Grow Deeper in Trials

For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised. Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.” (Isaiah 52:3–6)

Israel had experienced three captivities. They “went down” voluntarily into Egypt by  invitation to live there but eventually were cruelly and unjustly reduced to slavery. After God delivered them to freedom, many of them were violently carried into captivity by the Assyrian kings who also oppressed them. Then later, as Isaiah wrote, they were suffering under a third captivity in Babylonia. 

God received nothing when he allowed his people to become slaves. He took no price for them, and therefore is free to claim them back without payment but He has to say the word, so what will He do under these circumstances?

God speaks of three principal issues to answer His own question. 1) The Babylonians have obtained possession of the Israelites without purchase—for nought; (2)They use their authority harshly and brutally; and (3) they continually blaspheme the His Name. All three are grounds for bringing the captivity to an end, and coming forward with the cry of a deliverer, “Here I am.” 

While the oppressors insult over these captives with shouts and yells of triumph in blaspheming the name of the Lord, they begin to understand by practical experience who God is and that He is powerful. They began to understand that a day of deliverance would come.
I do not need to imagine the conflict of being held in a place where God is insulted and I am hearing the insults. This a description of what I experience in spiritual warfare. The Liar is loud and takes advantage of unpleasant or unexpected external circumstances such as illness, loss, and other trials to turn my head the wrong way.

Again, Jesus You say, “Here I am” and Your presence and Your voice are enough — for it is in these battles that I more deeply know You. As you say, You use all things for my good, even the taunts of my enemies to teach me about You.