This chapter is a plea from God to those made in His image (that’s everyone) to listen, awaken, and obey, for He wants to redeem us.
” ‘Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ ” (v1, 9a, 11)
God is calling, urging people to ‘listen’ and ‘awaken’, calling them away from sin and into the salvation He alone offers. One of the many downfalls of sin is it ‘deafens’ us to God’s voice, and causes us to ‘sleep’ through life. When this happens, we experience more sorrow and suffering, while missing opportunities to obey God, and experience the joy / gladness that obedience brings.
I encourage us to ‘listen’ and ‘awaken’ to the Lord and the needs of His people. Jesus listened to people intently – He was God and already knew what they were going to say, yet He still listened, a sign of how much He loves and respects us. By listening to God, and our neighbors, we extend Jesus’ love. By listening, we can then identify needs (or ‘awaken’ to them) and serve our neighbors and God well. We are called to imitate Christ, so ‘listening’ and ‘awakening’ to God and His people is one way we can do that.
Father God, our Gracious and Merciful Lord, You have remained steadfast and patient with us, your deaf and sleeping people. Please awaken us through Your Holy Spirit, and open our ears to Your voice, so we may consistently choose obedience. Please gently remind us to listen to our neighbors, and awaken to any needs, so we may extend the love of Jesus to them. Please minister to their spirits, opening their ears and awakening their hearts to Your presence, so they too may experience the joy of Your salvation. May we honor, glorify, and obey You, with every word and action, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training