With Michael, God’s Good and Perfect Gift from Above–DAYENU
Isaiah 62:4a: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken . . . but thou shalt be called Hephzibah.”
I do not usually take one small phrase out of context from our Scriptures, and am especially careful when it clearly is speaking of Israel and the Jewish people. (Bet you can guess I’m about to say “However”)—however, the other day I read the above passage from Isaiah and it spoke to me in an upfront and personal way. I don’t know about you, but the idea of NOT BELONGING evokes some very painful memories for me (and sometimes fears for the future). Back in public school the message “You don’t belong” was engraved into my heart. And even today memories of living alone in New York City can still bring tears to my eyes—such as a time period in which I paid for a room in a women’s boarding house and I can still see me sitting on a bed playing solitaire all evening.
I know this won’t relate to everyone reading this, but if NOT BELONGING resonates within you, I pray you are one of His Redeemed—for truly we who are redeemed have something so precious to celebrate. WE DO BELONG to our Father and the only purpose such painful past memories can serve is to provide a contrast to who we are today. The Hebrew word Hephzibah represents the Lord’s favor toward her.
HALLELUJAH TO YOU, GOD OF THE REDEEMED:
We belong to You, Father
Love has come and we’re orphans no longer
Brought into Your light and freedom
By the blood and mercy of Jesus