April 24, 2001
"Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her,
all you who mourn over her.
For you will nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply
and delight in her overflowing abundance."
For this is what the LORD says:
"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
and dandled on her knees. "
Isaiah 66:10-12
As the book of Isaiah begins to close out we see in vs 5-14 a prophecy about the church and with that we again see the heart of God. What God planned from the beginning of time in creating his Church was something he expected would inspire the Israelite's even in their day. In vs 7-8 he is referencing how amazing the rapid growth and maturity of the church will be. In vs 10 he fully expects that the Israelite's will rejoice incredibly in what happens that day... this is the fulfillment for all who have God's heart - for all who have ached over Israel's condition they will rejoice. God's church will be like an overflowing stream in the world - a sign of abundance and blessing where their needs would be met completely. They would drink deeply from the abundance of what he provides, they would be nursed on its arm and rocked on its knee... the church that God designed will meet their needs as only a mother can satisfy her baby's needs!!!
"As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
When you see this, your heart will rejoice
and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants,
but his fury will be shown to his foes. "
Isaiah 66:13-14
God's love and heart are so clearly expressed in the tenderness of his affection for the church. Even through I see that clearly it's still easy to lose sight of the fact that, that is how God feels about us individually!! God loves each one of us so much that he was willing to make incredible sacrifices to build his church, to create something where we would come to know of his love in a very personal way. That is why he created the church as a body (1Cor 12). He created us to need and flourish in relationships that will sustain us, meet our needs, strengthen us when we are weak, comfort us in painful times, help us to find courage in the tough moments, friends who will rejoice or mourn with us as is needed... all things that are the heart of God for us! It's so easy for me to get lost in my own little life and forget what I'm a part of -- God's Church!