“But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel. The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live in the Lord’s land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.”
Isaiah 14:1-2 NLT
Chapter 14 of Isaiah starts with a ”But”. Aren’t we glad for the “buts” in the Bible. The opening words, “But the Lord…”, mark a dramatic change. The previous chapter spoke about judgment, destruction, and the fall of nations using graphic language that makes the verses difficult to read. Human circumstances appeared bleak with God’s people facing exile and uncertainty. Isaiah 10 was a prophecy detailing how God would use the Assyrians to punish His people because of their sin and idolatry. Then we read Isaiah 11, which looks forward to a time when the Messiah will appear as a shoot from the stump of David’s family. Isaiah 12 is a song of salvation and praise to God, in which His people see the transition from God’s anger to His salvation. The nation that was instrumental in the destruction of Judah and Israel, the forces of Babylon, was itself portrayed in Isaiah 13, facing destruction on a terrible scale. And after all this, we read, “But the Lord”. Those three words change everything. God’s judgment is not the end of the story. His mercy is greater than His people’s failure, and His promises are stronger than their circumstances. Israel may have wandered from God, but God has not abandoned Israel.
There are times in our lives when we may feel distant from God. Perhaps we have failed Him. Perhaps difficult circumstances have left us discouraged. Perhaps we wonder whether God has forgotten us. Our verses today from Isaiah 14 remind us that God is a God of restoration. Look at the love and compassion that shine through these verses. He “will have mercy”. “He will choose Israel”. “He will bring them back”. Notice that the emphasis is entirely upon what God will do. Restoration begins not with human effort but with divine grace. This is wonderfully encouraging for us pilgrims. Our relationship with God rests upon His faithfulness. When we stumble, He calls us back. When we wander, He seeks to restore us. When we feel displaced and unsettled, He remains our true home. When we fall, He picks us up, dusts us off, and sets us back on our journey to glory.
Verse 2 goes further. We read, “The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return“. Think about it. Other nations will help God’s people return to their land. Perhaps that happened in 1948, when the state of Israel was established, although most would not make such a connection. Another possibility was in 535 BC, when Cyrus allowed the Jews to re-establish Jerusalem, but even then, the Jews were still under Persian jurisdiction. Most Bible scholars maintain that the fulfilment of Isaiah 14:2 is eschatological and has yet to happen. But “in that day”, those who had once been powerless and oppressed would experience a complete reversal of circumstances. The exile would not last forever. Babylon would not have the final word. The suffering of God’s people would not be the conclusion of their story.
God is able to change situations that appear impossible. Because of Jesus, we live with the assurance that God is bringing His people home. Sin does not have the final word. Failure does not have the final word. Suffering does not have the final word. Even death does not have the final word. God does, and we need to take note that God has not forgotten us. We pilgrims may be passing through a difficult chapter, but God is still writing our story. His mercy is still available. His promises still stand. His purposes are still unfolding.
The God who said,“He will bring them back”, is still the God who restores, renews, and brings His people home. So what are we pilgrims facing into today? Ill-health? Family problems? Relational breakdown? Such frequent, even daily, difficulties and challenges seem to be an unfortunate part of life. But – there is that word again – “But the Lord will have mercy”. Through Jesus we do not have to wait until “The Day of the Lord”. His love and grace are available for us right now. His “Buts” are lined up in Heaven, ready and waiting to bring relief to His children.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your mercy is greater than our failures and Your faithfulness is stronger than our circumstances. When we feel discouraged, forgotten, or far from You, please remind us that You are the God who restores and brings Your people home. Help us to trust You in the difficult chapters of life, knowing that You are still working out Your purposes. Thank You that, through Jesus, our futures are secure and our stories rest in Your faithful hands. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 