Isaiah 59

Father, thank you for another day in Your presence and in the Word where we get to behold You. We magnify Your name LORD God and ask that You speak to our hearts and may You do only what You can do which is to transform us from our spirit, soul, body and right living that glorifies You in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

All through the book of Isaiah, we see the LORD speaking through the prophet Isaiah, encouraging His people to turn their hearts and ways back to Him. In this chapter, we see a separation between God and His people as expressed in Isaiah 59:2. At the same time, the LORD encourages His people that if they happen to experience bad outcomes, it is not because He is blind or does not desire to answer their prayer. In Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV), we see "Behold the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear."

However, the reason for this is sin that has separated God from His people. In Isaiah 59:4, we see that nobody calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth as the people speak lies and empty words. We also continue to see that the people are swift to do evil and to shed innocent blood (Isaiah 59:7) all of which are things that God is extremely unpleased with. When the LORD looked at the evil done by His people, Isaiah 59:16 (NKJV) says, "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him." Generally, the book of Isaiah is drawing God's precious back to Him, which are the children of Israel. It is important to note, all of their lives from when God carried them in the wilderness after rescuing them from bondage and slavery in Egypt, they of all the people experienced God and knew of His ways more than any nation on the face of the earth. However, we see the prophet Isaiah speaking to the people to draw their hearts back to the LORD.

The above verse in Isaiah 59:16, illustrates the depravity of the human soul, that if not for God and sending His own righteousness who is Jesus Christ, then there would be no hope for His people yet alone mankind.

This verse also shows us the LORD's surprise that there was no intercessor to intercede on behalf of the people. It appears man's righteousness could not measure with the holiness and righteousness of God because of their sin and iniquity.

So God in His love sends a solution to fix this problem which is Jesus Christ, His beloved Son and sin bearing Servant. We see the LORD Jesus, coming in full 'combat mode' which is expected of a believer as well, (as seen in Ephesians 6:14-17), that is, "He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak." (Isaiah 59:17).

The LORD Jesus Christ is armed in this 'combat mode' to perform the Father's will here on earth to permanently destroy all works of darkness, sin and to redeem God's people which now includes everyone as seen in Isaiah 59:19 - "So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." - AMEN. In the gospel of John 19:30, we see that Jesus successfully completed this assignment, to the glory of God, the Father.

I'll end with the LORD's promise found in Isaiah 59:21 (NKJV)

"As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forever more."

Amen., thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: God in His expression of love towards man sent forth His One and Only Son in whom is the forgiveness of sin. In the blood of Christ, we are reconciled in relationship to God and have direct access to Him as our Father. If you would like to receive the gift of the abundant life which is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, please say this prayer below;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

PRAISE GOD, THE LORD HAS REDEEMED YOU!- Amen.

In case, you have received God's free gift of salvation, join a church community and get water baptized.