Scripture Reading: Isaiah 50:4-11, Isaiah 51:1-23, Isaiah 52:1-6, Deuteronomy 30:19-20, 1 John 1:5-10
As a child, I remember being told while I was being disciplined, “this hurts me more than it hurts you.” As far as I could tell, that was rubbish. If my parents wanted to tell themselves that to make them feel better, so be it, but I wasn’t buying it. However, as a mom now, I find discipline to be one of the trickiest aspects of parenting. I see it differently because I so long for restoration in whatever is going on and to see my girls grow from their mistakes. I see that their behavior is shaping who they are becoming, for better and for worse. And most of all, I see how what they believe and tell themselves in those moments of failure deeply affects their souls and whether or not they are willing to receive love from my husband and me, as their parents.
In their recent past, Judah had watched Israel be conquered by the Assyrians. Then, the Babylonians ousted the Assyrians as the conquering power. Isaiah brought a message that Judah, too, would follow the path of exile. They knew their fate—Babylon was coming, and their generations of sin and disobedience were to blame. I can only imagine that exile felt like the end of almost everything. How could they recover or find hope in the midst of something so destructive, something they had watched happen to their neighbors?
But that was not the end of Isaiah’s message. The passages for today come from the perspective of God’s servant, looking back at the exile and calling the people of God to rise up, trust Him, and fulfill their calling to be a blessing to the nations. Isaiah brought hope by reminding them of God’s past promises—“Look to Abraham your father” (Isaiah 51:2). Abraham’s name alone would evoke the stories of their family’s legacy, God’s provision and guidance set within a tender covenant passed down through generations. And even further back in their history, “he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD” (v.4). Eden was where God shaped Adam and Eve as His own and lived with them unveiled, as those who are near and dear to one another.
It can be hard to feel near and dear to anyone in the midst of discipline. If you’re anything like me, self-loathing and condemnation feel much more accessible when I have failed. But just as God called Judah, He calls us to look to Him and to His Son, the Suffering Servant. Jesus brought us the hope of resurrection by suffering on the cross in our place. Salvation in Christ means that the exile that sin affords has no power over God’s love for us. He beckons us back to Him, to draw near to Him, and to believe that His love goes deeper than any failure ever could.
Written by Becca Owens
Leave a Reply
80 thoughts on "Salvation for Zion"
❤️
❤✝️
♥️
❤️
“He beckons us back to Him, to draw near to Him, and to believe that His love goes deeper than any failure ever could.”
He is always waiting for me. No matter how far I feel I’ve fallen, how many mistakes I’ve made, how broken I feel I am, our faithful Lord is always waiting. Thank you, Jesus ❤️
❤️
Wow if God hasn’t placed this scripture here for me today! So relevant when I came back from work feeling chastised, bitter and goaded for The Lord to remind me to look up! Eyes on him. What harm can man do me?
I am back after reading your comments and prayers. I am so touched by TAMI’s response to TINA before I even read what Tina shared, and more so by TINA’s story. I felt like a bomb went off in my heart. Dear Tina, I am so amazed at the utter courage and humbleness you always exhibit, and the journey that you walk and the challenge you face to stop repeating generational cycles. Many of us are inspired and encouraged greatly by you. I am one. I am also on the journey of confronting the dysfunction(demons) of my past that I inherit and unknowingly tolerate. It is a long and painful journey to face the uglies! I had to face the childhood memories that subconsciously formed me into the person I am today. It is always a tension, a war, a great battle to become the new person, to lean onto the God. For me, the underlying shame, fear, and anger I felt in childhood defined me well into adulthood. These feelings were all my little being could bear, there wasn’t room for any other generous emotions. We know the power of healing from forgiveness, but to walk it out takes God. May the Lord give us grace to forgive the past, to forgive our parents/ancestors who had done the best they knew (some knew not God). Children innocently accept the world they are born into. To me, my parents could do no wrong, they were heroes. Until one day, the Word came in to shed light, and turned everything upside down. May we forgive ourselves for embracing our parents’ ways and also their dysfunctions. I echo what TAMI advises, may we be gentle to ourselves, and may the Lord be with us every step of the way. Thank you for sharing your heart TINA. Hugs and love across the pond❤️.
