Jeremiah 16

As I think of the conditions of our day, the prophecy of Jeremiah seems so applicable -

"And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?" (Old Testament | Jeremiah 16:10)

The priests of king Noah said the same thing. The answer is -

"Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me..." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 16:11 - 12)

Do not the people of our day walk after the imaginations of their hearts? But I must also acknowledge that not all do. In modern day we learn of the saints -

"...ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:7)

As prophecied by Jeremiah that Judah and Israel would be dispersed among the nations, Jeremiah also promises as revealed in modern day -

"I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 16:16)

They will fish or hunt out the elect that will hear His voice.

Jeremiah 1

When Enoch was called of the Lord, he responded -

"...Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?" (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 6:31)

Isaiah willfully excepted his call then responded -

"...Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 6:5)

And with his call, Jeremiah himself responded -

"...Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 1:6)

To which the Lord answered much as he had with Enoch and Isaiah -

"...Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee..." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 1:7 - 8)

What is interesting is what Jeremiah said of the people of his day in their relationship with the Lord -

"...they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters..." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 2:13)

It is interesting that years later, the Savior said to the Samarian woman at the well -

"...If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (New Testament | John 4:10)

It is clear that the Lord God Jehovah would be the Savior, the fountain of living waters.

Isaiah 64

Isaiah was privileged to see many things. Thus he was more than qualified to write -

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." (Old Testament | Isaiah 64:4)

As if referring to Isaiah, Paul taught the Corinthians much the same thing -

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit..." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 2:9 - 10)

President Thomas S. Monson recently said -

"We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the ‘thick of thin things.’ In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes." Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 85

Therefore -

"...Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.
35 Be sober. Keep all my commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 43:34 - 35)

Isaiah 61

As I began reading the 61st chapter of Isaiah, I noticed in the LDS chapter summary that it is noted that "Isaiah speaks Messianically", which is true. But again, we note that many times the words of Isaiah have duel meaning. In an earlier writing, Isaiah taught -

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:7)

We learn years later, through Abinadi, that this had several meanings -

"...these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people..." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 15:14 - 18)

Abinadi spoke not only of the Savior but also His servants. As I read the following this morning, my thoughts were that Isaiah was talking also of His servants or His priesthood leaders -

"THE Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Old Testament | Isaiah 61:1 - 3)

What a great responsibility we have as His servants to accomplish that which Isaiah taught.

Isaiah 55

After the Lord had explained -

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Old Testament | Isaiah 55:8 - 9)

He makes an interesting comment concerning his words -

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Old Testament | Isaiah 55:10 - 11)

As Alma taught the great parable of planting a seed, he said of the word that goeth forth from the mouth of God -

"...if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life." (Book of Mormon | Alma 32:41)

Moroni taught much the same thing that the saints -

"...nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith." (Book of Mormon | Moroni 6:4)

Nephi taught as Isaiah -

"...feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:3)

Isaiah 54

In the last days, knowing that many of the children of Israel would remain faithful, Isaiah prophecied -

"...with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:8 - 10)

Just as Daniel would later prophecy that a stone cut out of the mountain without hands would roll forth and fill the earth. Then Isaiah explains why and in doing so, I believe he is referring to the stakes of Zion -

"...I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:11 - 13)

I believe that it is the stakes of Zion that Isaiah prophecied of where the the Lord makes beautiful its foundations and borders, where parents and members teach the saints the glad tidings of the gospel. I personally have witnessed the "peace of thy children". The Lord continues his promise to the faithful -

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:14 - 15)

Even such that -

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:17)

"...great shall be the peace of thy children." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:13)

Isaiah 54

Isaiah saw the last days where -

"...more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:1)

My feelings are the their are many of Israel in our day spread throughout the world that are the children of the desolate or in a sense "showing the effects of abandonment and neglect" (M-W Dictionary) or spiritual abandonment and neglect. It is these with the gentiles that could also be ocnsidered children of the desolate that -

"...shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:3)

I believe the desolate cities Isaiah saw are spiritually desolated cites and it is these cities that will then be spiritually inhabited with converts or the faithful. To these inhabitants, the Lord commanded -

"Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:2)

Hoyt W. Brewster explained of the term "stakes" -

"The clarion call to "enlarge" and "strengthen" the stakes of Zion was given anciently to Isaiah (Isa. 54:2), repeated to the Nephites (3 Ne. 22:2), and reiterated in our day (D&C 109:59; 133:9). A stake is an ecclesiastical unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and covers a specific geographical area. According to the Lord, stakes are "curtains or the strength of Zion" (D&C 101:21). They are places where the Saints of God may be instructed more perfectly in the doctrines of salvation.

