From This Time Forth
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Isaiah 59:12-21
12. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: 13. transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words. 14. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth has fallen in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intervene; then his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him. 17. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle. 18. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render requital. 19. So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives. 20. "And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the Lord. 21. "And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of the mouth of your children's children, says the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore."
Isaiah begins chapter 59 commenting that the sins of the people are not through any fault of God or His lacking. They are of their own doing and now God comes to repay deed for deed—punishment for sin, retribution for arrogance, correction for disobedience. Sounds pretty scary! Isaiah has looked around his world and sees that it is full of corruption and greed. From where he stands, no one even begins to measure up. Everyone has forgotten God’s word and chaos has become the way of life.
But even so, God steps in at just the right time. Yes, there will be justice—righteousness will prevail. And God’s justice will be just as unstoppable as His love. Isaiah warns that the moment of decision is past—his people “missed the boat.” But not to worry, repent, and pay the price of your retribution, and God will make a new covenant with us. He promises an eternal covenant this time. One that cannot be broken—no matter how badly we sin. So straighten up and fly right! Christ is coming!
Repent, fear God, take your punishment, and then rejoice that we have yet again, “one more chance” to be forgiven. Jesus bought us that gift! He paid the price for centuries of sin and rebellion. God looked around the earth time and time again and must have just shaken his head and thought, “How much more can I take?” “Why don’t these creature wise up?!” I’m sure he just couldn’t believe what hard-headed, defiant creatures we became!
Of course that’s silly, he knew exactly what was to come. But still . . . he must have been frustrated! He must still be! We have the benefit of Christ’s life, death and resurrection as our model and guide. And still we sin! Christ is coming again one day, with all the pent up fury and wrath that God displayed when he flooded the world and saved the only righteous man to be found on earth. He will ask us if we displayed the same obedience as Abraham, and the same faith as Joseph and Mary, and the same love as he himself exemplified.
No? Well, we better get to it! Each day we must begin anew. Repent. Beg forgiveness. Set our minds and hearts on what is good and right and true. Then “live like we’re saved!”
I hope you spend your day “living like you’re saved” and rejoicing in the covenant God established through his beloved Son.
Mary
