“For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” ~Isaiah 62:5 (NRSV).
Vindication is the name of the hour; and Redemption’s the name of the day.
This chapter is renowned for the names the Prophet is heard describing the covenant nation by. They had been called Forsaken and Desolate beforehand, and then now in the prophecy of redemption, My Delight Is in Her and (your land) Married in verse 4. Finally,
What was our name before we met God? (Forsaken; Desolate?) And what is our name now, upon a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus? (Married; Redeemed; Not Forsaken?)
Promises In Abundance
The second half of the chapter focuses on the plea of the faithful to their God; and the process to blessing, where marauders will no longer dominate (verses 8-9), is detailed.
The greatest promise we can know, as we read our Bibles and remain connected with the church and to the Holy Spirit in prayer, is the constant assurance that God is with us.
There is a hint that we are to prepare for such abundance (verse 10), yes, and even anticipate it. This is what we call in our day, expectant faith. Abundance in this way is not the expectation of specific types of blessing, rather the general disposition of mood to know that God seeks to bless those who follow the Divine path.
Abundance, it also needs to be said, is nothing about material abundance—it’s the absolute gift of a fervent, truth-pitched spirituality; one that feeds wisdom, promoting discernment, understanding, and broad-cased virtue.
The Creator Rejoices Over Us
This is something that every believer wants to read about.
We might be more apt to think it the other way around—us in awe of God and rejoicing in the fact of our salvation; that we are known to the Lord. The mindset that suggests God is enamoured with us doesn’t compute for many people. They might think, “Does grace extend that far?”
The truth is it does. Our Father in heaven is never more blessed than in seeing his created beings obeying in the spirit of willing obedience. The repentant heart melts God’s.
The gospel of God tells us that humility upon truth exposes the Lord’s heart in such a way as to procure blessing. We know the way to be blessed. Turn back to God, now and whenever, and we redeem the spiritual salvation known to the saved. Our Lord rejoices each time.
© 2011 S. J. Wickham.
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