O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. ” Like the Book of Revelation, the writings of Isaiah are often difficult to understand. And while not all agree, many believe that Isaiah wrote dualistically. In other words, what he wrote had a general applicability to his day, but also foreshadowed some future day. And, thus, in the view of some biblical commenters, all that the 7th century BCE prophet penned had two fulfillments: an ancient one, and one with a more modern fulfillment.
As for our verse for today, on the surface, it seems to simply say that we should "wait on the Lord" for His intervention "in times of trouble." And certainly we should. However, in context, those who believe that this verse has a dualistic fulfilment believe that it has reference to the challenges that will come to the world shortly before the return of Christ. In other words, when Isaiah writes: "Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee," many understand this to me that we have "waited for Christ's return," and we beg that He be "gracious unto those of us who have held out faithful to Him"—even through "times of remarkable trouble" and opposition.
If the various prophecies about the second coming are correctly understood, "all hell" will break about before the return of the Savior. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that standing strong during that time of trial will require that we have a good relationship with our Savior, a strong faith in Him, and an active prayer life to strengthen us when things get bad.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
