DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Talking Trees!
by Elaine Pierce
Have you ever wondered where God was when you were in the midst of a tough situation? Just last week a dear friend who doesn't yet follow Jesus told me about a young man who died of a rare cancer, leaving a wife and two children behind. She looked me in the eye and said, "Why does God allow such suffering?" My answer in the moment was to say that I knew God was grieving for this young family. What I didn't say - and probably should have - was to say that God doesn't cause the suffering, but he does go through it with us if we allow him to shoulder our sorrow, our hurt, our pain. Today's scripture from the prophet Isaiah tells us about a tyrannical, evil, unnamed Babylonian king who reigned over Israel. One day, this king will be defeated and the Jewish people will be free from his cruelty:
How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury had ended! The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression. (v. 4-6).
This is a strong, unambiguous language. Evil will not last forever. The Lord will be the victor, and peace will reign. Soak in these verses meditate on what will happen - perhaps not today, not tomorrow, but in God's good and perfect timing:
All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing. Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, "Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down." (v. 7-8).
Rest! Peace! Singing trees! No death, no sickness, no heartache. This is not our present-day reality, and we will experience loss and grief on this side of heaven. As we conclude our sabbath series, let's each commit to finding time to honor the Sabbath, to rest in the knowledge God has designed us for eternity, and thank him for the gift of His rewarding word and refreshing rest.
PRAYER
Lord, we know in this life we will have heartache, and we come to you for rest, for hope, for comfort. You have assured us that all who come to you weary and burdened will receive rest. You are gentle and humble in heart. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. One day you will return, having conquered death, and you will gather us up and we will enter your kingdom, where there will be no more crying, no more tears. Hallelujah and Amen.
Great message!