Prayer for Joy and Exultation – Isaiah 35: 1 -10
Isaiah 35:1-10
35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
35:2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and shouting. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.]]
35:3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.
35:4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
35:6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert;
35:7 the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp; the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
35:8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
35:9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
God of joy and exultation,
you strengthen what is weak;
you enrich the poor
and give hope to those who live in fear.
Make us strong to join you in your holy work,
as friends of strangers and victims,
companions of those whom others shun and marginalize.
Strengthen our broken hearts to believe your advent promise that
One day we will walk the holy way of Christ,
Where sorrow and sighing will be no more and the journey of
God’s people will be filled with joy, peace and love. Amen.
adapted from Book of Common Worship – PCUSA



