Shout!

 Isaiah 40: 1-11v 6a “A voice said “shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?”

“Comfort, comfort my people, “said your God. Listen. It is someone shouting. Straighten the curves and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together. A voice said “shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?”  Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field., but the word of our God stands forever. Shout and do not be afraid. Your God is coming! He will rule with powerful arms, he will carry the lambs in his arms, he will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Our grandchildren are growing and as they run around our house, they get excited and start shouting! The Moms then say, “use your inside voices!” And if the shouting doesn’t stop then the running must stop. Then I get out a wooden spoon and a plastic lid for everyone and we march around the room and get louder and faster and make lots of noise. Then we have story time, and it is time for them to go home to bed.

When was the last time you shouted and made noise for God?  This passage starts off gently with words of comfort then listen! Someone is shouting! They are not told to use their inside voices but to reveal the glory of the Lord to all people! The Lord has spoken! Shout that people will fade and pass away but the word of our God stands forever. Shout it louder O Jerusalem. Your God is coming! After the shouting comes a story of quiet, feeding His flock, holding the lambs close to his heart, gently leading the mother sheep.

Listen this week for someone shouting or shout out for the Lord yourself!

Prayer: Almighty God who can comfort us and hold us close to his heart give us the courage this week to shout out to your people that your word will stand forever. Amen.