Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)
“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.”
Isaiah 51:3 (MSG)
“Likewise I, God, will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I’ll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God, A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs.”
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“For the Lord will comfort Zion [in her captivity]; He will comfort all her ruins. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of a melody.” -AMPLIFIED
“Remembering Abraham and Sarah should give them (Israel) hope for this promise. The promise seems too good to be true, but by faithfully remembering God’s work in people like Abraham and Sarah, they would have the faith to believe God’s promise to them today. This shows how we can benefit through God’s work in the lives of others. When we hear of what God has done and is doing in the lives of others, it can build our faith for God’s work in our own lives.” ~David Guzik
We were reminded yesterday that it is God who brings the blessing. Using Abraham and Sarah as an example, God tells Israel:
“Yes, look to Abraham your father and to Sarah, who bore you. For when I called Abraham, he was but one person, but I blessed him greatly so that one became many.” -Isaiah 51:2 (The Passion Translation)
Adonai‘s Message continues in today’s text, as He reminds Israel that He is the One who comfort her, restore her, and bless her once again. Remember, God had instructed Israel to “Listen, and look up.” Adonai says to Israel:
“The Eternal One will relieve the troubles and worries of Zion and bring comfort to the rubble of its destruction. God will turn deserted places into a flourishing garden like Eden of old; happy voices will ring out in the Eternal’s garden; buoyant music and thanksgiving will fill the air.” -(VOICE)
We immediately find God reminding Israel that He will be the One who will bring comfort to them. Remember, He is our Heavenly Father, and a good father comforts and shows compassion.
God says to Israel: “I will not only comfort you, but I will comfort Jerusalem as well, and show her mercy. I will turn her waste lands, and her wilderness, once again into a flourishing garden. It will become like Eden of long ago. Once again, you will hear the sounds of joy and gladness within her borders. And there will be joyful singing of songs echoing within her. Once again there will be praise lifted up in my Name in that place.”
“And the Lord will bless Israel again, and make her deserts blossom; her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Joy and gladness will be found there, thanksgiving and lovely songs.” -(TLB)
“God would turn her sorrow and wailing into joyful singing and thanksgiving. The implication is that as Abraham was strong in faith and believed God’s promises, so should the Israelites of Isaiah’s day.” ~Thomas Constable
All of this must have felt too good to be true to Israel. It seemed they needed convincing, So, a few verses further along in Isaiah 51, we find this verse, in which God promises again to fill Israel with joy and gladness:
“[The Lord God says] And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” -Isaiah 51:11 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
Even the Apostle Paul reminds us that our God is a God of comfort and compassion. He wrote this in his letter to the Corinthians:
“Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, compassionate Father, God of all encouragement and comfort; who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Even in the book of Revelation we can find that God’s comfort and compassion towards His children continues. Take notice of what John recorded for us. First:
“Then one of the twenty-four Elders asked me, “Do you know who these are, who are clothed in white, and where they come from?” “No, sir,” I replied. “Please tell me.” “These are the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation,” he said; “they washed their robes and whitened them by the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are here before the throne of God, serving him day and night in his temple. The one sitting on the throne will shelter them; they will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away.” -Revelation 7:13-17 (TLB)
Later, in chapter 21, John records this for us:
“I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride on her wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only. And I heard a great voice, coming from the throne. A Voice: See, the home of God is with His people. He will live among them; they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them. The prophecies are fulfilled: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; Mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more, for the first things have gone away. And the One who sat on the throne announced to His creation, The One: See, I am making all things new. (turning to me) Write what you hear and see, for these words are faithful and true.” -Revelation 21:1-5 (VOICE)
And take notice of something that John says at the very end of the book:
“No one or nothing will labor under any curse any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will sit prominently in the city. God’s servants will continually serve and worship Him.” -Revelation 22:3 (VOICE)
“Snuggle in God’s arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out. let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love.” ~Kay Arthur
My friend, we serve a God who desires to show us compassion and give us comfort. Will you stop struggling against Him today, and rest in His arms of love and receive His comfort? He loves you so much, and He only wants what is best for you. Rest in His loving arms and accept the comfort He wants to give to you today.
“You don’t have to be alone in your hurt! Comfort is yours. Joy is an option. And it’s all been made possible by your Savior. He went without comfort so you might have it. He postponed joy so you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow.” ~Joni Eareckson Tada
My Prayer:
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, you are the God of all comfort and peace. Your Word reminds me that you desire to give to me compassion and comfort. This is because you are a good, good Father, and you love me. Sadly, too often I push you away, and struggle against you, even though I know in my head that I cannot find peace and true comfort without you. I am so sorry, Lord. Please forgive me. Help me to run to my Papa, when I am hurting, and not blame you for the hurt. I know that only you can satisfy those deepest longings within my soul. You are the God of comfort and compassion, and you will restore my joy and gladness! Weeping and sorrow will one day flee away. Thank you, my dear Lord. ❤
Growing with God 