While reading my bible this morning, I came across Isaiah 62, and it really resonated with me. I think these are such beautiful and earnest words from Isaiah about his love and hope for his country. I feel like, this could be speaking about Nigeria. It is important for Nigerians to continue to pray for the nation because like it or not, this is the inheritance we are leaving for our children. I need my kids to come into a better Nigeria. Nigeria is a nation in crisis, ask our northern brothers and they will tell you, Nigeria is a nation at war. It is the little pockets of peace and temporary sanity that keep us all lethargic, confident in a tomorrow we have no business trusting in.

Today at work, I examined the police records for a pro-bono criminal matter the firm has undertaken. The accused has been in prison since 2005, on a charge of armed robbery. He is yet to face trial. On one hand, I am heart broken at the treatment of those who have no one to fight for them. Yet on the other, I am heavily conflicted because I cannot imagine what it feels like to be robbed at gun point, with four little children in the car. This is what the victim’s statement alleges.

The entire affair is messy. God save humanity. God save Nigeria.

God save the Queen (ME!)

Isaiah 62 (edited by ME!)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Isaiah’s Prayer for Jerusalem (Now my prayer for Nigeria)

62 Because I love Nigeria,
I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Nigeria,
I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her
until her righteousness shines like the dawn,
and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the Lord’s own mouth.
3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.
4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”[a]
or “The Desolate Land.”[b]
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”[c]
and “The Bride of God,”[d]
for the Lord delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,
just as a young man commits himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

6 O Nigeria, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
7 Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,
until he makes Nigeria the pride of the earth.
8 The Lord has sworn to Nigeria by his own strength:
“I will never again hand you over to your enemies.
Never again will foreign warriors come
and take away your grain and new wine.
9 You raised the grain, and you will eat it,
praising the Lord.
Within the courtyards of the Temple,
you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.”

10 Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.
11 The Lord has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Nigeria,[e]
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
12 They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Nigeria will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

Footnotes:
a.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Azubah, which means “forsaken.”
b.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Shemamah, which means “desolate.”
c.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Hephzibah, which means “my delight is in her.”
d.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Beulah, which means “married.”
e.Isaiah 62:11 Hebrew Tell the daughter of Zion.

PLEASE READ THE ORIGINAL: Isaiah’s Prayer for Jerusalem, Isaiah 62. Beautiful and earnest.

Photo credit: http://urv.shutterchance.com/image/2012/11/19/rain/
Photographer: URV