Earlier Israel, instead of producing
justice and mercy, what she had produced was violent bloodshed. But God who
loved His vineyard had to deal with her. He did it through foreign powers.
However, God’s intention was not to destroy Israel but to bring her to her
senses so that she could return to trust Him. The invasions of the foreign
powers would purge the people of their wrongdoings and rid them of idolatry.
The gods of their enemies, with whom they had adopted, would be destroyed and
left devastated. God was dealing with the wrongdoings of His people.
Wrongdoings always exact a price, so the invasion of the enemy was the price
Israel had to pay. Verses 10-11 describe the city of Jerusalem after God had
allowed the enemy to discipline His people. Isaiah describes her as a city that
was left isolated, deserted, and abandoned. God temporarily lifted His mercy,
and she was severely dealt with.
In verses 12-13, Isaiah returns to describe the graciousness of God. He would
gather the people of Israel with a miracle the same as that experienced by the
nation in the time of the Exodus. There would be a grand celebration like the
Feast of Trumpets, to herald the people wherever they would be, to return to
worship in Jerusalem. Israel had sinned and needed to be dealt with, but God
being gracious would restore them.
In God’s reckoning, no one who sins against Him should expect to be left off
scot-free. Sin always exacts a price and brings a consequence. God is gracious
and knows that we are but made of clay. His desire is always to restore us. But
it does not mean that He would allow us to take His grace for granted. Do not
be like Esau who realized a tad too late, and found God unresponsive to his
tears of regrets. So today, if we hear the voice of God, let us respond and
make the needful change.
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