Isaiah consoled the people while they were in exile. He promised that if they walked in the Lord's ways, the way home to Jerusalem would be open to them. The promise that the dead would rise signified that Israel would come to life again as a nation and a people.

God is the giver of emotional, spiritual, and physical life. Whenever we are crushed or broken, God will breathe new life into us and set us on the road to the Holy City.

We usually think that a yoke is a bad thing. The yoke is associated with slavery, oppression, and lack of freedom. But the yoke is what keeps the oxen walking together in a straight line and prevents them from wandering off. It also eases the burden, as each yokemate pulls an equal share of the burden. When we are yoked to Jesus, he keeps us walking in a straight line. Not only that, when we weaken or stumble, he is there to shoulder our burden and keep us moving forward. The yoke of Jesus is easy and light because he is humble and gentle. Let us rejoice in taking on the Lord's yoke, for it is true freedom.