Labor and Wonder

"Fear not, for I am with you", I panted between contractions.  "Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God."  More contractions.  Focus on the spot on the floor.  "I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you."  Whisperings in the corner between the doctor and my husband.  "Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Really?  Now would be a great time for that, Lord. 

In preparation for the birth of our third child 28 years ago, I memorized Isaiah 41:10 to help me focus in labor.  As helpful as those words were the day of Amy's birth, today as I read them, I am struck by their magnificence. 

Take the first phrase:  "Fear not, for I am with you."  Doesn't it open up a huge array of thoughts?  Thoughts about not fearing, about not needing to fear, about Immanuel, God with us!, about Christ's coming to dwell among us, about all the "dwelling" verses, concluding with Revelation 21:3:  Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  Didn't I tell you these verses were amazing?  More amazing is God Himself, who commands us not to fear because He is our God, the God who dwells in us and with us and is working out His perfect will in the world around us. 

More tomorrow. 

Grasshoppers and Grass

 

Again:  "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God."  Thus begins Isaiah 40, which then goes on to describe the justice and greatness and severity of God.  How are we to be comforted?

 

Though we are "like grasshoppers" (v. 22) in God's sight, though we are "grass that withers" (v. 7), yet He tends us like a shepherd, He brings us out by number and calls us by name (verses 11 & 26).  He gives power to the faint and strength to the weak.  If you were to read only verses 21-24, you would know of the greatness of God and the insignificance of man.  And those two things are surely true.  We are merely dust, and He knows it.  (See Psalm 103:14.) 

 

But read on in Isaiah 40.

See the kindness and patience of our great Creator God.  See the "speaking tenderly" that He commands Isaiah. See the "lambs in his arms" and the "carrying them in his bosom" and know that this God does all His pleasure (see Psalm 115:3 and 135:6), and His pleasure is to love us (see Luke 12:32 and Psalm 147:11). 

 

Be reconciled to the One True God today; be one of His lambs by virtue of submitting your life to Him. Then rest assured of His greatness of

power AND His greatness of love.

 

 

Spring Focus

Oh lovely harbinger of spring, carpeting the woodlands, reminding us of new life and beauty unseen for a year.  Does one's heart good, doesn't it? 

 

As I meditate on Isaiah 40, I am reminded of George Frederick Handel, and the wondrous way he put these words to song, proclaiming them for all the world to hear.  "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God."   I'm reminded too of my iniquity pardoned, of my warfare ended, of the brevity of my life.

 

Mostly in Isaiah 40, I am reminded of the greatness of our God: He comes with might, He comes with tenderness, He comes with beauty and wisdom and tirelessness.  This is the God we serve, this God is the one who upholds, forgives, chastens, and strengthens us so that we do not faint. 

 

As you pray this day, be sure you pray to this God.  Focus on Him, gaze on Him.  Bring your petitions to this very One who does not grow weary with listening to you.  "Lift up your eyes on high and see" Him (v. 26). 

Beholding

 

Leaves, blessed leaves . . . and green and blue and warmth.  Praise God that the winter is ended, and the spring has come at last.  Behold the creativity and kindness of our gracious God. 

Reading in Isaiah 40 for the last week or so, I have found many crying-outs, many proclamations.  Isaiah is told to proclaim that Jerusalem's warfare is ended, that the glory of the Lord is to be revealed, that our transience is true.  There is much to learn here. 

What strikes me today, though, is that the last proclamation is much more profound and more glorious than the others, almost as though the first three cryings were only a preface.  Isaiah is to get up to a high mountain, lift up his voice with strength, and say this:  "Behold your God!"  Please read Isaiah 40:9-31 and behold this God of whom the Lord speaks through his prophet.  And understand why all the other proclamations are a mere preface.