A stake is usually composed of a minimum of several thousand people, who are divided into smaller units known as wards. The first use of the term in modern times was when Kirtland, Ohio, was consecrated on April 26, 1832 as a place for a stake of Zion (D&C 82:13).

Each stake is presided over by a president and two counselors, who are called to their positions by revelation under the direction of a General Authority of the Church. Elder Harold B. Lee noted that a stake is "the most perfect administrative organization that the Lord has yet given us" (CN, Aug. 26, 1961, C-10). (Doctrine and Covenants Encyclopedia)

Isaiah 53

When the Savior said -

"...for great are the words of Isaiah." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 23:1)

I don't believe there are greater words as Isaiah prophecies of the coming atonement of the Savior in the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah even began this writing with the question -

"WHO hath believed our report?" (Old Testament | Isaiah 53:1)

And I think he could have also asked "who will believe this report or testimony?"

And then who will receive the blessings of the atonement as he asks -

"...to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Old Testament | Isaiah 53:1)

As Isaiah describes the atonement, the suffering of the Savior, and the marvelous blessings, he writes -

"...by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 53:11)

Paul would later teach that not all are justified by the law of Moses saying -

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight...
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." (New Testament | Romans 3:20 - 24)

The very summary of the law of justification was made by the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:3)

Or as Nephi summarized -

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:23)

In this manner will He "justify many"

Isaiah 52

In the last day, Isaiah provided some specific instructions to the saints, especially their priesthood leaders. First he taught -

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:7)

The charge to the saints is to bring the good tidings, to publish peace and salvation, to testify that God lives and reigns over this earth. To the leaders Isaiah instructs -

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:8)

Watchmen upon the tower warning the saints of impending danger. And to -

"...see eye to eye..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:8)

Or as instructed in modern time, to -

"...assemble yourselves together to agree upon my word..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 41:2)

Leaders and saints are counseled -

"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:11)

That is depart from wickeness or Babylon as the Lord confirmed in modern day -

"...go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:42)

And in doing so -

"...ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward." (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:12)

I sense the Lord is teaching that this is not a fanatic instant change as if suggesting that when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are instantly saved. I sense he is suggesting that this "change of heart" is an ongoing process of becoming in the same manner as He did, for -

"...I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:12)

Isaiah 52

In multiplicity, Isaiah said -

"Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 51:9)

"Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 51:17)

"AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 52:1 - 2)

The only reason, Isaiah would say "awake, awake..." would be that many were in a deep sleep. As Isaiah described the coming forth of the Book and Mormon and the conditions of men in that day, he wrote -

"For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:10)

In his book, "Isaiah Plain and Simple", Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr. writes

"Awake, awake again." This is a command for the Lord's people to cease their spiritual slumbering, to shake off their apathy. In describing the spiritual awakening that had come to some converts to Christ, Alma said they were "awakened out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God." (Alma 5:7.) Jacob had earlier admonished some who were spiritually asleep to "arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death." (Jacob 3:11.)

The prophetic plea is to "awake before it is too late!" We remember the fate of the young man named Eutychus, who fell asleep during the apostle Paul's sermon: he fell to his death. (Acts 20:9.) Surely we should be more concerned about the risks of falling to our spiritual death.

The Book of Mormon text adds the word "again" to the imperative to awake. "This was probably because Zion, or America, was 'awakening' at the time of the Savior's visit and 'putting on her strength,' but the Savior knew that within 400 years the Nephites would lose that strength and fall again into a spiritual sleep. The use of the word 'again' indicates a dual interpretation of the Isaiah text in this instance, and supports the idea that there are other dual interpretations through Isaiah." (GAWI, 197.)

Isaiah 51

Isaiah wrote a simple line -

"Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 51:7)

Isn't that what we are all striving for is that our "heart is my law"

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught -

"The Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings. Through the Holy Ghost the truth is woven into the very fibre and sinews of the body so that it cannot be forgotten." (DS 1:47-48.)

Isaiah 50

In the four gospels and in modern revelation we have what we have in the record and life of the Savior. One would have to assume that not everything the Savior said, or taught, or did is recorded during his ministry. We rely heavily upon the weaknesses of men to have what we have. I only mention this because of a prophecy of Isaiah which I believe was in respect to events of the the Savior preceeding His cruxificion. Isaiah records -

"I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Old Testament | Isaiah 50:6)

All these events are recorded in the gospels except -

"...my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 50:6)

I've wondered if this form of torture and humiliation actually took place but never recorded.

