Sing, O heavens; be joyful, O earth

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb: yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Isaiah 49:13 - 16

A command to rejoice and to sing is given to God's people here in Isaiah. A command to rejoice in spite of difficulties. The reason for this is because of the promised Redeemer shown to us in verses 7 -12. A Redeemer that is faithful and personal. A God who will set prisoners free and bring a bright ray of light to those in darkness. That Redeemer has come and paid the price to redeem each of us out of the prison and darkness of sin.

As we walk with the Holy One we must in faith, sing and rejoice, knowing that our Lord will not forget to be merciful. Zion, God's chosen people, in the midst of their hardship cried out, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." Times in our lives, leave us wondering if indeed God has forsaken and forgotten. The hand of God, his Presence and direction, and his mercy seem to be gone. Yet, in these times we are to rejoice because God is faithful. He will not fail. In fact, God's voice rings out across the ages once again as He speaks those words, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, YET WILL I NOT FORGET."

That baby in the crib, crying for its mother has no other source of help. He cannot help himself. The God-given instinct in a mother sends her rushing to her childs' side to provide what e'er she can for her babe. She doesn't leave him forsaken and forgotten. She is their to wrap her arms of love and comfort around her baby and provide the nourshment he needs.

God, in His greater love, is there for us. In those times, when there is no other source of help and life seems to be confined to a small space of a crib, God is there. He has not forsaken, nor fogotten. In love and tenderness, God again speaks, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (The word 'walls' is from a root word meaning to join, or a wall of protection.) God sees us every moment. He has placed us in the palm of his hand with the blood of His own Son. He sees how we are joined as a wall to him. We are continually before him. He, himself, has provided us with a wall of protection. What comfort to know that the God of the Universe will not drop us from the palm of his hand. He wants to join us ever closer to Him. In those times of affliction and distress we can sing in our hearts, because He has not forgotten, He will comfort and have mercy.