Our Scripture meditation is based on Isaiah 35:4, the start of next week’s Old Testament Lesson.
[4] Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
God can use our context to help quell our anxieties.
When Isaiah recorded these words, the Israelites had every reason to be anxious. Babylon had conquered Judah, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and dragged God’s people into exile. Yet to those exiles who were anxious about their future, Isaiah said that God “will come and save you.”
God did save his chosen people Israel. The exiles were returned. The temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt. The Messiah, Jesus, came into the world.
As God’s people we, too, have anxieties. These anxieties are personalized. Even though we trust in Jesus, there are times when we are anxious about our salvation. Anxieties surface about whether we accurately understand God’s will. Unknown consequences for sins can raise anxieties within us.
God has also promised to deliver us from our exile in this fallen world. When Christ returns, there will be a new heavens and new earth. In this new creation there will be no anxiety.
God can use this context to help calm our anxieties. God was faithful in returning the Israelites from exile. God will be faithful in bringing us into the new heavens and new earth. We can rest assured that God remains faithful to us today.
Kevin Wilson 360 