In Isaiah 40, Isaiah is talking about a time in the future when there will be rest for the Israelites, he also is foretelling the coming of Christ at the end of the age. The Jews would suffer many years for their continuing sins but there would be a day of reconciliation, a day when the Messiah would come and reconcile all who are His and take them to be with Him, praise the Lord. At that time the Lord will restore all of His people and that includes all of us who have put our hope and trust in Him. These words should be very comforting and encouraging for everyone that belongs to Jesus.
Judah had 170 years of suffering ahead of them and the Lord sent Isaiah to give them these comforting words, God still loved them but He hated their sins so they would suffer the consequences but there was hope in the end. The Lord will not be angry forever but He would pour out His grace and someday there would be an end to all suffering and pain. When you think about the many years of adversity and suffering they had to endure ahead of them you would think they might get so discouraged they would want to give up.
We can, and should, praise the Lord that most of us don’t know what it’s like to be enslaved by someone else and treated harshly and cruelly. But if things keep on the way they are, it just may happen in our day. If God judged the Israelite nation with exile being taken over by other nations, why should America be exempt? The sins of our nation are just as bad, or maybe a lot worse, so why should we expect any different treatment? We as a nation have brought curses upon ourselves, how can we expect to escape God’s judgment?
One thing the body of Christ can do is truly repent from the heart, confess their sins, turn away from their wickedness, turn to the Lord and receive His forgiveness. The Bible says this in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal their land.” God was speaking to King Solomon about him and the Israelites at that time but I think it pertains to us today also. Apparently repentance hasn’t happened because our land has not been healed, nor will it be until God’s people take this scripture to heart and act on it.
I have said this many times, when a person sins there is always a consequence, punishment or correction for it. Many times, because it doesn’t happen right away, people just go on in their sin, maybe thinking they got away with it, don’t kid yourself, you didn’t, it will take place. Think about King David when he sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, it was over a year before the consequences took place but it happened and it cost him dearly. If you find yourself in David’s shoes, so to speak, trying to hide your sins instead of confessing them and repenting and you are miserable, or if your sins have caused you to be separated from the Lord for a long period of time, there is hope for you. Confess your sins and truly repent and the Lord will forgive like He did King David and multitudes of others over the years that have repented and confessed their sins. The Lord’s mercy is new every day and He doesn’t cease to love us even in His correction.
I remember going through 12 to 14 years of depression and was finally delivered, praise the Lord. You may be going through a time of adversity like the Israelites were going to go through and you are struggling to hang on, don’t give up, take these words into your heart and let them be an encouragement to you and then hang in there. Isaiah 40:29-31 says; “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” God loves you and He will not give up on you and He didn’t give up on the Israelites either so don’t give up on Him and your deliverance will come in His time. May God bless you and may you have a great day!!
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