The Sound
of Compassion
by Kathi Pelton
Sing for joy, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth
into singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have
compassion upon His afflicted. -Isaiah 49:13
Did
you know that compassion has a sound? Do you realize that compassion releases
the power to bring freedom where captivity currently reigns? Daily we hear the
sound and see the power, but rarely do we comprehend the weightiness of it.
Compassion
is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by
misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Beginning
this past January-and continuing still today-we heard the sound of compassion
in Haiti, as trucks and helicopters arrived to help the masses of suffering
people with food, water, and medical supplies. At times the people's cries of
sorrow turned to singing over something as small as a bottle of water. As
rescue workers swarmed through the rubble of pulverized structures, locating
survivors in the midst of devastation, again and again cries of anguish were
transformed into joyful singing.
How
were we able to see these things? Because of compassion! As we watched the deep
suffering of the Haitian people, the very emotion that moved Jesus to heal
moved us to give and to go in order to alleviate their suffering. Yes,
compassion has a sound, and the power to turn wails of anguish into the delight
of joyful singing.
The New Sound
Recently
I had a powerful experience that lasted the entire night regarding "the
sound of compassion." I was shown a container that had the appearance of a
large vase. This vase had been wrapped in a secure package until this present
season, in order to be poured out upon the people of God. As the package was
opened I looked into the container but could not see anything inside. Then, I
began to hear sounds coming forth from the darkness. I heard many sounds
overlapping: a baby's cry at the time of its birth, children playing, songs
being sung (songs that came from the compassion of Heaven), chains breaking,
birds singing, people applauding. There were so many sounds-but they blended
beautifully together like a heavenly orchestra that was releasing a new song.
As
I heard this "song" the Holy Spirit said to me, "This is the new
sound that I am releasing. It is the sound of My compassion coming forth that will
set the captives free."
I
felt overwhelmed throughout the experience. The song took my breath away. I not
only heard the sounds, but as the night continued I was shown many things that
would take place as the sound of compassion was poured out upon God's people. I
saw injustices reversed and lives restored. This was not only for individual
lives, but for people groups, cities, regions, and nations. It was like the
sound of anguish and the prayers of the afflicted were suddenly being answered
with the power to set them free. My sense was that this "package" had
been sealed up for this very hour in history, and as it was poured out over
God's people, the power that Jesus walked with on earth to heal, save and
deliver was restored. It was like God baring His mighty right arm against injustice
and suffering. The power of compassion was anointing men and women to release
captives as we have never seen before.
The Weapon of Compassion
Though
we know that as the days progress darkness will increase because of the evil
one, we also know that the Lord will pour out His compassion upon those who cry
out to Him and will deliver them into light. Though I did not sense that the
container was being poured out just yet, in my vision I could tell it was being
unpackaged at this time for the sake of being poured out. I knew that when that
happened it would be like a weapon of might and power for God's people.
I
don't completely understand why I saw what was released as a "sound,"
but this sound was a mighty weapon. Many of the sounds that I heard were the
result of compassion being released, but I also heard sounds which I cannot
describe that were the release of anointing of the compassion of God upon His
people. His compassion will fall upon worship leaders, teachers, evangelists,
pastors, prophets and apostles. When that happens, wisdom, power and miracles
will suddenly appear. His compassion will be poured out upon all who will
receive it.
The
most amazing thing that I saw in this experience was cities and nations being
changed. Those who had cried out to the Lord for His mercy and compassion were
suddenly experiencing the glory of the Lord. His compassion not only healed and
restored their land and people but it also reversed issues of injustice that
had plagued them. Because of the corporate release of compassion, individuals
were set free and the lost were saved.
I
was also aware of this sound opening the eyes of many people groups in the
Middle East. I was aware that His compassion would be poured out upon the
Middle East and that many would be saved and relationships restored (or formed
for the first time). These events were breathtaking.
Get Ready
Sing,
O barren one, you who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you
who did not travail with child! For the children of the desolate one will be
more than the children of the married wife, says the Lord.
Enlarge
the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched
out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, for you will
spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will
possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Fear
not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded or depressed, for you
shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and
you shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.
For
your Maker is your Husband-the Lord of hosts is His name-and the Holy One of
Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.
For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken, grieved in
spirit, and heartsore-even a wife in youth, when she is refused and scorned,
says your God. For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion and
mercy I will gather you (to Me) again. In a little burst of wrath I hid My face
from you for a moment, but with age-enduring love and kindness I will have
compassion and mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. -Isaiah
54:1-8
I
believe that this amazing outpouring of the compassion of Heaven for this time
will usher in Isaiah 54:1-8. We will call Him Redeemer as never before. There
will be a sound from Heaven that redeems those on earth.
Get
ready! Allow the Lord to position you, empty you (so that you might be filled)
and purify you so that you might be a container for this compassion to be
poured into. Break forth into great hope! Though many of you have been emptied,
and feel as though your emptiness has somehow disqualified you, know that your
container is about to be filled. Be careful not to try to fill the empty places
on your own, but wait for the Lord to pour into you. Though the emptying
process is painful, the purifying of the empty vessel can be even harder
because it involves waiting and resting-though I believe the time of filling is
coming. We tend to be restless and impatient, but now is a time to HOPE! Let
hope arise in your hearts, because a great infilling will come upon those who
wait for Him.
Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries