Advent Day 25
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Isaiah 40:9-10 ESV
The most amazing element of scripture is that it is alive.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
I remember when I was a teenager my dad and I would talk about what that scripture really means. He told me to ask God to teach me.
I tried to get him to tell me, but (being the wise man he was) he reiterated his initial statement. “Ask God to teach you.”
At the time I thought that seemed crazy, but I did ask God to teach me.
I can’t say understanding it happened overnight, but it did happen. God did teach me in miraculous ways how scripture is alive.
I’ve seen scripture highlighted in 3D.
I learned to ask a question and open my Bible to the answer.
Over the course of several years I came to know that God’s Word IS the Good News.
I came to rely on God’s leading as He taught me about the power of the Word of God. Learning how to listen and wait for the voice of the Spirit of God lead through scripture became my goal.
I learned that no problem is too difficult.
Nothing is too weird.
Asking God for help and waiting for God to show you the way is real.
It’s exhilarating.
Isaiah 40:9-10 really says it all, “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”
I am reminded that nothing on earth compares to asking God for help.
While friends and family offer great support, they do not see the future. Only God has a view of everything past, everything present, and everything future.
God alone can see the Good News for each of us from the highest height. The message is so good to all people that it needs to be proclaimed so that ALL will hear.
And what is the message that ALL need to hear?
The Hebrew says, “Elohim hin-neh” which means Your God behold. The Hebrew word hin-neh is translated to our word for BEHOLD. It’s used repeatedly in the Old Testament and it seems like each time it’s used there should be a long drum roll. It’s like a huge pause that is giving all who hear a moment to prepare for a great announcement.
This time in Isaiah 40:9 it’s used to announce to the people they do not need to be afraid.
The authors seem to be saying…do not miss this! Do not be afraid.
The prophet Isaiah tells the good news that with open eyes all can see and behold that God knows them. God SEES them.
This is THE God, THE One who alone gives strength.
God comes with ALL might for all people.
The prophet is saying that God, the God of Israel alone has THE strong arm holding onto them. There are no other gods. THE God stands alone ready to reward His children.
In Isaiah 40:10 the English word ‘recompense’ is se-ka-row and in that form it’s only used three times in the Old Testament scriptures. It’s used in Genesis 24:15 to mean wages. It’s used here in Isaiah 40:10 to mean his reward and recompense for work. And it’s used in the same way by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 62:11 to mean his reward and recompense for work.
I mention that only because the form of the word is seldom used. It seems to be a rare kind of reward. The Oxford Dictionary defines the noun ‘recompense’ as being “compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.”
In Isaiah 40:10 the recompense is ‘before him’.
God sees us. The recompense and reward is before Him. That’s important because God knows the cost. God knows the loss.
God sees us. God knows the result…the harm.
God sees us. God sees our suffering.
God sees our effort.
Nothing is forgotten with God. Every time we suffered God was there with us. High from the mountaintop God sees us and knows the cost of our suffering for Him. God knows, remembers and will remember everything. Through all eternity nothing we did for God will ever be forgotten.
Spiritual Practice: Your recompense
Think of one time you suffered for God. Remember it will not be forgotten.
In God, Deborah
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