Reestablishing Israel

ISAIAH    CHAPTER 49

Isaiah tells the world to listen to him because the Lord made him his servant before he was still in the womb. He commissioned Isaiah to bring God great glory.  But Isaiah said his work and strength seems for no purpose, yet he trusted in the Lord for his reward. And now, says Isaiah, the Lord commissions me to bring his people back to Israel. God honored me, and gave me strength and I will help bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

The Lord says to the one despised and rejected by a nation, to the one who is the servant of rulers that he will have me and give me as a token and pledge to Israel to prove that he will reestablish the land of Israel and reassign it to its own people. Through you I am saying to the prisoners of darkness, Come out! says Isaiah, -I am giving you your freedom!

Sheep will graze in green pastures on hills once bare. The people will not hunger or thirst. The sun and desert winds will no longer reach them, for the Lord will lead them beside cool waters and make mountains into level paths for them. The Lord asks the people to sing with joy and rejoice with the earth.

Those in Jerusalem question saying that the Lord deserted them once and forgot them. But never again, says the Lord. I will never forget you, I have written your name on my hand. Soon your descendants will come back and all who tried to destroy you will go away. The most desolate of your abandoned land will soon be crowded with your people.

The Sovereign Lord says that he will give a signal to the godless nations to carry back your little sons in their arms and bring back your daughters on their shoulders. Kings and queens will serve you and care for you needs. The Lord would release the captive warriors and give you the plunder of tyrants. He will fight those who fight you and save your children.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Before the Messiah was born, God chose him to bring the message to the world. In this chapter he gives the Israelites the power to bring the light to the Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Isaiah pointed out that God would never forsake his people, as a loving mother would not forget her little children. If you feel that God has forsaken you, then you must ask yourself if you have forsaken and forgotten God. And then find your way back to his loving arms.
God is so powerful, that he could do the impossible. The warriors saw this and released their captives. We in turn should never doubt that god will fulfill his promises. He can do the impossible, remember that fact! And he loves us as his own, remember that fact too! Praise to our Lord!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


Update on my missionary friend Carolyn: She appeared lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years, but now has returned to Kansas and has her own apartment and an uplifted heart and spirit.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.