Read
A Promise
1 Sing and shout,
even though you have never
had children!
The Lord has promised that you
will have more children
than someone married
for a long time.
2Make your tents larger!
Spread out the tent pegs;
fasten them firmly.
3You and your descendants
will take over the land
of other nations.
You will settle in towns
that are now in ruins.
4Don't be afraid or ashamed
and don't be discouraged.
You won't be disappointed.
Forget how sinful you were
when you were young;
stop feeling ashamed
for being left a widow.
5The Lord All-Powerful,
the Holy God of Israel,
rules all the earth.
He is your Creator and husband,
and he will rescue you.
6You were like a young wife,
brokenhearted and crying
because her husband
had divorced her.
But the Lord your God says,
“I am taking you back!
7I rejected you for a while,
but with love and tenderness
I will embrace you again.
8For a while, I turned away
in furious anger.
Now I will have mercy
and love you forever!
I, your protector and Lord,
make this promise.”
The Lord Promises
9 I once promised Noah that I
would never again destroy
the earth by a flood.
Now I have promised that I
will never again get angry
and punish you.
10 Every mountain and hill
may disappear.
But I will always be kind
and merciful to you;
I won't break my agreement
to give your nation peace.
The New Jerusalem
11 Jerusalem, you are sad
and discouraged,
tossed around in a storm.
But I, the Lord,
will rebuild your city
with precious stones;
for your foundation
I will use blue sapphires.
12Your fortresses
will be built of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and your walls of gems.
13 I will teach your children
and make them successful.
14You will be built on fairness
with no fears of injustice;
every one of your worries
will be taken far from you.
15I will never send anyone
to attack your city,
and you will make prisoners
of those who do attack.
16Don't forget that I created
metalworkers who make weapons
over burning coals.
I also created armies
that can bring destruction.
17Weapons made to attack you
won't be successful;
words spoken against you
won't hurt at all.
My servants, Jerusalem is yours!
I, the Lord, promise
to bless you with victory.
Reflect
What does reconciliation look like? In this chapter, Isaiah shows us what our relationship with God can be, even though our sin and betrayal gets in the way.
The Lord tells us that his love is everlasting, that he will have compassion on you and that the blessing of his mercy will remain. Among the imagery is a young wife, abandoned by her husband, being called back in the middle of her grief. If you have ever comforted a husband or wife in this type of situation, you know the deep, soul-wrenching pain such a relationship riff causes.
At those moments, our deepest desire is to have things return to the way they were before. Reconciliation with other human beings reestablishes relationship though it’s impossible for it to be the same as it was. In those instances, we must work through the remaining hurt and rebuild trust. We must establish a new normal.
The exciting news is that reconciliation with God is complete and free of these complications. He promises that, with his great compassion, he will take us back. He promises that his love is faithful and his mercies unending. Just as he is perfect, he provides for perfect reconciliation.
Respond
Lord, you are perfect, full of great compassion and faithful in love. Today I confess that I have sinned against you and I seek your perfect reconciliation. Thank you for the opportunity to start fresh with you today! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Arnie Cole
DR. ARNIE COLE (Pepperdine) is the CEO of Back to the Bible—an international radio and internet ministry—and Director of Research and Development for the Center for Bible Engagement. He has spent much of his professional life tracking trends of human behavior. Dr. Cole is the co-author of seven books, including Seven Secrets of Worry-Free Living (BroadStreet Publishing). He and his wife, Char, are parents of adult children and operate an equestrian center in Nebraska.