Epiphany VI--more encouragement

[msethsmile]

God, thru His scribe Isaiah continues on the 'no fear' campaign. He really means it. (written 700 years before Christ) Jesus knows first hand what life is like--we need assurance and hope. As the Son of God, He has the authority to accomplish the following. Also, remember this: the required payment for sin is hell. Have no fear, God keeps His promises. Christ's divinity shines forth...

Isaiah 35:3ff*

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

v.3-4 Does that describe you? It does me sometimes. "Comfort, comfort ye my people..."

v.4 "vengeance"--again, against sin, death, devil, hell (our real enemies)---Christ destroyed their power over us, at the Cross.

v.5 At least a double meaning or more. Christ would heal the blind and deaf.** Even more important is healing spiritual sight and hearing (faith).

v. 6 Heaven? We will be not only no longer lame, we will see God face to face. (Christ healed the physically lame too)

v. 6 "wilderness" of our hearts. Where once was a spiritual "desert" in our hearts comes "bubbling springs". We turn from being enemies of God into being His reward. (Ez 18:23,32)

*assigned Old Testament lesson for Epiphany VI, Historic One Year Lectionary (been around about 1000 years)

** The #1 purpose of any of Christ's miracles was to point to His divinity. After all the centuries of waiting, the Savior had finally arrived. Physical and spiritual healing were at hand.