A Nation Restored

Regrettably, the nation ignores Jehovah's appeal and plunges even deeper into wickedness.  Eventually, they leave Jehovah no choice but to send them into exile, just as he warned.  (Deuteronomy 28:15, 36, 37, 64, 65) Still, Jehovah's next words through Isaiah continue to offer hope. God predicts that a disciplined, contrite remnant will joyfully return to the land of Judah, even though it lies desolate.

Pointing forward to the restoration of his people in 537 B.C.E., Jehovah through Isaiah says:  "Jehovah will be bound to lead you constantly and to satisfy your soul even in a scorched land, and he will invigorate your very bones; and you must become like a well-watered garden and like the sources of water ["spring," The New English Bible], the waters of which  do not lie ["fail," NE]."  (Isaiah 58:11)  Jehovah will restore Israel's scorched homeland  to luxuriant productivity.  What is more wonderful, he will bless his repentant people, invigorating their "very bones" from a spiritually lifeless state to one of full vitality.  (Ezekiel 37:1-14)  The people themselves will become like "a well-watered garden" filled with spiritual fruitage.

Restoration will include the rebuilding of cities destroyed by the Babylonian invaders in 607 B.C.E.   "At your instance men will certainly build up the places devastated a long time; you will raise up  even the foundations of continuous generations. And you will actually be called the repairer of the gap, the restorer of roadways by which to dwell."  (Isaiah 58:12)  The parallel expressions "the places devastated a long time" and "the foundations of continuous generations" (or, the foundations that have been lying in ruins for generations) show that the repatriated remnant will rebuild the  ruin cities  of Judah, especially Jerusalem.  (Nehemiah 2:5; 12:27; Isaiah 44:28)  They will repair "the gap"-a collective term referring to breaches in the walls of Jerusalem and no doubt of other cities as well. -Jeremiah 31:38-40; Amos 9:14)

Next time:  Blessings That Come From Faithful Sabbath Observance

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001