Spirit guided me to Isaiah 54. As I meditated and looked at the scripture in context my heart began to overflow with the comfort that the children of Israel must have felt after receiving this word from the prophet. During their Babylonian exile they must have felt forsaken, humiliated and extremely weak. I have often felt these three things. Sometimes I've felt them all at once. It is extremely reassuring for me to know that I can claim many of the promises found in this chapter as my own.
In verse 5, I can remind myself that God is my husband and the only one I can expect to meet all of my emotional and physical needs. There are so many more promises between verses 1 and 16. However, It was verse 17 that made me grab my shouting shoes! Here's why I shouted:
God's Word let's me know that the weapons will form but they won't succeed.
He warns me that the people will talk but He has the final say. This is the weapon that often causes me the most hurt. I feel like I can recover from an uppercut to the stomach but find it very difficult to rise above the slanderous tongue.
Lastly, He let's me know this isn't a blanket promise for the church folk but is instead for those who are in covenant relationship with Him.
Now ain't that Good News!
