The Day of Salvation: Isaiah 25-35 (5)

Pray Psalm 51.1-4.
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
Andblameless when You judge.

Read Isaiah 32, 33.

Reflect.
1. Judgment will abide on the nation of Israel (both Israel in the north and Judah in the south) until God acts decisively to bring the promise of restoration. What will that restoration entail, and what event triggers it?

2. Meanwhile, what are the people of God supposed to do?

Meditate.
These two chapters strike me as belonging together in communicating an important element of God’s promised restoration. We note that they begin and end with the mention of a King (32.1-8; 33.17-24; I think the NKJV translators should have capitalized King in each passage, not just the last). This is an inclusio, which is a literary device used for emphasis (a passage begins and ends in the same place, wrapping everything within it into that focal point). 

The promise of restoration comes after the Lord judges His people. It will be realized under the reign of a King who rules in righteousness and beauty, in a Kingdom of justice, peace, illumination, witness, rest, and bounty. Central to this coming to pass is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the middle of these two chapters (32.15-20). The coming King is our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit brings His Kingdom to earth, and to His people (Dan. 7.13-18).

When this Kingdom comes, the blessings of God’s covenant will abound. Sin will be illuminated so that it might be replaced by justice (32.5-8). God’s faithful people will know His blessings and peace, even though trials may come upon them from time to time (32.15-19).

But first judgment must come. In the face of impending judgment, prayers of lamentation and longing are in order (32.9-14; 33.1-9), and with these, the call to repentance and righteousness before the Lord (33.10-16). The blessings of God are available now, even as judgment approaches, to those who faithfully sow His Word and work His field (32.20), which is what we see Isaiah doing, and what we are called to do as witnesses for Christ (Acts 1.8; cf. Matt. 13.24-30, 36-43).

The kings of Jerusalem will fail the people of God as surely as the kings of Israel failed His people there. They should not expect to know deliverance through yet another earthly king. But a King is coming, and bringing a reign of righteousness, peace, and joy in God’s Spirit. This was Isaiah’s consolation hope. It is our reality. Are we making the most of it?

Prepare.
1. Summarize the conditions that attend the coming of the King and the Spirit of God. How do these apply to us?

2. The blessings of God come to those who sow, even as judgment approaches. What are the implications of this for you? 

3. God is described as exalted both as He blesses His people (33.5, 6) and as He judges sinners (33.10-14). Why is this so? 

Accordingly, like a perfect man learned in the law and made firm in the gospel, accept the faith of both Testaments, for, as we read today, “Blessed is he who sows upon every water, where the ox and the donkey tread,” that is, who sows upon the people who follow the teaching of both Testaments. This is the ploughman’s ox, wearing the yoke of the law, of which the law says, “You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out your corn,” for this ox has the horns of holy Scripture. But in the Gospel the Lord, representing the people of the Gentiles, mounts the colt of a donkey. Ambrose of Milan (333-397 AD), Letter 68 (9.64.9)

Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord, and I will turn from my sin and take up the work of sowing, so that…

Pray Psalm 51.
Linger in this familiar psalm, and let the Spirit of God search your soul, to bring to light any sins. Confess and repent of your sins, and call upon God to fill you with His Spirit, and with all the blessings that attend that filling.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 51.1-13 (Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
Be gracious to me, Savior, according to Your love!
According to Your mercy, my sins, my sins remove!
O wash me, precious Savior, and cleanse me from all sin; 
Look on me with Your favor, and cause my grief to end.

Against You only, Savior, have I become unclean; 
Thus just the condemnation which You pronounce on me.
Lord, I was born to sinning, while You seek truth within; 
To wisdom my heart winning, release me from my sin!

In Jesus’ blood and mercy, Lord, cleanse my evil heart!
Let me washed, cleansed, renewed be and pure in whole and part.
Bring joy again and gladness; look not upon my sin.
Deliver me from sadness; renew me yet again!

Create in me a clean heart, renew me from within!
Take not Your Spirit from me because of all my sin.
Salvation’s joy restore, Lord, and keep me in Your hand;
Thus shall I tell Your strong Word to sinners in the land.

T. M. Moore

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