Repent of Hypocrisy and Find Your Joy in the Lord (Isa 58:1-14)
God's people said and did the right things "as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God" (Isa 58:2). But God saw their hypocrisy (Isa 59:1), and commanded Isaiah to confront them (Isa 58:1). They fasted, but it was selfishly motivated to get things from God (Isa 58:3), while they acted oppressively (Isa 58:4). But God spells out what true piety is (Isa 58:5-7), and the true blessing of God that follows (Isa 58:8-14). If they truly repented of their hypocrisy and humbly and justly cared for the weak, the hungry and the afflicted, God promised, "then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob" (Isa 58:14).
God was Appalled That There Was No One to Intervene (Isa 59:1-21)
What was their problem? "...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isa 59:2). Isa 59:3-8 expresses how they were bent on living in sin. Paul describes the depravity of all mankind with Isaiah's language (Rom 3:15-17), implying that even God's people will sin as badly as anyone when they live as they please. Though they confess their sin and misery (Isa 59:9-13), they were helpless in their sin, so that only God can redeem them (Isa 59:14-21). "He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him" (Isa 59:16). God, who is the One offended by man's sin, took it upon himself to save his people through the intervention of the Suffering Servant (Isa 53:12; Rom 5:7), who is the Messiah. Through Him, people through out the world will respond rightly to God by fearing Him (Isa 59:19).
How do we come to know this? "My Spirit, who is on you...and my words that I have put in your mouth" (Isa 59:21, 32:15, 44:3; Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 37:14; Zech 12:10). The Spirit works "by and with the Word in our hearts" (Westminster Confession, 1.5).
Practical Application: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Assurance: “'The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,' declares the LORD" (Isa 59:20).
No comments:
Post a Comment