Isa
35:3-6 (ESV) Strengthen the weak hands,
and
make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say
to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be
strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will
come with vengeance,
with
the recompense of God.
He will
come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the
ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the
tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and
streams in the desert;
NOTE: I love this
passage. Isn't that how we feel when life seems broken--anxious hearts? And the
message is "be strong, fear not, …, He will come and save you." But
who does that apply to? Is it a verse that anyone can take? The passage is directed
toward Israel during dark days of Israel's history--probably the siege of
Jerusalem by Sennacherib, which follows this chapter. But it also fits a common
motif in scripture that is used again and again, and even finds itself in the
NT, "do not be anxious about anything, but in all things, make your
requests known to God. And the peace of God, which is beyond understanding,
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." This NT passage and the
OT passage seemed to be aimed at the faithful believer who is undergoing a
difficult time in life. A faithful believer can also be an unfaithful believer
who repents and seeks God. God allows our status to change quite quickly. But
repentance must be real and God is not tricked by feigned repentance. And to
the believer, God promises peace to protect our faith. He does not necessarily,
at least in the NT verses, offer salvation from the circumstance. But the
passages do imply, he offers something far greater and far more important.
Something that gives life and does not seep life from you--streams in the
desert. Oh Lord, give us your streams. Help us to live for your peace.
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