“Though the mountains depart and the hills be shaken, My love will not depart from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken, says Adonai who has compassion on you. Afflicted one, storm-tossed, unconsoled, behold, I set your stones in antimony, lay your foundations with sapphires, make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by Adonai. Your children will have great shalom.”
Isaiah 54:10-13 TLV
I’ve said it before that sometimes the imagery of the Word of G-d takes my breath away. Today is one of those days and this one of those passages.
Every one I know has experienced brokenness and loss, sorrow and affliction. For some it started young and others much later. But suffering is a shared human experience. Though circumstances may be different, the experience is the same.
The imagery in this verse reminds me that sometimes He has to break down before He can rebuild. It’s like the remodeling shows I love to watch and fascinate me beyond reason-some houses are taken all the way back to “bare bones” before being rebuilt. Walls are removed or rebuilt. Wiring and plumbing are made new. Flooring is set and granite is installed. Everything is made new. Some people have that gift – where I see a dump of a house they see potential and beauty.
Aren’t we that way? Doesn’t He look at the mess of our lives – including the ugly parts – and make us completely new?
This passage gives me such hope. He lays my foundation with sapphires and my pinnacles with rubies. He breaks down the walls I have around my heart and rebuilds them with precious stones. He takes my mess and redeems me. He looks at me and sees worth and beauty.
Remodeling jobs can take a long time. There’s the time for demo and the time to rebuild – but in the end, it’s a site to behold. Likewise, He makes all things beautiful in His time – breathtakingly beautiful. In the waiting and in the rebuilding may I hold the image close of the Master Carpenter demoing, building, designing, and redeeming me. I can trust Him with the outcome because He’s the best there is at heart work.
Father – thank You for Your mercy and love. Thank You for Your Word and how You speak to me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Isaiah 54-58
July 30, 2022