The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 51:1-53:12

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes. (Isaiah 52:8)

After the Babylonian exile, there were three waves of exiles who returned to Jerusalem, rebuilding the temple and the city walls.  What previously lay in ruins and rubble, God was rebuilding.  The temple which had previously been desolate and abandoned was once again to be filled with the glory of God.  The ruins of Jerusalem were to burst into song because God had comforted His people and redeemed Jerusalem.

In the midst of this hopeless situation, the prophet tells us that there is reason to rejoice and celebrate.  There is good news to be told… and even the feet of those who bring the good news are beautiful!

While these verses find fulfillment in the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the temple, we also recognize that they are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus… not only 2000 years ago, but in our present and future situations.

In the midst of hopelessness, broken lives, and ruinous situations, we are the ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.  We are the watchmen who lift up our voices and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and help those around us find healing in Jesus’ Name.