A couple of things stood out to me today:
.
1/ “Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who EQUIP yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment” (Isaiah 50:11). May we be made aware that we could be warm by our own fire, by our own equipping work. The Lord likes us to be on fire for Him, but may we be cautioned against the strange fire of our own kindle. For it will be in vain and lead to torment.
.
2/I really love these verses in Isaiah: The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, The Lord God has opened my ear…, I turned not backward. I am so amazed at the revelation of the Holy Spirit. “He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). A small excerpt from a devotional book I was blessed with from C. H. Spurgeon: “The most unlearned of individuals become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible”. Glory be to God.
Isaiah 51:3
The Lord will comfort Israel again
and have pity on her ruins.
Her desert will blossom like Eden,
her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found there.
Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.
.
Isaiah 51:13
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?
Where is their fury and anger now?
.
Isaiah 52:6
But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.
.
I listened to All Things New by Big Daddy Weave last night. Beautiful song of promise and comfort.
Lyrics:
I’ve heard You can take what’s broken and make it whole again
Well, here’s the pieces of my heart, what can You do with them?
‘Cause I can’t hold them all together anymore
So I let them fall surrendered to the floor
You make all things new
You make all things new
God of mercy and love
Do what only You can do and make all things new
Only You can bring such beauty from the depths of all my pain
Only You can take this shattered heart and make it beat again
Oh, You hold us all together in Your hands
I surrender all I have and all I am
You make all things new
You make all things new
God of mercy and love
Do what only You can do and make all things new
From the ashes, from the dust
I will rise up, rise up
Out of darkness into the light
I will rise up, rise up
From the ashes, from the dust
I will rise up, rise up
Out of darkness into the light
I will rise up, rise up
You make all things new
You make all things new
God of mercy and love
Do what only You can do and make all things
All things, You make all things new
Songwriters: Michael Weaver, David Leonard.
.
Holding to His promise to make all things new!
.
Love, hugs, and prayers, sisters! ❤
Thank you Cee Gee. I love that song so much. Much love to you ❤️
❤ sending much love to you, Cathy! ❤
❤️
Had something all written out. Ran out of time. Good morning, sweet She’s.
All I can say for now. The goal of discipline, is restoration.
I loved everyone’s comments! I needed this!
“Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Isaiah 51:11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.51.11.NIV
Praying for all!
“It can be hard to feel near and dear to anyone in the midst of discipline. If you’re anything like me, self-loathing and condemnation feel much more accessible when I have failed. But just as God called Judah, He calls us to look to Him and to His Son, the Suffering Servant. Jesus brought us the hope of resurrection by suffering on the cross in our place. Salvation in Christ means that the exile that sin affords has no power over God’s love for us. He beckons us back to Him, to draw near to Him, and to believe that His love goes deeper than any failure ever could.”
Thanks, Becca… Friends , rejoice with me! ♥️
❤️
Such assurance of His promises.
Asking for prayers today. My daughter-in-love is being induced today. We are excited to have a granddaughter soon. I had only boys so this we will such a blessing. Thank you sisters.
What a wonderful time for your family Kerry. Praying that everything goes smoothly!
Praying for a smooth, trouble-free delivery and the beautiful gift of a granddaughter!
“Look, all of you who kindle a fire,
who encircle yourselves with torches,
walk in the light of your fire
and of the torches you have lit!
This is what you’ll get from My hand:
you will lie down in a place of torment.”
50: v11
Lord, I confess to lighting & carrying torches of my own creation, encircling myself in sin, rather than walking towards & into Your light of the world.
Please forgive, restore & strengthen me.
Deliver me from my wrongdoing.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen
So good!
Love this!
Amen!
I love how God reassures the people that He saw what was happening and even though they had to go through it, He was with them, protecting them and guiding them and pushing them toward salvation! What. Study! I’m so glad I joined for Lent!
We can feel confident in our choice to trust Him because he has never failed – thank you Jesus!
Amen!
