Isaiah 49:7c

Isaiah 49:7c

This is what the Lord says – the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel – to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: ‘Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’

Are you bored of Covid yet? Or maybe it’s something else that is sapping your energy and joy – a long-term medical condition, or some other difficulty that seems to have become a permanent feature of your life rather than just a temporary interruption. Many things in life are hard to experience, but I think we probably struggle most with the ones that drag on without any end in sight. Persevering when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel is incredibly tough. That’s why we need to be reminded that the Lord is faithful. He doesn’t give up. He will never abandon either his purposes or his people.

As we were reminded yesterday, there IS always light at the end of the tunnel. Ultimately, the story ends with Jesus exalted and victorious, and all evil and suffering done away with completely and forever. We don’t know how soon that day will come, and it’s entirely possible that it could be today! But if it isn’t, then we may need to wait for months or years or decades or generations to see God’s plans fully and finally fulfilled. 

If that’s the case, what can keep us waiting for it in hope, rather than giving up in despair? What was it that enabled the Servant to keep going through all the days when he was despised and rejected? This verse tells us. It’s “because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.”  If God was simply a great innovator, known for starting remarkable things, that would have been little comfort to the Servant in his suffering. His hope came from knowing that God is a completer-finisher. God’s plan was that he would enjoy glory, through suffering. One day there would be a cross, but beyond that there would be a crown. God’s faithfulness guaranteed that the glory, and the crown, would be given him in the end. God wasn’t going to abandon the plan half-way through.

But nor was he going to leave the servant to persevere alone. Faithfulness is more than a dogged commitment to finish the job, come what may. God’s faithfulness is relational. He’s not simply committed to his plans, he’s committed in love to his people. He is faithful to his people in the way that the best imaginable husband is faithful to his wife. To be properly faithful in marriage means far more than simply not committing adultery! It means consistent, daily, self-giving, generous love.  That’s what God’s faithfulness to his people looks like.  Even when life is hard, God is faithful. He will bring us through it, into eternal joy and rest, as he has promised. And in the meantime he is faithfully with us, loving us, protecting us, guiding us and strengthening us to persevere.

Let’s thank him for that today.