Nougat 25

Good morning

I trust you are well.Today’s Holy Nougat offers a word of encouragement in troubled times.

“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah‬ ‭49:16‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

I have jokingly told folks that God’s got several tattoos; but now I think it’s not quite true. With the current global population statistics, I’d say God probably has matching stigmata (piercings in each hand).

So what is so significant about God’s action? Why should we care about God’s tattoos or piercings?

This ‘letter’ was God’s response to Zion (another name for Jerusalem, the city capital of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah), assuring them that they were not forsaken and forgotten. Despite being under another’s authority, God had a plan. And it was a plan for Zion’s redemption. It was a word of encouragement. And, having traced the roots of the family turned nation, we know that God allowed some events which accommodated the plans for the future nation. They occupy a very special place in God’s heart.

Thus, God’s care even extended to the city walls, for if the walls of the city was secure so were the inhabitants. God’s protection of the wall reminded them that no weak spot would be left exposed for enemy infiltration, and with the walls restored (see the vision laid on Nehemiah’s heart for the restoration), then Jerusalem would be returned to its original status – that is, city of peace, city of God.

Even more heartwarming than understanding this is the understanding that with Christ‘a death and resurrection, our spiritual city capital is also Jerusalem, that is Zion! Thus, the promise of God for the inhabitants of physical Zion also hold true for each of us citizens of spiritual Zion.

We are tattooed in the palm of God’s hands. Our ‘walls’ are also being defended by Almighty God. So when we cry out to God, we know that God is also perfecting the plans to save us from our time in exile, and being under human law. For many of us, we are still in process (for its us who need to be perfected in Christ, and not God being slow) and it is a challenge to await God’s timing. But praise and petitions can influence our process, as we focus on God and not merely on our circumstances. Can we do that in this time when it seems that the crisis will never end? Can we trust that God’s intentions for us are pure and that God is still in control? (I am sure the children of Israel felt the same way under exile, that the crisis would not end and that God had forsaken them.)

We pray, believing that God honors promises, that we are beloved of God and, contrary to what Seems to prevail, we are under God’s mercy. We share the good news with others so that they too can find restored hope in God.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .