Friday, October 23, 2026

Opening Scripture

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:12-17

Opening Prayer

Most Merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me, that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 52:7-10

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!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Reflection  

Chapter 52 begins with the prophet shouting to God’s people, “Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.”

This is an urgent message of impending deliverance! For too long, God’s people have been defiled, enslaved, oppressed, and mocked. God’s name has been constantly blasphemed by their enemies. Therefore, “The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

While nothing will immediately change regarding the captives’ circumstances, their whole mindset and expectation should change due to the promise of God’s deliverance. They are being challenged to respond not to what they see, but to the Word of the LORD. The prophet declares they are no longer condemned. They need to snap out of their spiritual lethargy and “shake off the dust.” They need to remove the chains of bondage and put on their “garments of splendor.”

God is notifying His people to prepare for a “Second Exodus.” This is indeed “good news!” What a blessing to receive these good tidings from someone who proclaims peace and salvation on God’s behalf. When the LORD returns to Zion and redeems Jerusalem, “they will see it with their own eyes and burst into songs of joy together.”

In the fullness of time, Cyrus the Great will release the captives and send them back to Jerusalem. When that happens, the people are to follow the LORD’s instructions. “Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house. But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:11-12).

The “Second Exodus” will differ from the first in two ways. When the Israelites left Egypt, they took with them whatever they could get from the Egyptians – silver, gold, jewelry, and clothing. Because the LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward His people, the Jews did not leave empty-handed. This time, they were to leave behind every “unclean thing” tainted by Babylonian paganism. All they were carry away were “the articles of the LORD’s house” that had been removed from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar.

Also, when the Israelites fled from Egypt, they left in haste because the Egyptian army would soon be chasing after them. This time, they are to leave Babylon slowly and with dignity. They would not be fleeing for their lives; they would be making a pilgrimage to Zion. There was no need to hurry because “the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

As we have come to expect this far into Isaiah, the prophecy here is not only about physical captivity in Babylon and the eventual deliverance of the Israelites by King Cyrus. The emphasis is increasingly on the work of God’s Servant and the spiritual deliverance He will bring. Leaving behind every “unclean thing” tainted by Babylonian paganism includes the people’s idolatry, apostasy, and unfaithfulness to the LORD.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

We have watched Isaiah’s message expand from encouraging the unfaithful Israelites to repent of their sin and receive God’s mercy, to one of joining the Servant in His mission of sharing God’s invitation of forgiveness with the Gentile nations. Isn’t that God’s way? He comforts us in our affliction, so we can comfort others who are afflicted. He reconciles us to Himself, then gives us the ministry of reconciliation.

It is still true today, “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!’”

Isaiah’s urgent message to the captives – “Awake! Awake!” – is the same message the New Testament writers declare to us.

“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12).

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:13-17).

“For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6).

We must “wake up” and embrace our identity and vocation as God’s New Covenant people – “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

This week’s collective prayer: God, deepen my understanding of the Gospel. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!