Isaiah 51:1-11 (NIV)

Read by: Javelin Lewis

So far in the book of Isaiah, we’ve gotten a good bit of the history of Israel just prior to exile. Few of us can imagine the kind of war and exile that Israel faced during this period. But just for a minute, think about the place you love the most—the place you really call home. Now imagine that you’re forced to leave, to stay away from this beloved place. You settle somewhere else, but your heart always longs for it… You grow up, have a family, and you tell your kids all about it… They have kids, and you share the stories with the little ones. The smells and tastes of your favorite food there, the beauty of the landscape, the sounds of the birds, maybe, or the wind rustling through the trees. To your kids it might seem like a dream, like some kind of fairy tale. They’ve only seen the desert… And yet the hope is placed in their hearts. The hope of home, of the place they really belong.

Today’s passage is for the descendants of those who were exiled to Babylon. Zion is a place in their grandmother’s memory. The LORD’s temple, the feasts and celebrations, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, like a great big family reunion. Home. Today’s passage calls those who have never seen Zion to dream of it once more. The LORD beckons those who want to trust him— “Believe. Remember where you’re from. Remember who you are.” He calls them to put their hope in Him, and to follow the Servant as he “set his face like flint.” Don’t be afraid of those who would rather forget. The tale is true. Come and see.

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1. What images stood out to you in the passage?

2. Toward the end of this passage, the writer breaks into a plea for the LORD to hurry up, in a sense. The longing for things to be the way they should be can be overwhelming sometimes. In what ways do you experience this kind of “holy impatience?”

3. As you consider the invitation and encouragement to remember who you are, to trust in God and to journey on towards this vision of home, what do you need for the journey? Maybe it’s a community, a family to walk with. Maybe it’s strength to endure shame or criticism as you go. Or maybe it’s a deeper confidence in the hope. Whatever you need, ask the Holy Spirit to give it to you today.

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Bible Project : Exile

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