April 29, 2016 – Isaiah 55:12-13

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” Isaiah 55:12-13The creation itself responds to God’s peace and joy.  I wonder at the song of rejoicing.  Where God’s love bursts forth, it gives great honor to our Lord God and a welling of joy swells our hearts.  Even as suffering and evil befall us, the joy cannot stop.  For we have the promise of God’s faithful care and love.  Nothing can take God’s love from us, as we learn to love Him ever more deeply for Who He is.When I consider the suffering Jesus went through for me and you, I know it was far more excruciating pain I will ever have.  His death paid for all the sins in all ages of the world.  All the friends and disciples left Jesus.  The ones who loved Jesus most, ran away and hid or denied our Lord.How did the earth react when His only Son gave up his Spirit? Matthew 27:51-53 – And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Joy and salvation came that moment, for through His torturous death comes salvation.  And we clap our hands with the trees of the field in the joy of the Lord.  How can this be?  Read further, in Isaiah 56.This is what the Lord says, “Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.” Isaiah 56:1-2