Every weekday morning, I awake before dawn. I quietly and sleepily make my way down the stairs where I enjoy my first cup of coffee in my overstuffed chair. I always love listening to the early morning sounds of birds lifting their chorus. I close my eyes and sip my coffee to the sweet sound of nature praising God in the dawning light.
This morning, however, was a bit different. I still quietly and sleepily made my way down the stairs to enjoy my coffee. However, this morning as I settled into my overstuffed chair, I heard thunder in the distance. Gazing out my window, I noticed a coming storm. Lightning and thunder was peeling in the dark sky, steadily creeping towards my house. It was in this instance that I noticed my familiar morning greeting: the birds were still singing in their trees. I sat in awe, listening to the birds noisily lift their voices as the steady rhythm of thunder and the flashing dance of the lightning drew closer and closer to their habitation. It was such a stark contrast! How could these birds keep singing even as the sky opened up to a torrential downpour of rain?
As I sat there pondering this contrast, another familiar sound lighted upon my ears: the voice of the Holy Spirit. As I watched the storm roll in, He drew me to His word in Isaiah 24. Isaiah 24 tells us of a great storm that is coming to the earth. It says that the Lord will judge the earth in his righteousness because the “earth is defiled under its inhabitants” who have “transgressed the laws…and broken the everlasting covenant (vs 5).” In verse 11-13, it says, “All joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone…when it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, it shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done.” These verses were like the thunder echoing outside my window: a storm is coming to the earth. Even as the wind was blowing the trees in my backyard, God’s word was saying that he will shake the entire earth like a tree blown in a tumultuous gale.
I thought of the birds in the trees outside my window. The imagery of the trees being shaken by impending judgment was easy to imagine as the lightning flashed across the sky. And yet, in the middle of the growing storm, the birds kept singing! The comparison to what Isaiah penned was unmissable. For Isaiah goes onto say in the very next verses, “They shall lift up their voice; they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord…therefore glorify God in the dawning light…From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: ‘Glory to the Righteous!’ (13-16a).” Isaiah had been crying out, “A storm is coming! The entire earth will be blown by God’s righteous judgment!” and then all at once, he calls to the people of God, “But don’t stop singing! Don’t stop lifting up your song! A new day is coming so sing, Zion, sing!”
Oh, that the people of God would take up Isaiah’s call! Even more so, that we would revel in Jesus’ words in Luke 21:25-28: “There will be…on the earth distress of the nations…and men’s hearts failing them because of fear…BUT when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near!” No matter the level of trouble that comes in these last days, God has promised that this evil history will one day cease. He has promised redemption for all of those who will but look up and keep lifting their song in the dawning light of his return. God often uses nature to teach those who will listen. There is a spiritual metaphor in the natural realm that often proceeds the spiritual fulfillment of what God is doing (1 Cor. 15:46). In this case, God was using the birds singing outside of my window in the midst of a thunderous storm as a powerful lesson to teach me this morning. We are living in a world where lawlessness is increasing (Matt. 24:12) and where it is promised to keep increasing (2 Thes. 2:3-12); but even as it increases, the Son’s return is hastening towards us, too! Even as the storm approaches, I will not stop lifting my song! I will stand in the midst of tribulation and welcome Christ’s return with a shout of praise! In the midst of reeling, roaring nations, my voice will sing to the One whose voice will roar mightier! Until that day comes, I will rise each weekday and sleepily make my way to my overstuffed chair; I will join in the chorus outside my window, knowing that my song is an everlasting one, that no momentary storm will ever silence.
This morning, however, was a bit different. I still quietly and sleepily made my way down the stairs to enjoy my coffee. However, this morning as I settled into my overstuffed chair, I heard thunder in the distance. Gazing out my window, I noticed a coming storm. Lightning and thunder was peeling in the dark sky, steadily creeping towards my house. It was in this instance that I noticed my familiar morning greeting: the birds were still singing in their trees. I sat in awe, listening to the birds noisily lift their voices as the steady rhythm of thunder and the flashing dance of the lightning drew closer and closer to their habitation. It was such a stark contrast! How could these birds keep singing even as the sky opened up to a torrential downpour of rain?
As I sat there pondering this contrast, another familiar sound lighted upon my ears: the voice of the Holy Spirit. As I watched the storm roll in, He drew me to His word in Isaiah 24. Isaiah 24 tells us of a great storm that is coming to the earth. It says that the Lord will judge the earth in his righteousness because the “earth is defiled under its inhabitants” who have “transgressed the laws…and broken the everlasting covenant (vs 5).” In verse 11-13, it says, “All joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone…when it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, it shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done.” These verses were like the thunder echoing outside my window: a storm is coming to the earth. Even as the wind was blowing the trees in my backyard, God’s word was saying that he will shake the entire earth like a tree blown in a tumultuous gale.
I thought of the birds in the trees outside my window. The imagery of the trees being shaken by impending judgment was easy to imagine as the lightning flashed across the sky. And yet, in the middle of the growing storm, the birds kept singing! The comparison to what Isaiah penned was unmissable. For Isaiah goes onto say in the very next verses, “They shall lift up their voice; they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord…therefore glorify God in the dawning light…From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: ‘Glory to the Righteous!’ (13-16a).” Isaiah had been crying out, “A storm is coming! The entire earth will be blown by God’s righteous judgment!” and then all at once, he calls to the people of God, “But don’t stop singing! Don’t stop lifting up your song! A new day is coming so sing, Zion, sing!”
Oh, that the people of God would take up Isaiah’s call! Even more so, that we would revel in Jesus’ words in Luke 21:25-28: “There will be…on the earth distress of the nations…and men’s hearts failing them because of fear…BUT when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near!” No matter the level of trouble that comes in these last days, God has promised that this evil history will one day cease. He has promised redemption for all of those who will but look up and keep lifting their song in the dawning light of his return. God often uses nature to teach those who will listen. There is a spiritual metaphor in the natural realm that often proceeds the spiritual fulfillment of what God is doing (1 Cor. 15:46). In this case, God was using the birds singing outside of my window in the midst of a thunderous storm as a powerful lesson to teach me this morning. We are living in a world where lawlessness is increasing (Matt. 24:12) and where it is promised to keep increasing (2 Thes. 2:3-12); but even as it increases, the Son’s return is hastening towards us, too! Even as the storm approaches, I will not stop lifting my song! I will stand in the midst of tribulation and welcome Christ’s return with a shout of praise! In the midst of reeling, roaring nations, my voice will sing to the One whose voice will roar mightier! Until that day comes, I will rise each weekday and sleepily make my way to my overstuffed chair; I will join in the chorus outside my window, knowing that my song is an everlasting one, that no momentary storm will ever silence.
Amen!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and uplifting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and uplifting.
ReplyDelete