Isaiah 37:26-32: a reflection

26“‘Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to destroy fortified cities, turning them into ruinous heaps. 27Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like a field before its crop has grown. 28But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me. 29Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came. 30“‘This shall be the sign to you: You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from it; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go out, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this.’

In the midst of the crisis with Assyria, God speaks a promise to his beleaguered people. Though Jerusalem has been besieged and Judah devastated, God promises that a remnant will survive and flourish again: The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. What had been cut down would not stay cut down; the remnant would take root again, and bear fruit. New growth would come after the devastation.

Notice the image of new growth God gives: taking root downward and bearing fruit upward. The people had been cut down, devastated, reduced to a remnant; and it might have seemed the end. But God promises that the remnant would take root again, growing down and bearing fruit up, flourishing anew after the devastation. What was cut down would grow again; the remnant would not stay reduced, but take root and bear fruit. God's purpose was not ended by the devastation, but would bring new growth from the remnant.

That image of new growth after devastation is a hope to hold. There are times when we, or things we care about, are cut down, devastated, reduced to a remnant of what was; and it can seem the end. But God is able to bring new growth from the remnant, to make what was cut down take root again and bear fruit. The devastation is not necessarily the end; God can bring new life from what remains. When you are devastated, cut down, reduced to a remnant, do not conclude that it is the end. God promised that the remnant of Judah would take root and bear fruit again; he is able to bring new growth from what remains in your life too. Hold the hope that what is cut down can take root again, that God brings new growth from the remnant; do not despair at the devastation, but trust the God who makes the surviving remnant take root downward and bear fruit upward again.

Lord, in the midst of the crisis with Assyria, you promised your beleaguered people that a remnant would survive and flourish: the surviving remnant of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward; what was cut down would not stay cut down, but take root again and bear fruit. Give me hope from that image of new growth after devastation. There are times when I, or things I care about, are cut down, devastated, reduced to a remnant of what was; and it can seem the end. But you are able to bring new growth from the remnant, to make what was cut down take root again and bear fruit. The devastation is not necessarily the end; you can bring new life from what remains. When I am devastated, cut down, reduced to a remnant, keep me from concluding that it is the end. You promised that the remnant of Judah would take root and bear fruit again; you are able to bring new growth from what remains in my life too. Help me hold the hope that what is cut down can take root again, that you bring new growth from the remnant; keep me from despairing at the devastation, Lord, and help me trust you, who make the surviving remnant take root downward and bear fruit upward again. Bring new growth from what remains, Lord.