Isaiah 29:17-24 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 29:17-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? Verse 18On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. Verse 19The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. Verse 20For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off- Verse 21those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit, who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate, and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right. Verse 22Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: No longer shall Jacob be ashamed, no longer shall his face grow pale. Verse 23For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Verse 24And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.
Devotion
The prophet Isaiah is announcing to Israel that her suffering is nearly over. God will once again restore fruitful fields. The blind shall see, fresh joy will be obtained by the meek and the neediest people shall exult. God will triumph over the tyrant Assyria, which is oppressing Judah, and those who do evil shall be cut off. We may not be in exile at the hands of our enemies, but we, too, anticipate restoration, new vision, fresh joy and exultation as we wait for the Christ Child, the Prince of Peace. This baby will make us bearers of God’s gift of restoration to the world.
Prayer
All powerful and gracious God, we ask that you empower us to be faithful to your task of restoration. Amen.