Heritage Part 2: Transition from Desolation

We've all gone through a time where we feel desolate. We hit that low point where nothing seems to be working.  Car keeps breaking down, promotions or pay raises don't come, job offers fall through, on and on. Even if we plant a vegetable garden, it doesn't seem to produce.  Been there?  There now?

There is good news though.  In the last post, we looked at the end of Isaiah 54 and the "heritage of the servants of the Lord".  Of course, heritage can mean alot of things to different people but what we really need to understand is what it means to us as servants.  Let's take a look at what our heritage means in relation to our desolate times.

We need to go back to Verse 1 of Isaiah 54 to begin to understand what this "heritage" is.  Isaiah 54:1 tells us in part,

"For more are the children of the desolate, 

Than the children of the married woman," says the Lord.

This word 'desolate' is used ninety times in the Old Testament and includes meanings such as 'to stun', 'to grow numb', and 'to stupefy'.  When used in Job 21:5, it is something so horrible that it can leave you speechless.  Does that sound like the place you are at or where you have been?

The idea of 'married' and its compound forms such as 'married woman' occurs more than 100 times in the Old Testament, more than the idea of 'desolate'.  Perhaps we need to gain an understanding of this idea of 'married' in relation to 'desolate' as we go through the low points of transition but remain focused on our 'heritage' as servants of the Lord.

Marriage is tied to a covenantal concept of love and loyalty.  One place that the covenantal nature of marriage is expressed in relation to heritage is in Isaiah 62:4,

It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken,"

Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate."

But you will be called "My delight is in her,"

And your land, "Married,"

For the Lord delights in you,

And to Him your land will be married.

We generally think of land as the dry surface of the earth.  However, here we are talking about 'your land' which takes us to a possessive or legal definition of 'land.' 'Your land' would include not just the ground but any plants, animals, buildings, structures and minerals contained in or on the land.  Additional legal case law even includes airspace above the land.  A business-based definition of 'land' would include all physical elements that result or contribute to your wealth.

This covenantal marriage of the Lord to 'your land' is similar to the relationship between Christ and His people (you) in Ephesians 5:25-33.  Now is that a 'heritage.'

Next time you are in a low point of transition or you feel your entire life is desolation, remember that you and 'your land' have a covenant relationship with Christ the Lord.  Neither you nor your land are desolate but are sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water with the Word.  You have a promise and covenant for you and 'your land'.

God told Abram in Genesis 12:1 to 'Go... to the land which I will show you'.  In your time of transition, ask God to show you 'your land'.

Do you know anyone who is in a desolate place?  Take a moment right now to share this encouragement with them.