Energize the limp hands,
strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls,
“Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here,
on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”-Isaiah 35:3-4, MSG
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”-Isaiah 35:4b, NIV
Anger was always forbidden by my former in-laws. It was sin or always indicated sin in the heart for them as I remember it.
I will never forget my final encounter with my former father-in-law who could not understand why I was so angry with him. It did not seem to occur to him that actively inserting himself in sinfully destroying his daughter’s marriage–via supporting her divorce of me–might cause his son-in-law to have anger towards such an ungodly intrusion.
My anger was very healthy in that moment even though I could not grasp why I was so enraged at the time (and no, I did not sin in my anger).
My point in recounting all that is to point back to this Scripture from Isaiah.
Here we see how God’s anger on behalf of the wronged is an actual comfort. It demonstrates His love and sense of justice by being concerned enough to bring “vengeance” upon those who have wronged His people.
Prophet Isaiah is speaking to a people likely weary over being beat up unjustly–can you relate?! He is encouraging them that this will not always be the case. God will set things right. Wrongdoers will be punished…with vengeance!
That is comforting to me.
God will not allow injustice to stand forever even if I have to live through it in the present or even for a while like those did living in Isaiah’s day. It will be addressed with righteousness.
So, I echo Prophet Isaiah’s words to you, faithful spouse, as an encouragement:
Do not lose heart! God has not forgotten you nor the injustices you have suffered. He will one day set things right.
