Oh Barren One

Isaiah 54:1 gives the instruction, Sing, O Barren one (ESV). The previous chapter tells of the crucifixion of Jesus. Then, the first word of the next chapter is — Sing. One could understandable wonder, what is there to sing about? Our sin killed Jesus. He was crucified. Yes, but what love was displayed that we can now sing.

Once we were barren of hope for an eternity where no sorrow or death exists. Now, because of Jesus, we are not barren in joy. Life may give to us many problems, difficulties, and challenges that present themselves as insurmountable. We may feel barren of hope, but because of Jesus, we know we may give our every burden to Him and trust Him fully to bring about the best outcome for each of us. Psalm 55:22 reminds us, Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall (NLT).

Before Christ, in our spiritual worlds, we were barren of solid direction for all the days of our lives. Now, because of Jesus, we are never alone and we have the best teacher of all who is with us always. Jesus told us this in John 14:16-17, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. Imagine the wonder of that statement. When Jesus was crucified, then returned to Heaven, He left the Holy Spirit to stay within us forever. Once we were barren, but because of Jesus, we have all we need to get through anything at all.

In our times of feeling barren of hope and joy and direction, peace, and courage, we are told to sing. What can we sing about, we may wonder. Are we to sing of our troubles? Of our desolation? Of our despondency? Of course not! We are to sing of Jesus!

When we sing of Jesus, we sing of hope and redemption, of forgiveness and of being made new. We sing of His love for us, of His presence with us always. When we sing of Jesus, our inner being is renewed once more with the strength of Jesus that we may have forgotten is ours for the receiving.

Are you barren today? Void of joy and hope? Will you sing? Sing of Jesus. Hope will return when we turn from the darkness of despair, unto the Light of hope and joy.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 89:1 KJV).