https://odb.org/2025/08/04/forever-faithful-2
Isaiah 40: 6-8, 10-11 NIV – 6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall because the breath of the Lord blowsl on them. Surely, the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 10 See, the Sovereign Lord comest with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
The exile—God’s people taken from their country first by Assyria and then Babylon—came as a result of His judgment for His people’s failures. However, the suffering it caused raised serious questions about His faithfulness. Had He forsaken His people? Or was God not able to do anything about what had happened to them? In Isaiah 40, God offers a resounding no to both of those questions. He hadn’t abandoned His people. His promise to be faithful to them could be trusted, for “the word of our God endures forever” (v. 8). They’d return from exile, and God’s presence and glory would be with them (vv. 3-5), and He would care for them
The above was extracted from today’s ODB, and as I’ve mentioned last Friday, God’s justice and deliverance transcend a few generations. The Assyrian exile lasted between 190 and 195 years, while the Babylonian exile was for 70 years. If you’re an individual living in those times, it is likely that you would have died in exile before returning to the homeland.
Fortunately for us, we are the “spiritual Israel,” and Israel of ancient times serves more like a picture of our relationship with God. The ancient nation of Israel can be likened to the universal body of Christ of present times. What all of this means is that as an individual, if God had “exiled” us as some sort of disciplinary action against us, know that He will not abandon us. He still loves us and will restore to us what the locusts had eaten. He remains faithful to us, His people, and His children, for the Word of God endures forever. Meaning if He says He is faithful, then He is! His Word never changes throughout generations. It endures forever!
Return to God if you have moved away. Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, God will welcome us with open arms. He will cook the fattened calf for us, put a ring on our finger, and give us new robes and shoes to wear! We will have honour and recognition in His presence, even if the world treats us badly. He is our rock and salvation! Amen
Ronnie's Thoughts 