somber note: "Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God." Why did they need to be com-
forted? The answer is found in the previous
utter defeat of the Jewish nation (39:5-7). Babylon's
conquest of Judah resulted in the total destruction
of the city of Jerusalem, including the magnificent
Temple built by Solomon. The best and brightest were
carried away to Babylon while
the poorest were left to fend for
themselves in whatever
was left in the battle
scarred land.
ter school for the
Jewish people than the
centuries of teaching by
scribes. Once and for all they
set aside idol worship, never
to take it up as a nation again.
During this time synagogues
were formed for the study
and preservation of Scripture. This time after testing,
the people came out stronger.
waiting. Isaiah reminded them that this was a time
of "waiting on the Lord." This was not the idling away of
time that marks the summer breaks for school children.
It was to be a time of active anticipation, of looking for
what will happen next. It has been defined as "strong
enough to hold out. Solid endurance as a stiff piece
of oak that never bends under pressure."
and study of God's Word, when we learn the
lessons of how we ought to pray, when we
employ our gifts and efforts in the service of
God and others.
This past summer we had some of our
activities was to plant some seeds. The littler ones
wanted to see the seeds sprout in a moment but
plants grow on their own timeline. Our wanting
something so badly we cannot wait has no
bearing on God's decision on when and how
He will move. There is no better time to
learn about God's sovereignty than when
we are waiting on Him. Over our interests
own image.