Hidden in the shadow of his hand. [50-51]

I’m reminded of the beginning of this study, where God is grieving--he does so again, here, because of his wayward children. Isaiah says that there will be comfort for Israel, and a time of renewal and thanksgiving; then the voice shifts mid-chapter to that of God, who begs his people to listen to him, for he will be their salvation. Isaiah calls on the strong arm of the Lord, and he answers. God cries to Jerusalem to be comforted and to be awakened: he is coming, and he will save.

That’s a basic summary, for you. God is coming, and he will lift the hearts of the weary and give us strength to go on: no longer will we bear the weight of our own guilt.

“I have put my words in your mouth,
and hidden you in the shadow of my hand,
stretching out the heavens
and laying out the foundations of the earth,
and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’“ (51:16)

Our preacher once tried to explain what it meant to be the chosen people of God the way that Isaiah presents our relationship.

”She is my wife. These are my children. This man is my friend, and this woman is my mother. The two men in the back [he named them] are part of my football team. You are part of my community--you are my church. This is our church. He is our God. He has chosen us. We belong to him.“

It sounds less impressive in print, but we have such a small community and a lot of people have left their families to join this church--our preacher struggles raising teenagers and his wife has health problems--these things we have chosen to lift up to God, and He is the one that creates the bond of love and belonging and loyalty between us. We belong to Him. He hides us in the shadow of His hand, and tells us we belong to Him.

I know I sound a bit preachy and emotional, but I am, tonight. It’ll be okay for one entry:)