I have to always go to commentary to remember what is happening in these verses. Isaiah 50:4-11 the “third song” by Isaiah referring to the suffering servant-Jesus. The first two were showing the opposition to Messiah’s ministry, but this third song, His suffering is vividly described. Tomorrow’s 4th song, we will be told not only how he suffered, but why is suffering is necessary. (Warren Wiersbe)
Jesus had to trust and grow in what the Sovereign God wanted from him for his Father’s perfect will to be done in and through him. He didn’t ride in on a horse to conquer, he was fully human, born a babe, and would have to rely on God for his knowledge to not only go to the cross, but of course show the works of God- how to treat others, how to surrender, how to minister, how to submit. How to hang on and be strong, while many agree with you and your ministry, many many more will come against you.
It is not going to be easy for us either, his followers. How can we expect to have it easy when the Son of God had to suffer. The disciples had to suffer. Paul had to suffer. Yet, they were strong in their suffering! God makes a way always! He gives us just enough to hang on when we need it. And hopefully- it propels us the deep growth that we need to carry on even stronger in our relationship with the Lord. But don’t get comfortable..if God is using you and you are being a servant and ministering and serving- more challenges come! Take that as a good sign!! Yes, Praise God! We are being used for His glory in mighty ways!! Thank you Lord that I can be your suffering servant too!!! You are worthy of Praise!! Thank you for your plan for my life, not my plan! It is good and perfect!! Be of good cheer my sisters!
I never thought of us as also being his “suffering servants”. Thank you for the insight!
♥️
❤️
Amen, “if they persecute me they will persecute you too”. May God give us strength.
“He beckons us back to Him, to draw near to Him, and to believe that His love goes deeper than any failure ever could.”
—
God’s love for us is so deep, so high, so wide that we can not even comprehend it! We see it over and over again in scripture. God loves His people, whether it is Israel – His chosen ones, or us – Christ followers. He shows His hand of discipline and judgement, but all of it is intended to bring repentance, to return to the One who waits for us with out-stretched arms. He is so faithful, so good. And praise God for all the reminders in scripture, that we too, can look back and remember all of the past promises that He has fulfilled. It gives us hope. Praise God. Thank you Jesus that you bore the cup of wrath so that I (we)could be forgiven!
—
Have a blessed day sweet sisters, and thank you for all your prayers!!
❤️❤️❤️
Sharon… Know that my ♥️ aches with yours, as you watch your son’s life unfold before you… But God… Knowing (and trusting) that He works in ways we can’t see or understand! Lifting our sons… and all family members to Jesus!! ♥️
Yes, I agree. It is hard to watch our children go through the trials, but each one can be used to keep drawing their hearts to Jesus, so keep faith and keep praying for them, and be with them through it!! Jonathan is coming home..! He may still be eating with the pigs, or at the awakening…or journeying home. BUT he is the prodigal son! Praise God for that hope!
Wow spot on for what’s going on in my life!! Lord help me to be a light for you wherever I go even in the midst of persecution. May I overflow with Your peace and Joy.
“And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.” Is 51:11
Father God, I come before You today, remembering Your faithfulness and greatness. Just as You were the strength and deliverance for Your people in the past, I trust that You are with me today. I pray that You would awaken in me a deeper sense of Your power and promises. Help me to fix my eyes on your salvation, knowing your plans will never fail.
I love this verse!
God calls us to so much more than we can see in front of us. He calls us to hope beyond sight, faith beyond fear, and assurance in things we may not yet be able to see. I pray for each one of us today – that we will be Kingdom focused. That the daily trials will not surpass the glory of God’s beautiful plans.
I would also like to ask for prayer for my son. As some of you know, my husband has a new job out of town and is working to find us a new home so my son and I can move to be with him.
The process of finding a home is taking a while. We are on week 6 of him being gone, and it seems like we aren’t any closer to moving than we were at the beginning. I know God has a plan, and I’m trying to rest in that.
My son is 2.5 years old. I feel like he did really well at first when my husband left, but it seems to be getting harder for him. When my husband gets back for the weekend my son is constantly asking him not to leave, and all week while he is gone my son keeps saying he wants daddy to come home.
