We are nearing the end of our journey through the Book of Isaiah. One of the themes in Isaiah’s ministry is to point out the deep pride and self-deception of God’s people, even in their religiosity, or maybe, especially in their religiosity. It seems like the LORD needs to light a spiritual dynamite stick in the hearing of the Israelites through the words of the prophet in Is. 58:1-2:
Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem for God to come near them.
These people even fast quite often (Is. 58:3). But their fasting betrays a deep-seated selfishness which manifests itself in quarreling and strife with their neighbor (Is. 58:4). Their false-humility in their self-imposed hunger leaves their fellow Israelite more hungry and destitute (Is. 58:6-7). They have lost sight of the whole purpose of outward religious rituals: transformation of the inner character of the worshiper into God’s righteous character. It is this kind of worshiper who will experience the presence and power of God working in them and through him (Is. 58:8-14).
Failing To Look Into The Mirror
In Isaiah 59:1-15, the sinfulness and spiritual impotence of God’s people continues to be emphasized. They are complaining why God is not working more on their behalf (Is. 59:1). They are spiritually blind to their deep-seated pride. It is their sin and iniquity that have separated them from God, and they don’t even realize it (Is. 59:2-3). They have made their paths crooked (v. 8) and as a result, the righteous and just God cannot draw near (Is. 59:14-15).
In Isaiah 59:16-21, the LORD proclaims a key truth we have already heard many times before in the Book of Isaiah: the LORD Himself will have to do a new thing in His people, if the full fruit and purposes of God’s covenant with them will be realized. And He is committed to do this very thing! He will accomplish it! God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham’s descendants (Gen. 12:1-3) will be fulfilled (Is. 60:1-14). People from every nation will come and worship Yahweh God, Israel’s faithful husband (Is.2:1-5).
God’s New Creation
The LORD will produce a righteous people (Is. 60:21) and they will fully enjoy the new heavens and the new earth as their inheritance forever (Is. 60:15-22). The description of the home of God’s people here, which includes both Jews and Gentiles, has much in common with the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:22-27. God’s New Creation will be fully complete one day. Alleluia! Praise the LORD!
QOTD: Are God’s justice and righteousness taken deep root in your life, or has unconfessed sin kept His presence from working in you and through you?