The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (OT)

Isaiah 49:8-18
8 Thus says the LORD:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.
17 Your builders make haste;
your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you.
18 Lift up your eyes around and see;
they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, declares the LORD,
you shall put them all on as an ornament;
you shall bind them on as a bride does.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Is 49:8–18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Zion will never be forgotten by their Father. He will not let any of them die or be forgotten. Just as a mother can not forget her nursing child, God will not forget you. It does not matter the situation or struggle in which a person is going through. God knows his people in all things. God will bring for his people renewal and salvation.

Isaiah is take the people of Israel from their time in exile. The people of God are not in their promised happiness. The life of a Christian is not always a happy one. It is full of struggle and even shame. We are shamed and disgraced because we look to the cross and know we have sinned. It is our fault that Jesus went to the cross. It is our fault that he was cursed upon that bloody tree.

But even when we are traveling through rough times, God sees you. When you are having a bad day, God loves you. When you have stress building up in piles, Jesus has pity upon you. He clothes you with his righteousness. He stands before your father in Heaven as your Advocate. The Holy Spirit continues to bring prayers before the throne of God. He knows when we are hungry or thirsty. He knows when we are trapped in prison.

In all these things he bids us to come out. Jesus calls to you saying follow me. He throw our anxieties upon him. He is there to take care of our needs. He is there to watch over his people and protect them. Thus, he has written your name upon his palm. He can not forget you. But remembers to listen to you and answer your prayers. Even when we say, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." The LORD is standing right beside you. He promises to always be with you. You are his dwelling place.