Jeffrey Klein 00:08
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose in the Word of God. Today is Tuesday, January 11. This is Jeff Klein, the Pastor of Outreach here at Elmhurst church. I'll be reading today from Isaiah 60:1-5. "Because I love Zion, I will not keep still, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem. I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. The nations will see your righteousness, world leaders will be blinded by your glory, and you will be given a new name by the Lord's own mouth. The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again, will you be called the forsaken city or the desolate land, your new name will be the city of God's delight and the bride of God for the Lord delights in you, and it will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, oh, Jerusalem, just as the young man commits himself to his bride, then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride."
Jeffrey Klein 01:13
Scholars are divided on who is speaking in this passage. Is it God Himself proclaiming over Jerusalem, his promises, and his love? Or is it the prophet Isaiah, who is interceding for Jerusalem and will not keep silent until God fulfills His promise of restoring the city that has now been destroyed? I love the latter idea. The idea that Isaiah will not keep silent and is praying for interceding for Jerusalem. He will not stop reminding God of his promises about restoring his bride, taking delight again in his people, and turning from his anger. Isaiah will not give up or give up hope. No matter how dark it looks, how much of a mess it seems, he will continue to cry out to God. This would be a great example for all of us Christians to follow. When things seem dark and bleak. It seems like there's no hope. Our job is to imitate Isaiah and cry out to God: refuse to be silent, refuse to give up hope, and are crying out. We can also remind God of his promises to restore, and remake and renew our lives in our world. Until we and our world feel God's delight in us. Who are you crying out for? What are you crying out for? If we as Christians don't cry out for our neighborhoods, cities, and the people who cross our paths? Who will?
Jeffrey Klein 02:36
Let's pray together. Lord God, make us intercessors like Isaiah, those who cry out on behalf of people in our world, our neighborhoods, or cities, people who cross our paths. Lord, help us to cry out for them and to seek your face so that they can be restored and renewed like we have been found in Jesus Christ. We pray all this in your name Jesus, Amen.