“O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!”
Isaiah 40:9
These words are written as words of comfort at least 150 years before they were ever needed. Even before Israel went into captivity, the Lord was already sending them words about their deliverance from it. This is our God! In God there are the words of eternal life! And how special were those days, when the people of God came back to the land and the heathen could clearly see that the Lord had done great things for them. But the application of these words extends into our very day and age. The Lord is still in the business of saving! God is still doing great things for us and in us! Unfortunately, this great message of perfect redemption offered to the vilest of sinners is being hid by believers who have lost the joy of salvation. They are so busy fighting each other and entertaining each other that they, who are meant to be great examples of the grace of God poured over mere mortals, have become silent. What need is there for a silent witness? Can’t we see that these words are written to us? “Lift up your voice, be not afraid!” The same God that speaks words of comfort 100 years before they are needed, knows us and can speak words that fit our need. We have great news for this world! We need to live these words, speak them with strength, lift up our voices and fear nothing but God.