Back from captivity. The blind and lame. I will console them.

7 For thus says the LORD: “ Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The LORD has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.’ 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who has labor pains, together; a great company, they shall return here.  9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

7 For thus says the LORD:

“ Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The LORD has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.’

8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who has labor pains, together; a great company, they shall return here.

 9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.

Through the grace and mercy of God He always provides a way for us to repent and return to friendship with him. God is promising to provide a way for the ten northern tribes and those in other countries to return to Him. “ With weeping they shall come. “ Have you noticed the people leaving the confessional on Christmas and Easter with tears in their eyes, tears of joy? Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession they have, through the action of the priest, acting in the person of Christ, they have been reunited with Jesus and His bride the Church. The same type of tears, were shed by those who were called by God reunify their country and renew their friendship with Him. God promises to help them walk in the straight path provided by the Ten Commandments. As Psalm 119:54 says, “ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”

Through the grace and mercy of God He always provides a way for us to repent and return to friendship with him.

God is promising to provide a way for the ten northern tribes and those in other countries to return to Him.

“ With weeping they shall come. “ Have you noticed the people leaving the confessional on Christmas and Easter with tears in their eyes, tears of joy?

Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession

they have, through the action of the priest, acting in the person of Christ, they have been reunited with Jesus and His bride the Church.

The same type of tears, were shed by those who were called by God reunify their country and renew their friendship with Him.

God promises to help them walk in the straight path provided by the Ten Commandments.

As Psalm 119:54 says, “ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”

“ Ephraim is my first-born.” (v. 9). According to rabbinical authority the standard of Ephraim was a golden flag on which the head of a calf was depicted. The representative of Ephraim among the spies was the great hero “Hoshea, the son of Nun,” whose name was changed by Moses to the more distinguished form, Joshua. The “tent of meeting” was set up in Ephraim at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). Because of this event Ephraim’s influence increased, but the tribe became arrogant and prideful. Ephraim was the main support of the Northern Kingdom, which came to be known by its name. Its reunion with Judah became the hope of the prophets as the fulfillment of Israel’s glory (Isaiah 7:2; 11:13; Ezekiel 37:15-22). After the captivity “sons of Ephraim” dwelt in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:3).

“ Ephraim is my first-born.” (v. 9).

According to rabbinical authority the standard of Ephraim was a golden flag on which the head of a calf was depicted.

The representative of Ephraim among the spies was the great hero “Hoshea, the son of Nun,” whose name was changed by Moses to the more distinguished form, Joshua.

The “tent of meeting” was set up in Ephraim at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). Because of

this event Ephraim’s influence increased, but the tribe became arrogant and prideful.

Ephraim was the main support of the Northern Kingdom, which came to be known by its name.

Its reunion with Judah became the hope of the prophets as the fulfillment of Israel’s glory (Isaiah 7:2; 11:13; Ezekiel 37:15-22).

After the captivity “sons of Ephraim” dwelt in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:3).

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