Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. —Isaiah 63:17
Isaiah 63–64 is a prophetic word written a hundred years before the Babylonians took over the land, destroyed the temple, and the Jews were taken into captivity. But Isaiah looks ahead and gives the people a prayer for that season: “O Lord, return.”
The one who is praying looks at the condition of God’s people—of which he is a part—and he cries out. He asks heartfelt questions. This is no pat prayer. It’s not just taking perfunctory requests before the Lord. It’s heartfelt and passionate.
He says, “We’ve seen Your power in the past. Where is it now?” (v. 15). “Why do You seem to be set against us?” (v. 17).
He gets honest; he gets earnest. And in that honesty lies our only hope. His name is God, the Lord, Yahweh, the Maker of heaven and earth, our Redeemer. The One who delivered and saved us in the past is the One who can come once again and deliver His people in this difficult day. And why? To make His name glorious.
Make it Personal
Ask the Lord to return to us and restore His presence and His glory among us, so that the world may know He is God.