Isaiah 14:1-8

¹ But Yahveh will have compassion on Jacob, and he will again choose Israel and position them on their land, and the immigrant will join himself to them, and they will connect themselves to the house of Jacob. ² And Gentiles will rescue them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will take possession of those Gentiles in the land of Yahveh as slaves and female slaves. And this will happen: they will take their captors captive and have dominion over their oppressors. ³ And it will happen on the day Yahveh gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and hard work which was you did. ⁴ that you will take this taunt against the king of Babylon, and you will say: “How an oppressor has stopped! Hostility has ceased. ⁵ Yahveh has broken a wicked staff, a scepter of rulers, ⁶ that struck peoples in wrath, a blow without ceasing, that ruled nations in anger, bringing persecution without restraint. ⁷ All of the land rests peacefully; they break out singing. ⁸ Even cypresses rejoice over you, the cedars of Lebanon sing: ‘Since you were laid down, no lumberjack comes up against us.’

on the day Yahveh gives you rest

Isaiah’s predicts of the downfall of the Babylonian empire. He imagines the land breaking out in song because it is no longer under the oppression and pain of tyrants, seeking its destruction. Perhaps you have been going through a difficult time, and you are seeking that kind of rest. Maybe it has been a long time since you have felt like singing. Please know that you are not alone. The LORD knows the oppression you are feeling. He wants you to know that he plans to give you rest, and you will know a time when you can feel like singing again.

LORD, thank you for encouraging us with your presence during time when we feel overwhelmed. Thank you for the promise of deliverance, and the hope of future praise.