Steve Davies preached from Is 52:1-10 last night. At this point in Israel’s history, God’s people were suffering from discouragement and a sense of worthlessness. They were defiled (v1), enslaved (v2), sold (v3, oppressed (by Egypt, Assyria and Babylon at various points in their history v4) and mocked (v5).
God promises deliverance to His people. His grace goes deeper still than any sense of worthlessness we may have. He wants to lift us up and treats us as a royal priesthood. Zion’s salvation, though, was never meant to be an exclusive experience, however, but was to be of benefit for the whole earth.
The good news of all that God has done for His people needs to be taken to all: “how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” (Is 52:7) Philip, when meeting the Ethiopian eunuch, asked if he understood what he was reading, but the Ethiopian replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31) Paul asks a similar question in Romans 10:
We can have the joy of being the ‘someone’ whom God uses! Our mission field may not be overseas, but He wants us all to be faithful to Him wherever we are, serving Him with all we have and are.
We also had a birthday to celebrate:
… and cake to eat!
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