Looking at the news headlines lately there wouldn’t seem to be much that one could be happy about. There seems to be little cause for rejoicing, singing, or joy. Our Old Testament passage for this first week following Resurrection Sunday reminds us that as believers, we always have a reason to rejoice. Let’s take a look.
Our Scripture passage from the prophet Isaiah can be divided into two portions. The first, from verse 9 - 10, are spoken from the people’s perspective. The second, from verse 12 - 16, is spoken from God’s perspective. As we begin, the people are crying out to God, remembering some of the great and mighty deeds that He had done in the past. Things are not going so great in their lives, and that of their nation. Where is God? Why are these things happening? It seems as if God is asleep. Maybe we need to wake God up! So they cry out to Him to awaken and show the power and strength He had done in the past (vs. 9).
The people sought to remind God that He had shown power and victory over Rahab. This is not referring to the woman who had assisted the people of Israel in Jericho. Instead, this is a term in the Bible referring to a mythical type of sea monster that wreaks havoc to mankind, and also is symbolic of Egypt in its pride and arrogance against the Lord God. They recalled how the Lord was victorious over Rahab. He was the One who dried up the Red Sea when the people of Israel fled Egypt and Pharaoh’s army. As they remembered, God made a path, a road for the people to cross over on dry ground (vs. 10).
The people were afraid of enemies, both personal ones and also national ones, who were coming against them. They wanted God to rouse Himself and come to their aid, just as He had done for their ancestors. Today we might also have similar fears. We might be facing literal enemies who are coming against us. Or perhaps our fears are of other challenges, whether with our health, finances, or within our family. Wake up, God! Come and help us, we cry out.
In the second part of our Scripture the Lord God speaks to the people. He tells them that they do not need to be afraid of any enemies. He reminds them, and us, that we do not need to be afraid of any man, as they will all eventually die (vs. 12). The people feared other men and human powers, but had not shown any true and godly fear of the Lord through the years (vs. 13). We need to be sure not to misplace who we should fear and love. We need to fear God’s power, and love His mercy. Believers can either truly trust the Lord or fear man. We can’t do both.
The Lord reminded the people that He, and He alone, was the one who made both heaven and earth (vs. 13). With the power and glory to do that, do we, His Blood-bought children, really need to fear anyone or anything else? No! We do not need to be afraid of any type of oppressor that might come against us.
God has promised all throughout Scriptures that He will not leave comfortless those who have put their faith and trust in Him. He always comes to us through His Word with words of hope and mercy. His goal in allowing trying circumstances, and even hurt into our lives, is not to break us, but to teach us to draw closer to Him. Our God is the same God who made a road in the depths of the sea. His methods may change, but His love and care do not.
The Lord promises His redeemed children, those who have put their trust in Him, that they will return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy (vs. 11). They will obtain joy and gladness, and all sorrow and sighing will flee away. This is a promise the Lord gives only to the ransomed, those who have been redeemed through the Blood of His Son, Jesus. The unsaved will not know this joy.
With so much sorrow, sadness, and grief in this world today, don’t you want to be one who will obtain joy and gladness? The Lord Jesus purchased your salvation through His Blood. Call upon Him today, and become one of the ransomed and redeemed, then you, too, will be able to obtain everlasting joy and gladness.
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