August 4 - Isaiah 59-62
The faithfulness of God comes through so clearly in this passage, and His faithfulness is truly amazing. Even though these chapters apply directly to the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, we can see the character of God and know that He never changes. He is always faithful.
Chapter 59 begins with an extended passage on the sins of the people and how their sin had separated them from God. (v.2) God's people had completely forsaken His laws and their sins were so rampant that He had to punish them to eliminate this corruption. I say this because verse 16 tells us that there was no intercessor. There was not even one person praying for God to restore His people. This must have been before Isaiah's time when the punishment fell on Israel. However, the next part of verse 16 is remarkable. God decided to save them and restore them after the punishment, even though there was no intercessor crying out to Him for this. He decided to go ahead and send Jesus as He had promised to Abraham in Genesis 12. (v.20,21)
Then, Chapter 60 explains the ultimate in God's faithfulness. In the Millenial kingdom God will fulfill all of His promises to Israel, which He had to postpone because of the Exile. There would be the time for the Gentiles to come to Him. (v.3) Finally, God will restore Jerusalem and the Temple, so He can fulfill the Old Testament promises. The nations which will cooperate with Israel shall be brought into the Millenial kingdom, and the rest shall be sent to the Judgment. It will be a glorious time for 1,000 years with Jerusalem exalted and no violence. (v.15,18,22)
The final two chapters continue this theme. Can you see the faithfulness of God in these chapters? Even though He has to punish. Even though He has to wait a long time for restoration. God is always faithful. We get impatient, and we tell God that we have to have His blessings and His promises right now, but instead, we should trust that He always does the right thing in the right time, if we will stay faithful to Him. God always keeps His promises.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 63-66.
Chapter 59 begins with an extended passage on the sins of the people and how their sin had separated them from God. (v.2) God's people had completely forsaken His laws and their sins were so rampant that He had to punish them to eliminate this corruption. I say this because verse 16 tells us that there was no intercessor. There was not even one person praying for God to restore His people. This must have been before Isaiah's time when the punishment fell on Israel. However, the next part of verse 16 is remarkable. God decided to save them and restore them after the punishment, even though there was no intercessor crying out to Him for this. He decided to go ahead and send Jesus as He had promised to Abraham in Genesis 12. (v.20,21)
Then, Chapter 60 explains the ultimate in God's faithfulness. In the Millenial kingdom God will fulfill all of His promises to Israel, which He had to postpone because of the Exile. There would be the time for the Gentiles to come to Him. (v.3) Finally, God will restore Jerusalem and the Temple, so He can fulfill the Old Testament promises. The nations which will cooperate with Israel shall be brought into the Millenial kingdom, and the rest shall be sent to the Judgment. It will be a glorious time for 1,000 years with Jerusalem exalted and no violence. (v.15,18,22)
The final two chapters continue this theme. Can you see the faithfulness of God in these chapters? Even though He has to punish. Even though He has to wait a long time for restoration. God is always faithful. We get impatient, and we tell God that we have to have His blessings and His promises right now, but instead, we should trust that He always does the right thing in the right time, if we will stay faithful to Him. God always keeps His promises.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 63-66.