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Isaiah 11.10 - 12.end

posted 22 Nov 2013, 05:21 by Ben@theorderoftheblacksheep.com
Then on that day, that root from Jesse’s line
    will stand as a signal for the peoples of the world
Who will come to Him seeking guidance and direction;
    and glory will be restored to the land where He resides.[a]

11 At that time, my Lord will reach out and gather in the remnant of His scattered people a second time. God’s people, those who had been defeated and exiled, will make their way back from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea.

12 When God raises a signal, the whole world will hear the news
    of how He is assembling the people He had banished,
Gathering those scattered from Judah from across the whole wide earth.

There are no capricious acts with God. God, and no one else, is the undoing of Israel. He may use Assyria as His agent to chastise the people of Judah for their wrongdoing, but judgment is never God’s last move. When God judges—when God punishes—He does so for a reason. His judgment is always measured, finite, and based on His covenant loyalty. God takes no delight in His people’s suffering; but sometimes, tragically, it is necessary. Willful ignorance and blatant disregard for God and others cannot be ignored. In the end, God’s purpose is to repair a world deeply injured by sin and its consequences. So His next move is to rescue and restore His covenant partners. Reconciliation and grace always follow destruction.

13 At that time Ephraim will no longer envy Judah,
    those who afflict Judah will be brought down,
For those groups who had been at odds with each other—
    envy and hostility will end.
14 But they will join forces against those who threaten them,
    swooping down on the slopes of Philistia in the west,
Plundering and prevailing over the nations in the east who oppressed them:
    Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
15 And the Eternal will make it easy,
    so easy for God’s people to return from Egypt and Assyria.
He will create a swath of dry land through the gulf of Egypt’s sea;
    with a wave of His hand, He will blow a scorching wind
Over the Euphrates—breaking it up into seven streams—
    so the people can cross it in their sandals.
16 He will build a highway for the remnant of His people as they leave Assyria behind,
    just as He did for the Israelites when they left the land of Egypt.[b]

12 In the face of such grace that day, you will thank God.

People: Thank you, thank you, thank you, Eternal One,
        God of our people, of our promise

    For establishing an end to our punishment,
        for taking me back with kindness, and comforting me.
2     See, God has come to rescue me;
        I will trust in Him and not be afraid,
    For the Eternal, indeed, the Eternal is my strength and my song.
        My very own God has rescued me.

God has given His people a new surety and confidence, a new sense of purpose, strength, and determination.

3 With joy in each step, you will drink deeply from the springs of salvation.
4 You’ll want to sing out that day,

People: Give thanks to the Eternal; call on His name.
    Spread the news throughout the world of what He has done
        and how great is His name!

5 Sing praises to the Eternal!
    Everyone, everywhere should know that God acts in amazing ways.
6 You who live in this God-blessed place, this Zion, shout out and sing for joy!
    For God is great, and God is here—with us and around us—the Holy One of Israel.

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