For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11, NKJV
In this long passage in Isaiah, God tells the people in Israel that although they aren't exactly in a cool place now, the time will come when He will reestablish righteousness and praise in front of all the nations. What does that mean?
At the point when Isaiah wrote his book, Israel wasn't exactly known for righteousness. In fact, it seems the majority of the Israelites had been cheating on the Lord of Lords, King of Kings. They'd been bowing down to the false gods of the surrounding countries, sacrificing their children to them, lying with the temple prostitutes, and in general doing whatever lit their fire.
Other countries observing them laughed at the One God of Israel who couldn't keep the allegiance of His chosen ones. What would it take to turn them back to Him, to lives worthy of praise?
It's true that most people don't appreciate what they have until they don't have it any more. So God didn't fight off the invaders who raided the country. God's chosen had grown lazy and incompetent. They reaped what they sowed--the seeds of all things corrupt. The seeds sowed ripened, and they were taken into captivity.
God didn't leave them; they left God. And now they had to leave their homes, their livelihoods, and their memories.
But in this passage God tells them they will come back one day. The seeds of destruction will be replaced by seeds of righteousness and praise.
Israelites aren't they only ones who should watch out what kind of seeds they sow, are they?
Lord God, Almighty One, Creator of the earth and all it's inhabitants,
Forgive us, Lord. Help us to be careful of the seeds we sow not just in our own lives, but on those who look up to us. Thank You for providing the good seeds. Show us how to sow them, water them, and help them grow. Thank You for being You. Amen.
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