"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. —Isaiah 54:4-8
It is important to know what the Scriptures say for many, many reasons, but today it is important because it helps me take the long view as my God gently and kindly guides me through this vale of tears.
His word speaks truth over my life and helps me to remember that someday soon my trials will end. My life and my world will not always be sorrow and suffering. Glory awaits! God is speaking to Israel here as she is often pictured as the wife of Jehovah. Similarly, in the New Testament the church is referred to as the a bride of Christ. Like Israel, God is our Maker and our Redeemer. The “little wrath” (vs 8) that God inflicted on His people Israel for their rebellion will be eclipsed by His “everlasting love” with which He will have compassion on them. Our relationship with Christ makes us “forget” (vs 4) our past and our reproach. We have put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians tells us that this new man is also renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. Here we see only the edges of His everlasting lovingkindness toward us who believe. We catch glimpses of His majesty as we seek Him. It is enough...Our God always meets us at our point of need. He is sufficient. His Spirit dwells in us and bears our burdens.
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.—Isaiah 46:4
We can look forward to the time when we will consider the sufferings of this present time as not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.
"O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.—Isaiah 54:11-12
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.—Isaiah 54:10
