Restored priceless promises
"They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you'll have the title "Priests of God, "Honoured as ministers of our God. You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, our inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever." Isaiah 61: 4-7 [The Message]
This is God's original promise to Israel as a kingdom of priests; it predicts that they will rebuild the ruined and devastated places. It also focuses on their spiritual service, God does not deliver and forgive for no purpose; God saves in order that the redeemed might serve. What Israel had, she lost by sin; but it would be restored and bear fruit. God has a kingdom of priests on earth today, it is you and me, my friends, as we share his hope and promises with others.
God declares that everlasting joy and honour will replace shame; joy is the result of restoration. There is a story I hold dear, a promise I guess….
During the war years, in order to save priceless paintings from being destroyed artists would cover up these masterpieces by painting over them with layer after layer of dark, dingy paint. With the fine quality art well and truly hidden they would then paint a new picture over the original masterpiece and set them in a poor quality frame. After the war these paintings were retrieved and then painstakingly and lovingly restored, as each layer of dirt and paint was removed the original masterpiece was slowly revealed in all its unique splendour. Like those priceless paintings, The Lord wants to restore us to the masterpiece he originally created.
Dawn Milward
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