Monday, August 19, 2013

Isaiah 60 - paraphrased


“Get out of bed, Sam! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. GOD’s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But GOD rises on you-Sam, His sunrise glory breaks over you-Sam. Nations will come to my (Sam) light, kings to my sunburst brightness.

Hey Sam! Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you’ll smile—big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations! And then streams of great convoys as far as the eye can see, Pouring in from all nations (Africa, Europe, Asia. America etc.) Loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of GOD…

Sam’s “Jerusalem gates” will always be open —OPEN HOUSE DAY AND NIGHT!— Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations, and their kings, the delivery boys... The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered —all that cypress and oak and pine— To give a splendid elegance to God’s Sanctuary, as He make His footstool glorious.

The descendants of my (Sam) oppressor will come bowing and scraping to me. All who looked down at me in contempt will lick my boots. They’ll confer a title on me: City of GOD, Zion of The Holy of Israel. Not long ago I was despised refuse— out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored. But NOW God has put me on my feet, TOWERING and GRAND FOREVER, a joy to look at! When I SUCK THE MILK OF NATIONS and the BREASTS OF ROYALTY, I will know that GOD, He is my Savior, my Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.

He will give me ONLY THE BEST—no more hand-me-downs! Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron, bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones. He will install Peace to run my country, make Righteousness my boss. There’ll be no more stories of crime in my land, no more robberies, no more vandalism. I will name my main street Salvation Way, and install Praise Park at the center of my town. I will have no more need of the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night. GOD will be my eternal light, my God will BATHE ME IN SPLENDOR.

My sun will NEVER go down, my moon will NEVER fade. God will be my eternal light. My days of grieving are over. All Sam’s people will live RIGHT AND WELL, in PERMANENT possession of the land. They are the green shoot that God planted, planted with His own hands to display His glory. The feeblest will become a great tribe, the weakling become a strong nation. He is GOD. AT THE RIGHT TIME HE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.” (Isaiah 60:1-22-MSG)

Someone said, “but that passage of Scripture was written for someone else”, you are right and I also thought the same way. But time will fail me to tell you that the Internet was initially designed for a specific group of people but now everyone can use it. Hear what Jesus said one time to His disciples while walking the streets of Galilee, “What I say TO YOU I say TO ALL, 'Be on the alert!'” (Mark 13:37). So there are some things that can apply to all. Those promises can be yours if you desire them.

Don’t forget, no matter what you are going through, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WIN.

On behalf of my Essence of Joy – Oludolapo, my graceful kids – Blessing, Faith and Isaac, I am saying you are blessed and highly graced. Love you.

In His ever increasing love,
Sam Kuye