Deliverance in Zion
Isaiah 63:1–6
It is I, speaking in righteousness. Isaiah 63:1
Who is this warrior described in Isaiah 63:1? He is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, returning to Jerusalem in the day of his wrath after having subdued the nations. He is the great “I am,” speaking in righteousness. He is the Judge and Savior (see v. 4).
The time is coming when God is going to sort things out and punish unrighteousness. If we were to look at this past period in the history of Edom and Israel, we might conclude that Edom will escape and Israel will always suffer. Here is Edom: a nation of sinners, but in power, impregnable in Petra. Here is Israel: chosen of God but disciplined because of sin—her city overthrown, her people scattered. A person might look at this and say, “Well, that’s the end of Israel! Off they go to Babylon! They’re never going to come back from that captivity. Who ever heard of a captive nation rising and repossessing their land? It has never happened before; it is certainly not going to happen in this case.” Yet God brings Edom down, and he exalts his people.
In this world the ungodly often seem to flourish; the godly are stricken. But God says that, in the ultimate working of his plan, the ungodly are going to be punished—the Day of the Lord will come upon them—while those who are his people will be lifted up and blessed in Jesus Christ.
If the Day of the Lord has not yet come, it is in order that God might show grace to more people. In the apostle Peter’s day, skeptics were saying that because things seemed to continue as they have been from the beginning, therefore there is no judgment. But Peter answered, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is delaying the ultimate working out of his judgment on many nations until those whom he will call to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ do come. This is the day of his grace.
If you are not a believer in Christ, God tells you to believe in him now. Run to Mount Zion for salvation! Run to Jesus! If you are a believer, then do as Israel will do and possess your great possessions.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.