Isaiah 66:7-11 (NRSV)
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Verse 7Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Verse 8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor she delivered her children. Verse 9Shall I open the womb and not deliver? says the Lord; shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God. Verse 10Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her- Verse 11that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom.
Devotion
This concluding chapter of the prophet’s words to Israel makes it clear that with God anything is possible. Despite her long domination by foreign powers, Israel will indeed be born anew, becoming a nation that nurtures all who cling to her. Israel will become God’s love made real in the world. It is through this renewal and rebirth of Israel that the world will see God’s glory in all its fullness and God’s love in its abundant generosity. Our waiting to celebrate yet again the birth of God’s love incarnate in Jesus is based in the covenant God made with Israel by which God’s faithfulness to God’s people was established forever. Just as Israel would rejoice in her deliverance, we too rejoice in God’s deliverance of us from sin and death.
Prayer
Generous God, your abundant love enables us to believe that with you all things are possible. Amen.