(Isa 52:2) Shake yourself from the dust, arise; Sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion!
Israel’s captivity was almost over and they were returning home after decades in a foreign land of domination. God spoke through the prophet and told His people that they were now to shake the dust from themselves. Dust was a sign of mourning. Job put dust on his head when he lost everything (Job 2:12). The children of Israel were to arise and loose themselves from the bonds of servitude. Their time of discipline, heartache, and sorrow was over. It was time to adopt a new mind-set of freedom and victory as they returned to their homeland and rebuilt the temple and their lives.
It is time for us to arise as well from the ashes! God has given us beauty for ashes (Isa 61:3). We might have been burned or burned out but God is saying His beautiful work in our lives is causing us to arise and move on from the bonds affliction. We’ve been captive so long and the Son of Righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings. We can now go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves (Mal 4:2). That is the abundant life in Jesus!
Feeling a little dusty lately? May the light of God’s new morning for you dispel the darkness of the season of mourning in your life. You’ve been shaky, but it’s now time to shake yourself from the dust and arise in the strength and power of Jesus Christ and move on into a new dimension of victory! In Jesus name . . . arise!
Louie