This is what the Lord says: “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” 66:2

I am moved when I hear or sing the old spiritual that emphasizes “trembling.” I seldom hear this word any more but I find its use very powerful. We sing, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when the crucified my Lord?  Oh. Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”  Other verses follow. The word “tremble” says it just right, would you agree?  This is true of all of us followers of Jesus, we tremble when we enter the presence of God Almighty. But it is trembling, not of despair, but of eternal hope.  When we lose that sense of awe that induces the trembling we need to recover it by kneeling, again, before our Lord Jesus who loves us until the end.

Isaiah, in his final sentences uses word pictures to describe the awe of life with God, right here on earth. He describes true peace in God’s presence. Listen to the word of the Lord.

“I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.  As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem. When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass.” 66:12 – 14

The peace of God is like a river, ever flowing, ever bringing new life.  The peace of God is like a nursing child whose welfare is entirely in the hands of mother and father. We hear the mother’s lullaby that comforts the little one.

I need to rest on the strength of my God, my Savior, not on any other. I lay down my arms and become a small baby entirely dependent on its parents.