I Am About to Create New Heavens and a New Earth

This meditation is based on a passage for February 18, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Isaiah 65:17-25

Reflection and Question: If thoughts of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, come to your mind when you read this passage, then you know the Bible well, for Revelation 21 closely echoes this vision of God’s peaceable kingdom. Isaiah and John’s listeners lived difficult lives in oppressive situations. In both cases, this vision of the beautiful world that God has in store is a pastoral word to these longsuffering believers. The promises are so hopeful: “No more shall the sound of weeping be heard” and “they shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.” When have you heard a vision of the beautiful world that God has in store and how has it comforted you?

Prayer: Most loving God, we yearn for the world Isaiah outlines here — “They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity,” and “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together.” Inspire us to be Your servants in creating this harmony right now. Amen.