Today in God’s Word

November 9, Isaiah 63

I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD,

the praises of the LORD, according to all that

the LORD has granted us, and the great

goodness to the house of Israel that he has

granted them according to his compassion,

according to the abundance of his steadfast

love. - Isaiah 63:7

In moments of trial and seasons of adversity, it's important for God's people to look back and look ahead. Isaiah encouraged the people of God to remember both God's blessings past and judgment to come.

The Israelites needed to remember how good God had been to them. When they were in distress, it was never because God had forsaken them, but always because they had forsaken God. He loved them and chose them before they ever knew him. He blessed them with his loving kindness and mighty power. His angel (or his presence) was with them in the wilderness. Later, the promise of his presence would be even greater when the Word would become flesh and dwell among the people he came to save. He would promise and keep his promise for his Spirit to dwell within them and never forsake them.

You and I live in the age when those last two promises of his presence among us have become reality. Jesus did come and live as one of his names (Immanuel) suggests. He was "God with us." In the new covenant with his people in Christ, God promises and keeps the promise to indwell us with his Spirit. He has shown us great kindness and tender mercy. He knows our needs, cares about them and meets them. The Lord could say about us just what he did about his ancient people Israel, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." But sadly we all have sometimes forgotten God's great loving kindness and chosen to do our will instead of honoring him as Lord. Then when the adverse consequences of our disobedience begin to torment us, we might cry out, "Where is he who brought them up out of the sea?" But as it was with Adam and Eve in the garden after they sinned, the question is not "Where is God?" Instead God asked them and asks us "Where are you?"

We also need to remember, just as the Lord reminded his people in Chapter 63, that judgment is coming. Messiah will be the victor over all who dare oppose him. Edom stands for all the enemies of God and his people, and God will be the victorious warrior who destroys those enemies. The thought of facing God in judgment should have turned the Israelites back from their rebellion and cured them of their serial idolatry. If his compassionate rescue in the past did not turn them back, the threat of incurring his coming wrath should have.

You and I are also judgment-bound, accountable people. We must remember that we have an appointment with judgment. The Judge will be the One who died to save us and rose so we could have eternal life. We want his blessings of forgiveness, provision and protection now. We will want his mercy on the day when we stand before him in judgment. We do not want to face the fierce wrath of his righteous displeasure because of our sinful rebellion.

Can you see how remembering these two important facts of God's past mercy and coming judgment should motivate us to be faithful? We should find help to be faithful to God, to love him over all others, and to stand in awe of him when we remember blessings past and judgment to come.

Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Today in God's Word—November 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