Isaiah 49

Isaiah prophecied -

"...In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 49:8)

In my mind "a day of salvation" is a day that we make covenants or become a covenant person. A day of salvation could be a Sunday sacrament meeting. But I seem to think that "a day of salvation" is when we attend the temple for the Lord continued -

"That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves." (Old Testament | Isaiah 49:9)

The freeing of prisoners from the prison house takes place in the temple as Isaiah wrote for -

"...They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places." (Old Testament | Isaiah 49:9)

The mountain or the mountain of the Lord's House is this high place and thus -

"They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." (Old Testament | Isaiah 49:10 - 11)

I believe that all roads or "highways" lead to the Lord's house.





I have commented previously that my thoughts are when Isaiah refers to the mountain, he is referring to the temple.

Isaiah 49

The Lord said to Isaiah -

"...It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." (Old Testament | Isaiah 49:6)

In these words, I'm sure the Lord is referring to the Savior, as Paul said to king Agrippa -

"...Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." (New Testament | Acts 26:23)

But as we study the scriptures, the Savior was not the only one that was to be a light to the gentiles, Paul and Barnabus said -

"...the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles..." (New Testament | Acts 13:47)

The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"...blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 86:11)

And also to all the saints especially recently to the youth -

"...Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 115:5)

I becomes apparent that many of the prophecies could have duel meaning or mean more than one person.

Isaiah 48

I've blogged previously how it is so apparent that many of the "plain and precious" writings in the Old Testament have been removed or never included. I've always thought it strange that the word baptism is not mentioned in the Old Testament yet John the Baptist was baptizing in Jordan and none of Judah seemed to think the act was strange or unconventional. Isaiah made an interesting comment -

"...O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 48:1)

I seems apparent to me that Isaiah is referring not only to the baptisms taking place in Judah, but also the baptismal covenants or promises made with the ordinance. The Book of Mormon specfically notes -

"...who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 20:1)

Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr. explained -

"This clarifying phrase was added in parentheses to the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon, which was "Carefully Revised by the Translator" (Joseph Smith). It also appeared in the 1842 edition but was left out of subsequent editions until 1920, when it was added without the parentheses. Most likely it was not part of Isaiah's original text, but was added by a latter-day seer to clarify a phrase understood anciently but not today." (Isaiah Plain and Simple: The Message of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, Hoyt W. Brewster)

Isaiah 43

I believe more than any Old Testament writer, Isaiah makes it clear who the Savior really is saying -

"...thus saith the LORD that created thee...Fear not: for I have redeemed thee..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 43:1)

"...I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 43:3)

"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." (Old Testament | Isaiah 43:11)

"Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 43:14)

"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Old Testament | Isaiah 43:25)

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." (Old Testament | Isaiah 44:22)

"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 44:24)

Make no mistake that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the Lord, and the God of the Old Testament.

Another thought this morning. President Wilford Woodruff said of the the great redemption work for the dead going on in the temples -

"A large number has already been delivered from the prison house in the spirit world by this people..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Official Declaration 1:16)

Now listen to the words of the Lord to Isaiah -

"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." (Old Testament | Isaiah 42:6 - 7)

Some may assume the Lord is talking about earthly prisoners, but I don't believe that is so. I believe the Lord in the days of Isaiah was also focused on redeeming the dead and those that presently sat in darkness in the "prison house", or hell in the world of spirits that had passed on.

Isaiah 40

In modern revelation, the Lord said -

"...all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 89:18 - 20)

Many that read these words may first consider them to be physical or temporal promises, but Isaiah provides us a little bit more incite asking -

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." (Old Testament | Isaiah 40:28)

When we read the promise that -

"...shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." Doctrine and Covenants | Section 89:18 - 20)

...does that not sound like we are growing spiritually in "becoming" more like Him. Isaiah continued with the same promise -

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength...they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Old Testament | Isaiah 40:29 - 31)

We begin to understand that these blessings our both temporal and spiritual.

Isaiah 35

Isaiah wrote of the commandment -

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." (Old Testament | Isaiah 35:3 - 4)

As we reach out, as we open our mouths, as we strenghten weak hands and feeble knees, the promise is -

"...the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Old Testament | Isaiah 35:10)