Monday, January 19, 2009

Isaiah 52:7,8a,10,12,14

I think Isaiah 52 is probably the most poetic chapter I have read so far in Isaiah. If you’re in the right mood and read it in the right way (like I must have been), it just takes your breath away. Verses such as

How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion
“Your God reigns!”’ (Isaiah 52:7)

Are truly beautiful of themselves. Again, the theme of the chapter is Israel’s redemption. The comfort of Israel. The restoration of Israel. It is a big theme in Isaiah currently. But this chapter is more about rejoicing because the LORD will bring them back! In previous chapters there has been a lot of argument on God’s behalf as to the certainty of their redemption, and its imminence. He was trying to make sure they believed it, trying to make them confident in it. Now the obvious outflow of that is joy! Strike up your voices! The LORD has saved us! Indeed:

Your watchmen shall lift up their voices,
With their voices they shall sing together…’ (Isaiah 52:8a)

Now this of course refers primarily to the imminent restoration of Israel under Cyrus (as has been made clear in previous chapters), but as is usual in Isaiah, it makes some secondary claims (of much greater importance). The chapter ends with another of the Servant passages – about the coming Messiah. And thus it hints at the future restoration of Israel, indeed, the future restoration of the entire world (vs. 15), which is a much greater restoration (and much more important for us!).

But what struck me was the ease with which God can do this restoration. In two senses, as we will see. Now, think about it. In one sense He is restoring a whole massive nation from captivity in another land, from a nation much stronger than themselves. In the second sense, He is saving us from our sin. Which one sounds harder? Which sounds like it takes more exertion, or pain or strength of will on God’s part? To save a sinner like me (I’m not that bad am I?), or to physically bring a whole nation from one land to another? Let’s see:

The LORD has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God.’ (Isaiah 52:10)

When I read this, I get the picture of God just flexing His muscles (yes I know He doesn’t have any…) in front of all the nations…challenging them to even dare to take Him on. It’s a one sided battle don’t you think? God has made bare His holy arm. His arm of power and infinite strength. And all the ends of the earth shall see. That’s one big arm!

For you shall not go out with haste,
Nor go by flight;
For the LORD will go before you,
And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.’ (Isaiah 52:12)

Well it really does sound like a ‘walk in the park’ for God! Such a mighty task, moving a nation. But God accomplishes it with ease. And I guess that applies to us in many senses. What are you captive to? What fears hem you in? What sins tie you down? God can, and will, lead you out from them. But only if you rely on Him. The Israelites couldn’t remove themselves and restore themselves to their own land. Neither can you restore yourself, or save yourself from anything. Only God can do that. And oh how easily! Not only will He bring us out - but we shall not go out ‘with haste’ or ‘by flight’. He will bring us out comfortably, triumphantly, walking before and behind us. We will walk out stronger than when we went in. What more reason to give joy for current persecutions or trials?

And now let us see what we have been saved from. For God not only saves us from the power of sin and trials in our lives, but of course He has saved us from our sin, once and for all. He has redeemed us without money (vs. 3) from the clutches of Satan and this world.

Just as many were astonished at you,
So His visage was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men;’ (Isaiah 52:14)

This is what Jesus went through to save us form our sins. In no way was it an easy task. It cost Him His life, which He gave freely as a ransom for many. His form was marred more than any man. That is what it cost Him to save us. For we have been saved from a much greater captivity than physical captivity in another land, or even a psychological or emotional captivity in our own lives. We have been saved from the ancient serpent, the ruler of this world. And yet, even so, Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave, and sits at the right hand of God now, interceding for us. Just like when God leads Israel out of captivity, and walks in front of and behind them, our LORD leads us and guards us from behind.

Let us never be unconfident in our God. For He both loves us deeply, and is powerful enough to move nations. Indeed, He is powerful enough to defeat death. If we trust in Him He has already delivered us from sin, and He will lead us out of every trial this world will set for us. Trust. It’s all about trust.

No comments:

Post a Comment