The LORD has made proclamationThe words, "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See your Savior comes!'" bring so many images to mind. On the one hand the words are so powerfully reminiscent of Palm Sunday that one can almost hear the crowd shouting Hosanna here. On the other hand the words, particularly coming after the making straight a highway (v. 10), remind of Handel's Messiah and the baby Jesus' appearance on the earthside scene. Isaiah is a book about bringing hope to a despairing exiled people. It is a book about the Savior coming into our midst - Emmanuel, God with us. Note His coming brings automatically His reward, and His saving grace accompanies Him. When He comes the name of the people changes to Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord.
to the ends of the earth:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your Savior comes!
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.’”
12 They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; -- Isaiah 62:11-12
Christian folks are a people living under a new name, for the Savior has come. We often find ourselves despairing but the Savior still comes. We may be confused and downhearted but the Savior still comes. Finances may have dried up and we don't know from where the next payment comes but the Savior still comes. The Savior comes and our names change. Changed names reflect changed lives and with these changes we find ourselves waking up in the Kingdom of God wrapped in hope, transformed by The Love that came down to us with arms spread wide, like a mother's around her baby, or the arms of a Savior on a cross. Arms spread to embrace you; that lift you up wherever you are and no matter how bleak the circumstances.
Prayer:
Holy One of Israel, we are your people. Bless you for coming to us. Bless you for changing our names to Holy and Redeemed people of God. Bless you for lifting us up when we are depressed, broke, burned out, frightened, and lonely. You are a good Savior and we'll do our best to remember your mightly saving acts. Amen.
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