Isaiah 30:23-33: a reflection

23He will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground will be rich and plentiful. In that day, your livestock will feed in large pastures. 24The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that till the ground will eat savory feed, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork. 25There will be brooks and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with. 27Behold, the LORD’s name comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation. His tongue is as a devouring fire. 28His breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction. A bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples. 29You will have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one goes with a flute to come to the LORD’s mountain, to Israel’s Rock. 30The LORD will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the descent of his arm, with the indignation of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, storm, and hailstones. 31For through the LORD’s voice the Assyrian will be dismayed. He will strike him with his rod. 32Every stroke of the rod of punishment, which the LORD will lay on him, will be with the sound of tambourines and harps. He will fight with them in battles, brandishing weapons. 33For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, it is prepared for the king. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. The LORD’s breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

In the midst of this passage of promise, God speaks of a day of healing for his wounded people: the day when the LORD binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with. His people had been wounded, fractured, struck; and God promises to bind up and heal what was broken. He is a God who heals the wounds of his people, binding up their fractures, restoring what was broken and hurt.

Notice how God describes himself here: as one who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of his people. They had been wounded, struck, fractured; and God does not leave them so, but promises to bind up and heal. Like a physician binding a broken limb, God tends the wounds of his people, healing what was hurt, restoring what was broken. He is not indifferent to their wounds, but is a healer, binding up their fractures and healing their wounds.

That God heals the wounds of his people is a comfort, for we too are wounded, fractured, struck in various ways. We carry wounds, of grief, of failure, of hurt inflicted by others or by our own sin, fractures in our hearts and lives. But God is a healer, who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of his people; he does not leave us in our woundedness, but tends and heals. When you are wounded, hurt, broken in some way, do not think God indifferent to your wounds; he is a God who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of his people. Bring your wounds to him, the God who heals; he tends the hurts of his people, binding up what is broken and healing what is wounded. The God who promised to bind up the fracture and heal the wound of his people is a healer of your wounds too; do not despair in your woundedness, but bring it to the God who heals, and trust him to bind up and heal what is broken and hurt in you, in his time and way.

Lord, in the midst of this passage of promise, you speak of a day of healing for your wounded people: the day when the LORD binds up the fracture of his people, and heals the wound they were struck with. Your people had been wounded, fractured, struck; and you promise to bind up and heal what was broken. Show me how you describe yourself here: as one who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of his people. Like a physician binding a broken limb, you tend the wounds of your people, healing what was hurt, restoring what was broken. You are not indifferent to their wounds, but are a healer. Give me the comfort of that, for I too am wounded, fractured, struck in various ways. I carry wounds, of grief, of failure, of hurt inflicted by others or by my own sin, fractures in my heart and life. But you are a healer, who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of your people; you do not leave me in my woundedness. When I am wounded, hurt, broken in some way, keep me from thinking you indifferent to my wounds; you are a God who binds up the fracture and heals the wound of his people. Help me bring my wounds to you, the God who heals, Lord; tend the hurts of my people, and bind up what is broken and heal what is wounded in me, in your time and way. Heal my wounds, Lord.