Isaiah speaks to us today…

       God loved mankind, but they didn’t love Him back the same way.  At one point He found a friend in Abraham (Jm. 2:23) and decided to bless him and his descendants; to set them apart for Himself.  If they continued to follow the Lord they would be blessed beyond measure, but if not, they would be cursed (Dt. 11:26-28).  In the same way, God loves all people in the world, but He set apart the church (church=ekklesia= called out ones) for Himself and chose to bless them.

       If we parallel Is. 8:21-9:7 which speaks of Israel (about the time of exile) with the church we can find many similarities.  Isaiah says Israel would be captive, stumbling, weary and hungry (TLB) and because they are hungry they will be angry at God, curse the king and God.  Trouble, anguish and dark despair will be all around them and they will be in the darkness.

       Many Christians live in captivity they don’t even know exists, but they are so used to it they believe their current state of being is normal.  They stumble on their walks, become weary of the struggle- even of life itself and hunger* for, well, they are unsure what.  In all their troubles they become angry at God for their trials and sorrows, not understanding why He doesn’t answer their prayers, and it seems like anguish, despair and darkness are all around.

       Into this situation, Isaiah speaks these words of encouragement:  “…that time of darkness and despair shall not go on forever… (Israel) will be filled with glory.  The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light- a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death… For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them…This is going to happen because the Lord has dedicated himself to do it!” (TLB)

       Into our captivity or bondage the Lord reminds us that our ‘darkness’ will not go on forever, that His glory will show up and we will see a great Light (Jesus: John 8:12) which will shine on those who live in the shadow of death (Lk. 1:79).  All of mankind is in death’s shadow since these frail bodies will die.  So when Jesus came, He broke the chains of captivity/ bondage (Lk. 4:18), all because He purposed to die for our sins and death sentence from the foundations of the world (Rev. 13:8). Halleluiah!  What encouragement to go on.

       We will not stay in our dark places forever

       We will not live in captivity forever

       The glory and Light of the Lord will shine in our lives

       For He has died for our sins.

       Praise you Lord that our trials, sorrows, captivity and bondage will NOT go on forever!  Thank You Jesus for bringing Your Light into this dark world and shining on our lives!  Thank You for being dedicated to save us and set us free.  We are forever thankful.

*And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Jn. 6:35