DOUBLE REWARD

"As they had twice as much grief, and marks of shame were their heritage, so in their land they will be rewarded twice over, and will have eternal joy" (Isaiah 61:7 Bible in Basic English). 

"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them" (Isaiah 61:7). 

Reward! Reward!! Reward!!! That is what I hear in my spirit. And I believe that God is not just talking about reward in the ordinary sense. For those who are diligently and faithfully serving the Lord, today's Scripture verse advertises double reward. 

Often times, the Bible uses the word double to signify multiples or much. For example, in Exodus 16:22, the same word rendered double is translated 'much'. It is like the use of the word twice. When for instance the Bible says once has God spoken, twice have I heard (Psalms 62:11), the word twice there does not necessarily mean two times. Rather, the intent is is repeatedly. The word translated 'twice' or 'double' here is also variously translated 'twelfth', 'twelve', 'twenty', or 'thousand' in more than one hundred places in the Bible. So I like you to picture the double reward God is promising you here as multiple reward. 

I need you to understand that the God we serve is a rewarder (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, I normally take this Scripture to mean that 'Rewarder' is one of the names of God. We should be comfortable to call Him so relying on the authority of Genesis 15:1, where God appeared to Abraham in a vision, calling Himself Abraham's "exceeding great reward". 

Secondly, you must understand that there will always be reward for anything and everything we do, whether good or bad. There is a reward for the righteous and for every act of righteousness (Psalms 58:11). There is also a reward for the wicked and for every act of wickedness (Psalms 91:8). It may be now or later, but reward never fails to come. Justice demands so, and the just God has already put in place unfailing natural mechanism to ensure that it is so. 

Thirdly, I want to affirm to you that no work or service done unto the Lord will go unrewarded, especially if you keep on walking with the Lord. Isaiah 40:10 says, "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him". Hear God again in Jeremiah 31:16 - "Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD". 

Talking about the Lord's recompense, these rewards are always certain. Consider Abraham. Though his reward tarried, it came nonetheless because no one can stop God’s reward from coming to those who serve Him. The Lord's reward will also be always visible to all. You will see it and say it because it will be as tangible as the fruit of the womb which the Bible calls the Lord's reward (Psalms 127:3). He is the God that will reward you openly even if your labours have been in secret. Get ready to celebrate!