Observation:
This is a message to Israel in a time when all hell was breaking lose....literally. In their pride they served both God and man made idols. Now they are being taken off to captivity by Babylon. Everything they have invested is lost, families are split apart and their identity is no longer Israelite, but foreigner. They had placed their hope in the wrong thing, and it has all come crashing down. They are floundering without their identity, and God being who He is, comes to the rescue. He gives them this message of hope through Isaiah. That even in foreign lands, when all seems lost, He will be with them. He reminds them how special they are to Him, that He has set them apart, that He loves them. This encourages them to find their identity in Him and not this world.
Application:
I am on a quest to let others know how valuable they are to God. They are so valuable that God gave His own life in replacement for them. However, so often I struggle with my own value. It is so easy to believe God finds others valuable, but myself, man it is so hard for that to sink in. I very often accept God's love when I feel my performance meets His standards, but shy away in guilt when I feel like I have fallen short. Yet, when I speak to others on God's love I tell them in all sincerity that God's love for them is not based on performance, He could not love them more or less, He loves them perfectly. As it turns out my quest needs to be tweaked, I want to let all know (I'm including myself), that they are valuable to God.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your abundant patience with me. I am amazed by You!
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