Isaiah 29 : 1 – 24
Our God Is Great!
1 “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around. 2 Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel. 3 I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, and I will raise siegeworks against you. 4 You shall be brought down, you shall speak out of the ground; Your speech shall be low, out of the dust; Your voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the ground; And your speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 “ Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly. 6 You will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire. 7 The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her fortress, and distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. 8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion.” 9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. 10 For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.”13 Therefore the Lord said: “ Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, 14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, and their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” 16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “ He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “ He has no understanding”? 17 Is it not yet a very little while till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest? 18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, the scornful one is consumed, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off— 21 Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just by empty words. 22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “ Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale; 23 But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will hallow My name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel. 24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine.”
I am sure you all have heard of the statement, ‘Do not judge a book by its cover.’ In a way this is exactly what we learn from our Holy El Olam – The Everlasting God, our God. Our Precious Adoni Yahweh teaches us that the Jerusalem that everyone holds onto dearly is a false Jerusalem.
I have started seeing into things more these days than in the past. For example, we take words for granted. Can you tell me what the word ‘Blessed’ means? You know we use it all the time. “Why bless you; I hope God blesses you; your gift was a blessing to me.’ What the heck are we saying? The word means ‘happy’. So, we should say, ‘I hope you experience happiness; I hope God will do something in your life that makes you happy; the gift you gave me made me very happy. Do you see the significance.
So, now let me ask you a question, what does the name ‘Jerusalem’ mean? It means the city of peace. Now let me ask you another question, has it ever been a city of peace? If you said no it hasn’t you would be almost correct. You see there was a time where our Magnificent Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Who Provides – provided a time where His people could see the beauty of dwelling in Jerusalem in peace.
In the book of 2 Chronicles king David’s son Solomon had finished building up Jerusalem and the Temple. We read in chapter 7 this “1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.”4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood. 7 Furthermore Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat. 8 At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house. 12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’ 19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 “And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.’”
So, our Holy Father allowed us to see here and in some other cases what a blessed time was like in His city Jerusalem, which should be a city of peace. However, as we have just studied the people were not obedient to our Holy God’s rules and Authority so what we have witnessed for almost since its development, Jerusalem has been a false city of peace. It hasn’t and it isn’t any city where peace exists. Would you agree?
In verses 1 through 6 we are going to take a look at the distress that our Holy El Roi – our God Who Sees All Things – will bring upon the city of Jerusalem.
1 “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around. 2 Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel. 3 I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, and I will raise siegeworks against you. 4 You shall be brought down, you shall speak out of the ground; Your speech shall be low, out of the dust; Your voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the ground; And your speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 “ Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly. 6 You will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire.
In verse 1 we find right off the bat a truth that needs to be engrained in our hearts and minds, that is, that all the religious acts will not impress God in any way. It is all a waste of time and effort – ‘1 “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around.’
Now you might be saying to yourself right about now, ‘What is Ariel?’ If you thought this good, because this means that you are diligently seeking deeper things. There are two things that to me are quite meaningful about ‘Ariel’
The word ‘Ariel’ means ‘the mountain of the gods’. Here our Amazing All Wise Precious Holy Spirit is speaking through His prophet to us with a significant play on words. Look today at Jerusalem and what religions do you see? You might say ‘all kinds’ and be correct. But principally it is recognized as the central location of the Jewish and Christian religions. It is the 2nd major spot in the Muslim religion with Mecca being the number 1 spot.
Isaiah is saying that this spot is the dwelling place of gods, which is known as Ariel, and no longer the dwelling place of Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High on the mountain of The Only One Real God.
Thus, our Holy Father is about to disown Jerusalem as His city. It is no longer His Holy mountain but a mountain of phony gods.
Also, we see something also unique to the name ‘Ariel’ which we find in the book of Ezekiel. In chapters 40 through 48 we read about the Millennium Temple. In chapter 43 we read about the altar where the sacrificial fires will continually burn, ‘These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar: 14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits; the width of the ledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits; and the width of the ledge, one cubit. 15 The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth. 16 The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, square at its four corners; 17 the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it; its base, one cubit all around; and its steps face toward the east.
Another way to look at this verse is to see that our Holy Maker is going to use His former city as a altar hearth ready to offer as a sacrifice and the fires will be burning.
A third major point in just this verse is our Lord’s reference to David - the city where David dwelt!
In the book of 2 Samuel chapter 5 we read the story of how David came to conquer this city for the Lord, ‘And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.’
Here Isaiah is indicating that at one time Israel’s most famous king who had been true to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had claimed this mountain and city for God. However, now every thing is a show. Year by year the people go through the religious ceremonies but their hearts were not right with God - 1 “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around.”
Instead of joy please look at the horrible outcome that will come upon the people - 2 Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel. 3 I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, and I will raise siegeworks against you. 4 You shall be brought down, you shall speak out of the ground; Your speech shall be low, out of the dust; Your voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the ground; And your speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 “ Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly.’
Look at the stress and sorrow the people will have to endure as described in verse 2 - 2 Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel.
This horrible emotional and physical hurt will be initiated by the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian army as verse 3 points out - 3 I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, and I will raise siege works against you.’
Imagine being the people overrun by this enemy where you don’t know the language that they are ordering you around with. You will be in hiding and will have to whisper so you will not be found out - 4 You shall be brought down, you shall speak out of the ground; Your speech shall be low, out of the dust; Your voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the ground; And your speech shall whisper out of the dust.’
But look at the Compassion and Mercy of our God Who hates to see destruction to people He Loves even though they do not care or love Him. He will turn the tables on the enemy. They will come up strong but be overthrown by Him in an instant - 5 “ Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly.’ What a Great God we have folks.
