Slices
Prepare
‘Sometimes things turn out for the best, when evil is vanquished and goodness triumphs, where joy is unmixed with pain. I give thanks to God for those times when life has felt rich and his presence near.’
Bible passage
The glory of Zion
60 ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 ‘Lift up your eyes and look about you:
all assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.
6 Herds of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and incense
and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
7 All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
and I will adorn my glorious temple.
8 ‘Who are these that fly along like clouds,
like doves to their nests?
9 Surely the islands look to me;
in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,
bringing your children from afar,
with their silver and gold,
to the honour of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendour.
10 ‘Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
in favour I will show you compassion.
11 Your gates will always stand open,
they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations –
their kings led in triumphal procession.
12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;
it will be utterly ruined.
13 ‘The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,
to adorn my sanctuary;
and I will glorify the place for my feet.
14 The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down at your feet
and will call you the City of the Lord,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Explore
Happy endings often seem closer to fiction than to fact. What is your favourite story with a happy ending? Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one, where Scrooge eventually sees the folly and emptiness of his life and wakes up a new man, much to the joy of those he used to persecute!
This reading marks a moment of awakening and prosperity for Jerusalem (v 1). Gone are the suffering of former years and the shame of capture. This city is now at the centre of God’s purposes (v 3). Not only is this a place enjoying the lavish favour of God, but its glory is also recognised by the nations of the earth (vs 3–5). While they dwell in the thick darkness of obscurity from God (v 2), they recognise Jerusalem’s light and come towards it (v 11). The bad times are behind this city. Exile and shame are forgotten (v 14). Sons and daughters will return (v 4), an abundance of gifts will be received (vs 5–7) and justice will prevail over her enemies (v 14). Israel has a merciful and redemptive God.
Respond
‘I bring to mind people and places who need their own happy ending after years of sorrow. I see their faces and pain and ask that your face might shine upon them and be gracious to them.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jonah 3,4; Revelation 11
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray that Rachel and her team will grow and develop in their gifts, and that all Faith Guides involved in mission in schools will find able and willing volunteers to assist them in this vital work.
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