the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Our Daily Homily - Volume 3
Isaiah 62:1—For Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest. (See also Isaiah 62:6-7, R.V.).
We have here the unresting Christ. Day and night He pleads for the city that crucified Him; and it is in answer to his supplications that she will one day arise from her ruins. Is it not also true that He ever lives to intercede for us, praying when we are silent, watching when we sleep? His prayer rises for his people night and day. Perhaps they would not pray for themselves, if his intercessions did not incite. Certainly his sifted Simons would drift beyond hope, if He did not pray for them. Every sinner has been prayed for to the end of time by Him who said, "Father, forgive;" and every saint, by Him who promised to pray the Father that He would give another Comforter, the Holy Ghost. The prayers of Jesus hover over the world like the dove over the weltering chaos of creation.
Next we have the unresting watchmen (Isaiah 62:6). Christ’s intercession must be supplemented by ours—whether for the restoration of the Jews, or the up-building of the Church, or the salvation of individuals. There must be oneness of prayer between the Intercessor before the Throne, and his remembrancers on earth; and there will be, if the Holy Ghost is allowed to exercise his chosen ministry of making intercession with us on behalf of the saints according to the will of God.
Lastly, there is the unresting God (Isaiah 62:7). He, too, has no rest. The rest of God is crowded with thought and care for his own. The image of Buddha presents the conception of an impassive deity whose one aim is to rid himself of all that might trouble his repose. In our God, on the other hand, together with the perfect serenity and satisfaction of his nature, there are the eternal tides of desire and gracious help.