I know this is all natural and normal, but it’s hurting my heart. It’s also hurting my heart that when we do move, he will be thrust into something completely new again. The structure we have now, even though it’s tenuous, will need to be rebuilt again. All are friends, all new places. I know kids adapt, but I’m worried about how it will happen.
It took my husband months to find this job, and we felt like it was the direction we should go, so I know God will bless it. I guess all that to say… I need that Kingdom focus today!
Thank you all for your prayers!
Oh, Meagan, I’ve been there. My husband was away from our family for about a year. (We was away in a law enforcement academy fir six months that was a couple of hours away, and then when he graduated, our house didn’t sell for six months, and he had to live where he worked.) It was tough, and our young sons acted much like your little did. You’ll get through it. Keep Him close. He sees you and will sustain your family. It’s hard when you’re in the midst of it, but it will all be resolved before you know it. Be strong and courageous, sister!
❤️
Father bring me into Your arms of protection and peace. In Jesus name, Amen
The only place to find real hope is in the Lord and I need to always look to Him. I need to lay down my pride, lay down any thinking that I’ve done anything on my own, I need to continue to repent, no lying to myself. Moved by 1 John 1:8-10 this morning.
.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
–
I’m reminded of Jeremiah 32:17, recognizing the omnipotence of Almighty God (can I get an amen & a hallelujah?!) and the familiar chorus from this verse, Ah, Lord GOD:
.
Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens
And the earth by thy great power
Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens
And the earth by Thine outstretched arm
.
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Great and mighty God
Great in counsel and mighty in deed
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
–
Missing some of our sisters!
Thinking of ERB, LAUREN GW, KARRIE, LINDA IN NC, NANCY S and HEIDI this morning.
And DIANA DAVIS – missing you and your shared prayers ❤️
–
CEE GEE ❤️
L B – praying for your job interviews and guidance for any decisions
GWINETH52 ❤️
CHERYL BLOW praying for baby Levi and the challenges he’s facing
ADRIENNE ❤️
Thank you for bringing the 1 John passage to mind “if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in is” sooo thankful God is faithful and righteous to forgive!
Amen! ❤
Amen
“My righteousness is near,
my salvation appears,
and my arms will bring justice to the nations.
The coasts and islands will put their hope in me,
and they will look to my strength.”
.
One day, all will acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
.
My young mama was only able to leave a note for a supervisor to call her about the problem with the children’s services worker. She is going back today to see if she can talk with someone.
.
MIA FAITH ❤️
.
FOSTER MAMA ❤️
Praying for your young mama for protection and that the supervisor would comprehend the seriousness and handle this situation appropriately
GM ladies, may I request an SOS prayer? My brother is declining, and needs more in-home services but is not eligible for hospice care because he is on supplemental nutrition – he would have to stop it. I disagree with that bc other people who are able to eat by mouth are allowed to… anyway, we had a visit this week with a new palliative care doc who agreed with me and she put in a call to the director of hospice care who accepts “special” cases. We should hear back today. Please pray for God to open this door. Thank you! Xo
Praying for you and the situation
Praying, Tami! ❤️ Praying for this much needed request to be approved, and praying for you in these painful circumstances.
Praying!
Praying ❤️
Just prayed for you and your family. I thought you could give nutrition if hospice in home. People have even “graduated” from hospice. Praying God cares for you and your family.
❤️❤️❤️
Praying❤️
Praying for this need today Tami. I can’t imagine, I pray God will give BJ strength and hope and draw him to Himself, the comfort and peace Himself. I pray He gives you that same comfort and peace, that he knows what’s ahead and is preparing you in this moment, his daughter. To trust and let your faith be your anchor.
❤
Dear Tami
Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Praying for you and your family
Tami, I’m praying your brother can get the help he needs through hospice, as well as the nutrition he needs. I pray God will intervene with those making decisions. I pray for you and your brother to feel God’s peace and comfort as you walk this difficult road.
TINA – for some reason I couldn’t click reply directly to you. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. We do “better” when we know “better” so to speak. I think breaking generational curses can only happen first with awareness. The first step of healing is to admit there is a problem. I’m feeling your pain come through your words today and pray that you know that you are breaking that curse! Your example to us from afar, of a life transformed by and guided by the love of Jesus, with its dark moments and its bright moments, is impactful for all of us who read your beautiful words. I can only imagine what it is like to have you present. Your family is blessed to have you as an example, lead the way sister! You got this! And be gentle to yourself!