Here is another basic truth that we need to memorize. If you haven’t learned this action of our God, either you are not His or you are really one great child of God. When our Lord pours out various disasters in our lives because of our sins He will bring them in different ways as verse 6 points out our Lord’s variety of judgments on the Israelites - 6 You will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire.’
No one, not even our enemies, want to face the magnified similar judgments in the Tribulation coming in the future. We read about this in the book of Revelation chapter 16, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.’
It always amazes me but it shouldn’t regarding how people react when being severally disciplined. Instead of crying out to the Lord and begging for His Mercy, just like it reads in Revelation, they think that they can take on God Himself. I know I am that stupid.
The enemies of God believed then and even today in our lives that they can wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. Take this promise to the bank – it is never gonna happen!
7 The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her fortress, and distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. 8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion.”
We read in verse 7 that whatever discipline is brought against His people, that includes us also folks, it will not last long. It will in a way just seem like a bad dream - 7 The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her fortress, and distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.’
I love what it says in the book of Zechariah chapter 12 regarding this same fact, “The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.’
The enemies of our God never learn from history. Our Great Holy El Shaddai – God Almighty – explains this point in a Paradox - 8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: So the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion.”
Their lives are never lived in satisfaction but hatred and misery. Like a person who eats but is not satisfied. You keep coming back looking for fulfillment. It is like an alcoholic your drinking is no fun anymore you just keep drinking because you are addicted to the substance. Such are people who have not surrendered their lives to our Lord.
Some people call me and ask me to speak to a love one of theirs who is drunk or high on drugs. My answer to them is that they should first get them sober and then I will do my best to help. You cannot reason with someone under the influence. Similarly, sharing our Lord’s Holy Word is useless when people are this way. It is like casting pearls before swine. They are all emotional but you’re wasting your time. We read this also here in Isaiah.
9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. 10 For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.”
When you are in rebellion against the Lord you also stagger about - 9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.’
Our Precious Holy Spirit keeps calling out to us to turn back to Him but we will not listen. It is like we are in this fog or deep sleep. It is like we are a sleep walker - 10 For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.’
Write down for yourselves this mighty truth also. If you are in this state of rebellion against your Master then you do not want to pick up and read the Bible and if you do pick it up you will not get anything out of it. This is so greatly pointed out in verses 11 and 12 - 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.”
Do we actually believe that if we give our Precious Master a token repentance that He Is overjoyed at this token act.
13 Therefore the Lord said: “ Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, 14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
Truth is not found in rebellious man’s mouth. Come on now - be real. God knows the truth of our hearts towards Him - 13 Therefore the Lord said: “ Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,’
I met this religious chaplain in the military who didn’t have a clue Who God Is. People like this do not know how to interpret scripture correctly because they do not have our Wonderful Holy Ghost in them and in their hearts and minds. This is why we are bombarded with all these confusing books, lectures, and programs. Verse 14 points our how these men insert their own traditions and religious ceremonies into the lives of people - 14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
In the end religious man’s opposition to our King and His Ways is all a joke. Some people will build great glass structures and write many books but in the end they will be nothing nor remembered. What will never perish is His Holy Word.
Here we have read about how God will react to those who are openly against Him. We will now see how he feels about those who try to hide what they do from Him.
15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, and their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” 16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “ He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “ He has no understanding”? 17 Is it not yet a very little while till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest? 18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, the scornful one is consumed, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off— 21 Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just by empty words.
Back in Genesis we read about the fall of our ancestors Adam and Eve. We try to do the same stupid thing – hide from God. Look at what happened in chapter 3, ‘And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Our Holy Father was not playing hide and seek with Adam and Eve. He knew everything that had happened. When He asked, ‘where are you?’ He was looking for them to take ownership of their sin. Yet as we read further they began the new game called ‘blame someone else’, “So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 2 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Here is another awesome truth to understand and that is, our reputation is what people think we are, and our character is what God knows we are.
Look again at this wonderful reality in verse 15, ‘15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, and their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
The book of Hebrews says this in chapter 4, Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.’
When our Lord uncovers that which was hidden in our hearts do we say, ‘oh, thank You Lord for revealing my ugliness.’ No we murmur, complain, and criticize the One Who made us - 16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “ He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “ He has no understanding”
And please with me again see how Great, Merciful, Gracious, and Loving our Holy Jehovah Gmolah – our God of Recompense Is. Again He points out in verse 17 that in His love in dealing with us it will not be long. He will again restore us to a peaceful existence and make us fruitful again - 17 Is it not yet a very little while till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?’
When we with all sincerity turn to Him and seek Him in His Word then our eyes will see and our ears will hears the truth - 18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.’
I love Proverbs 16 verse 7. When we get right with our God He says this, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.’
Look here at verses 20 and 21. We see that our enemies mocking; their motivations for evil toward us; their outright meanness at us; and their manipulation of what is right through meaningless arguments seem to vanish away - 20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, the scornful one is consumed, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off— 21 Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just by empty words.’
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “ Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale; 23 But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will hallow My name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel. 24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine.”
In looking through the bible especially in the book of Genesis I do not find anywhere where it says that Abraham was ‘redeemed’.
I believe what these verses are saying is that our Holy Adoni Yahweh Is the Savior and keeper of His chosen ones from evil by the issuing forth of His Power. This is what the Israelite redemption involves. The mention of Abraham takes the people back to their roots to remind them of the first promise on which their hope for the future is based. They are the chosen ones because of Abraham.
The bible has many references to the word ‘rejoice’. It means to ‘joy’ again, or get back to the basics when we first were ‘saved’
Let us end with a couple of these promises from the Word of God;
Psalm 13:5 “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
Psalm 40: 16 “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”
Habakkuk 3: 18 “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
