Read: Isaiah 35:1-10; Malachi 4:1-3; Romans 8:22-23
We can listen to classic music from any decade. Everything from heavy metal to country gospel is available to us. There are top ten lists from every category Except one. What if the animal kingdom could vote on its favorite song. What would they choose? Let's pretend we are representing the critters and choose from among these classics.
1. When the Red, Red Robin "Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
2. Here Comes Peter Cottontail
3. Who Let the Dogs Out Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof?
4. Hey, Hey, We're the "Monkeys"
Did you choose one of these favorites? Did you tap your toes or were you tempted to sing along? Did you notice any commonality among these songs? First what the songs share in common. They are all cheerful, and the critters are portrayed as being pretty much care free.
Okay, are you on the edge of your seat wondering which song is NO. 1 for the week? The answer has been kept in a sealed envelope and certified by a not so famous accounting firm. Drum roll please! The winner is, Hey, Hey, we're the "Monkeys." Why? In honor of the Rhesus Macaque monkeys who escaped from their enclosure when an employee of Alpha Genesis, a research company in South Carolina, forgot to secure the door. 43 out of 50 of the primates made a run for it. At the time of this writing, they are still enjoying their freedom. They are still playing and jumping. Enjoying the food left out for them but not getting caught in the live traps. It sounds like fun, doesn't it! Can't you just hear them singing that song while they play? In the meantime, the CEO from Alpha Genesis has assured the public that these primates pose no danger and advises those who live nearby to simply lock their doors to keep the curious creatures from entering their homes. In due time, with patience, the rhesus macaque monkeys will be brought back to their enclosure, and their taste of freedom will come to an end.
I love today's scriptures because each one is a reminder of the amazing freedom that we as members of God's family will one day experience, Isaiah 35:1-10; Malachi 4:1-3. Here we are reminded of the perfect unending freedom that the Lord has pictured for us in His Word. Let's enjoy a tiny taste of what God has told us. Beginning with the words He gave to Malachi. In Malachi 4:1-3, we are given another picture from the animal kingdom. A picture of freedom that Malachi's people would understand. Not from a monkey this time. But rather a well-fed calf that had been released from its stall. Frolicking and free. Oh, that is the kind of joy we will experience when the constraints and impediments of this world fall away. Sweeter than we could imagine or ask for, Ephesians 3:20.
The prophet pictures the healing that will come. How many places need healing in this world? How many wrongs haven't been made right? not yet? When the Lord brings complete healing, what seemed so unchangeable will be brought into wholeness. No, we don't know how Almighty God will bring all this about, but we know that the One Who made everything by His Word, Genesis 1, will have no difficulty making everything new, 2 Peter 3:13, and Malachi paints that picture of joy with his words. How do we obtain such an awesome future? Malachi describes it well. We fear the Lord. We hold Him, and only Him, in awe. We trust in what He has said not the musings of human beings. We take Him at His Word, John 4:50 and believe that Word as Abraham did, Genesis 15:6.
Sadly, God's wonderful promises of freedom, healing and joy are only for those who will receive them according to His terms. It has never been God's desire that anyone would be eternally lost; instead, He wants people to turn from sin and their own ways and reach out to Him, Ezekiel 33:11. Otherwise, there will be only sorrow, suffering and bondage for them. Rather than the love that He now so freely holds out, Luke 15:20.
Now let's look into Isaiah 35:1-10.
What freedom this chapter describes.
1. Freedom from infirmities of all kinds. Along with the joy of experiencing the wholeness that has not been a part of life. Wholeness of body and wholeness of mind. Freedom from the weariness of pain and its limitations.
2. Freedom from the destruction that has ravaged the earth. No more terrible droughts or storms.
In their place, there will be only beauty and unending lushness. One lovely vista after another.
3. Freedom from the fear of man and what he might do. No more wicked schemes or plots to harm. No need to look over our shoulders.
4. Freedom from the fear of beasts of any kind. Peacefulness even among animals that once were adversaries and harmed not only men but also each other.
5. Freedom from sin's allure. Instead, we will be not only longing to but also able to serve the Lord with unfading joy.
Yes, all of this and more. Isaiah 35:10 sums up the joy we will experience:
And those the LORD has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
No wonder Romans 8:22-23 reminds us that we along with all creation, groan as we anticipate what is to come. We all long for the joy and freedom that God has both promised and provided for us. Could we do anything better than encourage one another with these truths? Could there be a more important task than telling others about the great God we serve and the way they too can know His love?
Lord, show us how to be faithful to You each day.
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