February 11, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I AM is the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.‘” (Isaiah 49.22-23)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

Did you ever think about the power you had when you were in school? You had the power to command teachers, school officials and even other students. All of this was yours when you exercised the raising of your hand. Of course, everyone else had a similar power, too. It wasn’t unique just to you. It was uniquely a power of command. What? You never considered it that way? The raising of your hand was a command of silence and obedience. The raising of your hand was a signal of permission and respect. The proper use of that command brought satisfaction and knowledge which led to wisdom and peace. I will let you consider that perspective on your own. Allow yourself to accept it as a real interpretation in its context and you might begin to see a truth. Of course, what you may also see is that the misuse, abuse and abstaining of raising one’s hand was a signal of disobedience, rebellion and selfishness. One received reward. The other received trouble and punishment.

We are told in Isaiah 49.22 that God raised His hand. At His command, the nations released the exiled captives to return to their homeland. There was more, however. They not only released the captives but brought them back. They made arrangement for their return and gifted them as well with far more than had been taken from them and with them when they became captives in the first place. This was not like the days of Moses when the Hebrews were commanded to leave by Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not give them anything but their freedom. However, in the midst of grief, they took with them the plunder of Egypt. Now we can see how the plenty mentioned in the verses before this are understood. These were not the wages of their labor in exile with accrued interest. No, these were the offerings giving to God as they themselves knew it was the God of Israel who had acted on behalf of His people.

It also describes that the banner of God was raised. In the Song of Solomon (verse 2.4) we read, “He has brought me to the house of wine, and His banner over me is love. Let Him lead me to the banquet hall, and let His banner over me be love. He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much He loves me.” We are speaking of a “standard” like a flag which flies over government buildings or carried by standard bearers before the troops. We may adorn our homes with flags showing our allegiance to a community, state or nation. It speaks of an authority we give to another for our mutual well-being. Unless, however, it is a mutual authority, there is no trust in it. God proved His was true to His word. His word was His nature and character because it was derived in love as love. It is a love of compassion and nurture. It is also a love of justice and judgment. God’s banner establishes the declaration of authority based in love. It is a love for all people. The benefit of that love is mercy and grace which leads to a life of peace and fulfillment. Those who refuse His benefits will suffer greatly be default. If the banner of blessing does not wave over them, then they are in rebellion. Psalm 103 urges the people to “not forget all His benefits.” It raises the standard of faithful obedience for all the people to see. Those who see it and believe it will respond accordingly to praise God and serve one another.

There is a gospel example of this which I will mention to you. It comes from the story of “The Feeding of the Multitude.” In it, the disciples were asked to provide for the multitude because the disciples were hungry. Jesus was teaching them the depth of servanthood and the value of believing in it. They, of course, had brought nothing with them to accomplish such a task. They even asked Jesus to send the people home to get food or be fed. I believe they did so because they had brought only enough with them to feed themselves. It probably was true for the multitude as well, don’t you think? When Jesus pressed them, a boy offered his family’s meal to feed Jesus and the disciples. It was only a family portion of bread and fish. It was enough, however. The disciples presented it to Jesus. Did they think it was evidence of the desperate food situation which they proposed? Jesus accepted it by the faith by which it was given from a servant’s heart. What did Jesus do? He “lifted it up” so that the people could see and hear Jesus offer the meal to God for His blessing. He began to serve the multitude by giving a portion to each disciple to begin to parcel out to the multitude. Suddenly there was more food than the disciples knew what to do with. In Jesus raising His hand, His banner of love, permission was given to share. I have no doubt myself that the people started to raise their hands, too, as banners of love offering what they had to those who had little. The “meager” which was brought in, enough to feed only themselves, became an “abundant” given out as the community worked together. What was the result? There was more than even twelve baskets could hold as leftovers; one basket for each disciple. In the quest for “freedom,” plenty was supplied.

Do we think that God will not provide a blessing to His people who love, obey and serve? Is this not the way of mercy and grace where we receive what we do not deserve?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.