❤️
❤️
Tami, I would still love to do a group call so we can pray for your brother, and you are sister! Can you let us know a time that would work for you! Message me through messenger! Hopefully tomorrow or Friday? Or even if I could go live on our FB like we have done in the past just to lift you up?
Tami, thank you for your words. Thank you..❤️
Amen❤️
I am the eldest of all my siblings. I say it like that because, my Daddy had 5 children to include me, and my mamma had 7 to include me! ❤
My Daddy had 3 other children whilst he was married to my stepmother! My mamma, had the first of my half siblings when my brother was 18 months old.. I had my daughter out of wedlock, (we did get married after she was born), my older son a gift from a fling I had, and my younger son, though I was with his father for 17 years, we never married. He left us, when we lost Julee..
I tell you this, why?
My mammas 7 children, 5 of us were married, now divorced, and the others had been in long term relationships that are no longer…
Now, tell me, how do you break that kind of generational sin cycle?
How do we correct that, so the next generation of family, our youngsters do not fall into that trap or sin? How many generations before we, as a family can actually look God in the eye and say sorry for our sins, but also for the generations before us?
.
I think of the Isaiah chapters above, and I am encouraged in a way..
.
This is what the LORD says.., Chapter 50 begins..
Verse 2a says “was my arm too short to ransom you?
OMG! Probably not referring to Jesus, but that cut deep. That reconstructed a part of me that seriously hurt. I have long been a one that feels His pain and suffering for me/us. His, Jesus’ going to the cross to break the cycle that holds us prisoners, to free me/us, to give us a HOPE so that we could see a way through the fog of sin layered upon us. Our burden, (My siblings and I) is heavy, BUT He, Jesus, suffered so our burden would be lightened.. So we could find a way to break the chains of our history, and live in the freedom He offered at the Cross.
.
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and seek the LORD..
Look to the Rock from which you were cut..”
.
“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on its way, and my arm will bring justice to the nation..”
I am thankful that though my family in paper looks a mess, Father God, brings and has brought hope to us, we just need to trust, believed and know that our best is all He desires and to be His, apart from our sins, desires and wrongdoing..
.
Isaiah 52 ends ..
For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard they will understand..
.
Longing for that day of correction for us all. For our hearts to move from ‘this is our life’ to us coming out of this ‘burden we carry’ and sin to.. ” walk in the light, as He is the light, have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin..
.
Praying deeply into this, today, for my siblings and I.
.
The old song/hymn.. Jesus paid it all comes to mind as tears roll down my face..
.
Happy Wednesday, my dears.. Covered in much love and prayers..❤
Thank you for sharing, Tina.
Dear Tina, thank you for sharing more of your testimony and a desire of your heart, sister. ❤️❤️❤️
Thankful the Lord sees us as we are now, washed clean by Christ’s sacrifice!
Thanks for your “Open Book” ♥️! We all can be encouraged by God’s work in and through your life. Feeling the grief of the realization of past sins repeated patterns… Rejoicing with you, as you have seen chains breaking in your life, and anticipate rejoicing with your family … in His Timing!! Love your ♥️!
Thank you dear Tina for sharing. Your testimony and your strong faith serves as a light and positive example how God loves you/me/us faults and all. Let hope and faith rise up to all! Much love to you sweet sister ❤️
♥️
Tina…thank you for sharing ❤️
Tina, I believe when you turn to Jesus, he breaks those generational curses! Don’t let the enemy tell you that lie! You are free in Jesus! You have a beautiful gift of writing and I know God will use it!
Yes, that’s true! In Jesus the curse is broken!
Thank you for sharing Tina, just being divorced period is heavy for me but yes – sin has left crimson stain, He washed it white as snow! Praying for you and your siblings and future generations to break free of the cycle.
❤️
Tina, thankyou for sharing your heart with us. You are always such an open book and such a witness for Jesus that makes our hearts happy. I can’t think of a better witness for God’s love than you. Praying for you sister from across the pond ❤️