We live in tumultuous times, when countries, cultures and faiths are at war. Countless inequalities come to our attention and we understand the interconnectedness of our world as never before.
We work hard to keep our families together, support our communities, be good stewards of the earth¹s resources, secure a stable future and maintain our safety and health day to day. With all of these challenges in a fast-paced society, it is easy to forget hope, to feel helpless, to respond to life¹s challenges with fear rather than with courage.
Isaiah -– a prophet, seer, leader, believer and poet -– was also witness to turbulent times, part of the long and troubled religious and political history of Jerusalem. He used his social status to take an active, political – and sometimes central – part in the story of his time; he didn¹t turn a blind eye to the injustice, violence and corruption he saw.
Isaiah counters the rising Assyrian empire by standing firm and calling others to faith and strength in God.
What does Isaiah tell us today, when we face challenges that, while not often of the Assyrian variety, sometimes seem too formidable to overcome? The same message: To be strong, to have courage, be assured that justice will come from God.
While this "servant song" points prophetically to Jesus¹ strength in the face of persecutors, it also reminds us that we should trust in Lord, in God¹s will for our lives when enduring life¹s trials. We should seek that which strengthens us.
What strengthens you?
A prayer reminder of strength from II Corinthians 1:3-5: "Praise be to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all troubles, so that we can comfort those in any troubles with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."
