HALLEUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!!
RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2022
WEEK 3: (January 17 – January 23, 2022)
TOPIC: Breakforth For Joy
WEEKLY BIBLE READINGS:
Isaiah 52: 8-10
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
INTERPRETATION
The first stanza of a popular hymn written by Charles Wesley titled ‘Rejoice, the Lord is King’ reads – “Rejoice, the Lord is king: your Lord and King adore, Rejoice, give thanks and sing and triumph evermore. Lift up your hearts, Lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.” This hymn summarizes the core essence of our scriptural reading for this week. It gives a clear perspective of the kind of joy expected of a believer, especially how this should be expressed. CCC Hymn 331 says “…the joy the world cannot give us, our Lord established it.” Then the question remains, why should we rejoice?
In the scripture above, Isaiah painted a picture of a besieged city breathlessly awaiting the news of the outcome of a decisive conflict. If victory, safety comes; if defeat, trouble sets in. But in this, it’s the news of victory. Our Lord has won, let the joyful celebration begin. At first, the people felt abandoned and forgotten and Isaiah came to assure them that God had not forgotten or forsaken them. The people took comfort in Isaiah’s words because they felt they were not forgotten and that God still acted on their behalf and they were not alone. Isaiah showed his people and us that the gifts from God available to them and us touch our lives in a way no other person or thing can. This message comes with the reassurance of God’s love and symbolizes the hope for redemption through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the marvelous news of a victory to share. We can conclude that the battle for our souls was won by Christ on Calvary when He gave His life for us. This message is what Christ instructed His disciples to proclaim from place to place. Now we can proclaim the good news of the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life in heaven with the Father. This is assured for those who trust in Jesus, His Son Saved by God’s good grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone! Therefore, we rejoice not only because of restoration available after many afflictions but because of the hope of eternal life for those that believe in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, this is a reminder to constantly rejoice in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, just like the dwellers of Zion did when the Lord returns to Zion. Life challenges might be overwhelming, solutions might be far to seek, help may not be near but remember help comes only from God. The Psalmist said that “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dream.” When this difficult phase you’re going through are surmounted, it will be like a dream. Today, I say to you, “Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!”
PRAYER
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael, thank you for your word. We pray that your joy fill our hearts. Help us to trust in you only. Bestow on us the spirit to constantly rejoice and dwell in the love and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the finished work of Christ that gives us the hope of redemption never go in vain on us. This and many more we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you and God bless. Shalom.
Footnote: “A life without Christ is full of crisis but life in Christ is a great life full of peace. Let that be your Guide & Guard”
Isaiah 59:1 – Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear”