Corona Devo 772

All of us have experienced exile at one time or another. We've been separated, removed, even banished from "normal life" for a time. The causes of our exiles vary, but not the experiences while we are there. The loneliness is the same. The disconnect is similar. The detachment is comparable.  And the empty is equivalent.

Sometimes we’re exiled for a day, and sometimes for full "seasons".

You remember the sorrow, pain, trauma and grief during the exile of a death of a loved one.

You recall the strife, humility, frailty, and helplessness while in the exile of an injury/health concern/sickness. 

The detachment during the exile of depression may not seem so long ago. 

Everyday (moment?) was (mental/physical/spiritual) work to get through.  We were spent, taxed, and empty.  The exile was all-consuming, exhausting, and almost hope-less. 

Almost.

Until God brought us back.

Can you recall and relive coming out of exile?  If we could put it to words, it might go something like this:

(1) When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!

(2) We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. and the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

It WAS like a dream...because we were waking up and out of the nightmare of exile.  Slowly but surely the lights came back on in our darkness.  And as we “regained consciousness” and the color trickled back into our black and white world, we experienced one of the few positives of exile: the heightened appreciation for not being in exile, and for all of the simple joys around us, which stoked the sleeping joy within us. 

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!  (2) We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy… (Psalm 126:1-2).

It was like a dream to come back into God’s presence, His peace, His “city” (Jerusalem). 

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.  Partially because we could experience laughter and joy again, and partly because the Lord brought us back.

At the invitation of God’s word today, enter into the laughter and joy that the Lord brings us back to. 

Our periods-of-exile empty us out. There is a stoppage of time and even reality when we are “in exile”, but (in time), when the Lord brings us back...it's like a dream!

Some of us need to hear this promise and truth today.  We are in exile at the moment, and it’s lonely and harsh.  Take heart!  God’s word speaks life into our heart and direction into our steps---He will bring you back…and indeed He IS!

And while these verses originally explained the journey of the Israelites, and today journal our entrance and exits of exile, they also coin the concept of our current earthly exile and our one-day-soon return, when the Lord will bring back his exiles to (the new) Jerusalem!

This world is not our home, and the Bible makes no secret about that.  The sin, sorrow, death and decay that we experience here is part of our exile from the Lord, but one-day-soon we will experience the laughter and joy of returning to full connection with God.   The Lord will bring back his exiles (us!) to (the new) Jerusalem, and it will be like a dream!  (2) We (will be) filled with laughter, and (will sing) for joy… (Psalm 126:1-2). 

  • All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.  ~Revelation 3:12
  •  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  ~Revelation 21:2

 

"The new Jerusalem" -- that's what Heaven is referred to in the book of Revelation.  Coincidence?  Not at all.  Nothing in God's word ever is.  

We all experience "exile" from time to time, when we are lost, empty, broken or bled dry from people and life.  But God always brings us back.  Are you ready for "the new Jerusalem"?

It will be like a dream!

(2) We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. and the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

(3) Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

(4) Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.

(5) Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.

(6) They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

~Psalm 126:1-6


At the invitation of God’s word today, enter into the laughter and joy that the Lord brings us back to. 

 

Blessings,

Sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com


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