Are you experiencing a new, even desperate, yearning for intimacy with God? Maybe it’s just me, but this pandemic has given me a deeper longing. Written for those experiencing discouragement, attack, and loneliness in exile, Isaiah 35 describes my longing well…maybe it will encourage you too. Five S’s leap from that chapter as instructions for intimacy with God during exile.
Strengthen
Do you feel weak, worn out, exhausted, stumbling, feeble (v. 3)? It must be common to feel weak in exile. The Lord’s answer? “Strengthen.” More than ever, we need to stay grounded, grasp His truth, confirm it, take courage from it.
It’s time to feast on His Word as He intimately and personally strengthens us. In humility, we come to His Word, asking Him to show us where we need to repent and receive His lavish feast of cleansing and strengthening grace.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
here drink with thee the royal wine of heav’n;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv’n.
Here O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face, Bonar, H., 1855
Say
It must be common to feel anxiety and fear in exile. We feel like we need to scurry around and hastily try to fix things, trying to anticipate and solve every possible looming problem. We listen to all the voices clamoring for our attention and try to sift through their shouts. No! Fear not!
What a gift to draw new strength and courage from what He’s giving us through His Word and then to encourage, to “courage into” another. What a gift to say, to speak His Word in call and response with others, joyfully sharing what He gifts to us through His Word, mutually helping our anxiety.
This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heav’nly table spread for me;
Here let me feast, and, feasting, still prolong
the brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.
Here O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face, Bonar, H., 1855
Saved
But what do we say? Oh, what promises we have in Jesus Christ, our Savior! Isaiah looks forward to redemption and salvation and to all things finally restored in the new heaven and earth. What a picture of joy! What is the highway, the “Way of Holiness” (v. 8)?
Beloved in Christ, we are redeemed (v. 9) and ransomed (v. 10)! We are saved! Let’s talk about it! Let’s daily remind ourselves and one another of our salvation and gospel hope in Christ!
Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness;
mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace,
thy blood, thy righteousness, O Lord my God.
Here O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face, Bonar, H., 1855
See
Yes, we are in exile. Look around nature though! We see His created beauty everywhere, even in the groaning creation that also longs for His promised restoration (Romans 8:19-22).
Even more wondrous, as we wait for restoration and feasting with Jesus in our true home, He gives us revealed glimpses of His glory, splendor, majesty, and excellence. Let’s intentionally see His glory in His Word and marvel with thanksgiving for His gifts to us. Open our eyes, Lord!
Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
here would I touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand th’eternal grace,
and all my weariness upon thee lean.
Here O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face, Bonar, H., 1855
Sing Christ’s Hope
The Lord is stirring my heart about singing as a hope-filled way to implement Isaiah’s instruction, as we seek intimacy with God in exile. Singing is all over this chapter of Isaiah!
One day, we will come to Zion with singing as He gives us everlasting joy…gladness (v. 10) and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (v. 10). One day, the dry desert will rejoice with joy and singing (v. 2b) and the tongue of the mute sing for joy (v. 6). Could the substance of our praise be to sing Christ’s hope today?
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land (Ps. 137:4 ESV)? What if we accept this time of exile as His good gift to us, drawing us near in our longing? What if exile becomes a new season of repentance, cleansing, and His redeeming grace? What joy waits for us there! Maybe it’s a time to experience intimacy with Him in fresh ways!
Intimacy with God during exile
Beloved in Christ, let’s sing Scriptural songs to:
- Strengthen weariness;
- Say His Word to battle anxiety;
- Remind ourselves and other believers that we are saved in Jesus Christ;
- See His glory, splendor, and majesty!
What songs does He bring to your heart that amplify Scripture and exalt Jesus Christ? What Scriptures are His living and active Word for you today? Let’s sing and share with one another and amplify the Lord’s voice above all of the noise in these days of exile!
This week’s powerful playlist is my gift to you, dear reader. It’s filled with songs of longing, of Isaiah 35 words that help you memorize Scripture, of songs about Jesus and what He’s done for you. It’s a playlist that I pray helps you enter into a time of personal worship that becomes fresh joy and intimacy with God as you sing to Him. Sign up here so you don’t miss a thing and may He richly bless you as He glorifies Himself through it!
