Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Behold your God!"
Text: Isaiah 40:9
THE MISSION OF ZION
One of the great works of God was to give to the children of Israel the land of Canaan (Israel). This was a special work for Israel to remember that God would always be mindful of His covenant (Psalm 111:5-6). But along the way, Zion lost its vision and mission. With the coming of the Messiah, Israel would regain its spiritual sight and begin to fulfil its divine mission.
“O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!'”
Isaiah 40:9
1. Zion and Jerusalem
a) Jerusalem was the political capital of the nation.
b) Zion was the spiritual centre of the country.
2. Their task
a) To bring “good tidings”.
b) To climb the high mountains to proclaim the good news of God and His kingdom.
3. The challenge
a) To speak with strength.
b) To lift up the voice with courage.
4. The focus
a) To proclaim “Behold your God”.
b) The Messiah would be God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ.
c) Zion must find a fresh faith in God.
i) It must first find comfort in the LORD.
ii) And to go on to be challenged to deepen their faith in God.
iii) And to find courage to proclaim strongly and with great joy
the good tidings (“the gospel”) centred in the Person of the Messiah.