The God Pause Daily Devotional - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 10 July 2017 - Isaiah 55:10-13

The God Pause Daily Devotional - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 10 July 2017 - Isaiah 55:10-13

Isaiah 55:

10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky

and do not return there, but water the earth,

causing it to bud and produce,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth —

it will not return to me unfulfilled;

but it will accomplish what I intend,

and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.”

12 Yes, you will go out with joy,

you will be led forth in peace.

As you come, the mountains and hills

will burst out into song,

and all the trees in the countryside

will clap their hands.

13 Cypresses will grow in place of thorns,

myrtles will grow instead of briars.

This will bring fame to Adonai

as an eternal, imperishable sign.

 [Complete Jewish Bible]

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"For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace." This is hard to believe. Our world seems to have everything but joy and peace. And yet God promises that God's word will not return empty, that it shall succeed and nourish all like the rains nourish creation.
What would it take for you to really believe this promise and to live its truth? While the terrors and struggles of the world rage on, we're sent out in the joy of God to love, to work for justice, to bring about the kingdom, with the joy of God as our sustenance and strength. This isn't a fanciful or naॖve idea that all will be well in an instant, but rather a radical call to do the work of God with God, always rooted in God's deep joy.
Holy one, send us out in your joy that we may participate in the work of your word, helping love to sprout and grow abundantly in all places. Amen.
Katelyn Rakotoarivelo, '17
St. Paul, Minn.
Isaiah 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever." [New Revised Standard Version]

The Luther Seminary
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Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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