Day 387: Isaiah 65- Trouble Transformed To Hope

I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks; 4 who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat pig's flesh, and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels; 5 who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.

6 Behold, it is written before me: “I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their lap 7 both your iniquities and your fathers' iniquities together,
says the Lord; because they made offerings on the mountains  and insulted me on the hills, I will measure into their lap payment for their former deeds. 8 Thus says the Lord:
“As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it,  for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it,  and my servants shall dwell there. 10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,  for my people who have sought me.

11 But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, 12 I will destine you to the sword,  and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen,
but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; 14 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart  and shall wail for breaking of spirit. 15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name, 16 so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.
New Heavens and a New Earth17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.
 
Meditation
God offers a gracious invitation, ready to be found by all who seek Him. The Lord says, “Here I am! Here I am!” as He spreads out His hands in welcome (1-2).  Will our hearts return home to Him?
 
Some reject the Lord’s invitation, forsaking the Lord (11). The difficulties they possess soon reveal the destiny of God’s judgment (12).  Those who come to their senses and return to the love of the Father will experience the transformation of trouble into peace.
 
The Valley of Achor was a place of trouble and judgment when Achan sinned against God (Joshua 7:10-26). The salvation of God transforms trouble into peace, a promise for all who seek the Lord (10). Jesus is the way of transformation, taking the judgment of sin to offer the blessing of God’s covenant love. Through Christ we are offered God’s gracious invitation- Return to me.
 
Those who respond to God’s gracious invitation will “eat, drink, rejoice, and sing for gladness of heart” (13-14). They will dwell with God in His eternal promises, a new heavens and a new earth (17). There will be no sign of weeping or distress in the place of abundant life (19-20).  There will be stability of homes, fruitfulness of toil, purpose in labor, and reconciliation of former competitors on the food chain (19-25).
 
The Lord stands with arms wide open, inviting His people to return to Him and experience the blessings of His covenant love, our troubles transformed into peace.  Will our hearts return home to Him?
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you hear God’s gracious invitation to His people? Have you returned to His open embrace for you?
 
-Who do you know who needs to return to the Father’s love? How can you help them hear God’s gracious invitation?
 
-Trouble is transformed into peace for those who trust the Lord. The place of judgment opens a door of hope. The valley of Achor is the cross of Christ, and Jesus is calling you. What trouble can you trust to Him to find peace in the promises of the passage?
 
Key Verse
10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.