August 9 - Isaiah 59:15b-21

August 9 – Isaiah 59:15b-21

Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along.

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD. “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the LORD.

This morning I began thinking about how so much of this parallels our own time period.  The Israelites had come through so much and had risen again to great glory with God.  He would offer them a chance to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, life was going well.

But, apathy struck.  They were no longer worried about anyone else.  The Lord saw that there was no justice.  His people weren’t reaching out beyond themselves.  They wouldn’t stand up for those that needed them, they had become so inward-looking that they couldn’t see a world in desperate need.

These that were so self-involved were betraying those that wanted to pursue righteousness and justice.

When they stood up for what was right and what was just, they were not only being battered by the world, but by the fellow Israelites, people they should trust. 

God took it upon Himself to bring justice to the world, to protect those within His care.  He brought wrath and retribution, He brought salvation and righteousness.  Then, He brought the Redeemer to those who would repent of their sins. (Isaiah 59:20)

Those who worked for righteousness and justice, who cared for the oppressed, who reached out beyond themselves, who acted as God had called them to act would continue to be filled with His Spirit, would continue to part of the covenant.  The promise was to them forever.

Are we like those self-centered Israelites?  Do we support and encourage or do we batter and tear down for our own agendas?  God is clear on where His support lies.  He calls us to reach beyond ourselves, to spend ourselves, to bring justice to the world.