The Book Of Isaiah. Day 188, Peace Like A River

As we concluded our last study session we found the Lord promising Isaiah's people that they would return to the land and that it would happen quickly and without war. This is exactly how the captives were allowed to leave Babylon after it was conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire. Not only were they allowed to return, but they were even given supplies by the king who set them free.

The Lord urges the people to trust Him and not harbor any doubts. Just as He promised in our last study session that the nation would be "born" again, He continues using that analogy. "'Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?' says the Lord. 'Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?' says your God." (Isaiah 66:9) The Lord finishes what He starts. He brings promises to completion. He won't begin fulfilling a promise and then stop. 

The people will rejoice over Jerusalem just as parents rejoice over the birth of a dearly wanted child. "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." (Isaiah 66:10-11) 

They won't return to the land and starve to death; the Lord will provide everything they need. You recall how the Lord provided for the Israelites when He led them out of Egypt and across the wilderness, how He provided for them both with natural resources and with supernatural resources. He didn't lead them out into the wilderness in order to kill them, though some wickedly accused Him of having those intentions. He took them out of Egypt in order to bless them and make them into a great nation. If He could provide water where there was no natural water and if He could provide food where there was no natural food, He can certainly provide for them when they return to the Promised Land.

These promises for the nation of Israel were not only for the time period after they were released from captivity but also for the millennial reign of Christ and for the eternal reign of Christ, when Jerusalem will be the capitol city of the whole world. In those days the nation of Israel will have no enemies. The descendants of Jacob will have peace on every side. The Gentile believers of the eternal kingdom will rejoice over Jerusalem as the seat of the King of kings and Lord of lords and they will bring the wealth of the nations into it, as we see below.

"For this is what the Lord says: 'I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will burse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." (Isaiah 66:12-13) Jerusalem has been attacked and largely destroyed a number of times in history but a day is coming when no one will ever fear that happening again. In the eternal kingdom, when the population of the entire world is comprised only of believers, everyone will live at peace with one another. No one will attack. No one will destroy. 

The Lord is faithful to His promises. We go through tribulations and trials under the current world system. But the current world system won't last forever---the Lord's eternal kingdom will!