Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
Isaiah 52 is a call to rise up from the lethargy of despair. When people lose hope, they may shut down emotionally to guard themselves against further pain. But the prophet now tells them to wake up, shake off the dust and watch out for their long-awaited liberation – it is now within sight!
The messenger in those days (verse 7) would have had to physically run, walk or trudge across all terrain to bring his good news. The sentinels, or watchmen, on the ruins of the city wall would have spotted him first as a tiny speck in the distance. Then they would have had to wait as he came closer and closer, to within shouting distance, before they could be sure of his message.
This scenario is scarcely imaginable to us, when ‘breaking news’ from the other side of the world can be bounced across mountains, oceans and deserts by satellite in a matter of moments. Our messengers do not have feet on the mountains; they have faces on the screen in our living room, even in our back pocket. We can watch the ruin and the liberation of cities across the globe, in real time.
No wonder we are sometimes impatient when God does not seem to answer our prayers immediately. But he is not deaf to our cries, and he does come to comfort his people. The promise is that ‘all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God’ (verse 10), and we are encouraged to wake up and watch out for it.
Help us, Lord, to keep our eyes fixed on you, to see your salvation even at a distance, and to rejoice in it. Amen.
This reflection was written by Lisa Cherrett, Production Editor in the Publishing team
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