I’ve mentioned before the importance of learning to pray, before reading the Scriptures, to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes and open the understanding to receive what He wants to give. This always makes a difference as I read and meditate. Here’s a meditation from the other day.
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Isaiah chapter 40 shows the God of heaven to be truly glorious. From verse 12 to the end of the chapter in verse 31, God is seen high and lifted up. So I rejoiced in that.
But as I read and prayed, my eyes came back to verses 10 and 11.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Behold, the Lord God (Adonai Jehovah) comes with power, and His arm rules for Him. [/perfectpullquote]
That sounds intimidating, and appropriately so, because we’re talking about the God of heaven and Lord over the whole earth, glorious and mighty.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Behold! His reward is with Him, and His recompense is before Him.[/perfectpullquote]
That’s interesting. So what is His reward and His recompense? What reward and recompense will be great enough for a God that holds the waters of the earth in the hollow of His hand and measures the dust of the earth in His scales, who counts the nations as a drop in a bucket and brings the princes of the earth to nothing (as the rest of the chapter describes)? What reward could this infinitely glorious God be referring to?
How arresting it is, then, to see this next verse, verse 11, seeming almost out of place, describing His reward and His recompense. Read it closely:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. [/perfectpullquote]
Do you see? Do you see there what his reward is?
His reward is with Him, and they are His reward.
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Wow! This is so beautiful and touching – thank you! <3 I love your blog!
I’m glad it was helpful, Brindusa!
Thank you for sharing this post. It echoes for me the words in Isaiah 53:11
, He shall see (the fruit) of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. 🙂 Just the other day i had this thought about us being His reward…I felt too timid to dare to believe it. Your writing is very timely for me! God bless you!
Thank you, BreatheAgain, for that good word in Isaiah 53. I love that. I’m reading through these chapters of Isaiah now and finding so much richness that I’m going slowly to see what the Lord is saying. I’ll remember that when I get to Isaiah 53!
This was beautiful Rebecca. Very comforting. So grateful to have become more acquainted with you and how the Lord is using you to strengthen many weary souls. <3
I’ve been glad to get to know you better too, Healing. I’m praying for you.
I am His reward? What a beautiful thing to think about.
Almost too good to be true, isn’t it? But that’s why it’s part of this thing called “the gospel.”
Thank you Rebecca Davis ❤
As a single mother, heavy with the burdens of caring for my children alone, and trying to recover from abuse, these words are precious.
How comforting to know that my Shepherd is gentle.
… And that He rejoices over me, with delight, even when I feel like a failure. Zephaniah 3:17
Yes, such beautiful words. He loves you and is glad to be with you.
Rebecca, I needed to read this today. Such encouragement! Thank you.
I’m so thankful to hear that!