Isaiah 54:1-17
Monday, 01 May 2023
"For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed." Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” -Isaiah 54:10
To the initial reader of this promise—the old Israel, this was unbelievable because they often experienced the chastening hand of God. They were displaced from their promised land and underwent persecution from their neighbors due to disobedience to God's covenant with them. But here we see a shift in God's strategies towards them. This new covenant of peace is compared with that of the one God made with Noah (V.9). It is permanent and God is assuring His people, a peace between God and man that will not depart even if the whole earth is removed. What a glorious experience, which God only can guarantee to His chosen ones!
If we look at the basis of this covenant, we see it lies in the previous two chapters—Isaiah 52 and 53. These are the chapters through which God reveals in all its beauty- the suffering Messiah. When the old covenant based on the sacrificial system of goats and calves has failed due to the inability of Israel to keep the laws of God, here we see a permanent deliverance through the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Hebrews 10:14 says: For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Here the one who initiates and executes the covenant are the same. We the people of God are the beneficiaries through faith, in all that our representative Christ Jesus has done on the cross. So it is not based on our doings, but based on what our good Lord has done. The new covenant of peace is eternal and will carry the people of God into eternal peace with God. All the wrath that should come upon humankind for their sins, has been poured upon God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ. He swallowed every wrath in all its fury upon the cross. He suffered for us. Isaiah 53:5 says: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."
Every blessing that we enjoy today from God is based on what Jesus has done on the cross of Calvary. On this strong foundation of the new covenant, we can build God's house- the church on which the gates of Hades can’t prevail (Matt.16:18). It can be enlarged to any extent because of its strong foundation. Isaiah 54:2-3: "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your chords, And strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolated cities inhabited."
Have you received this peace into your heart dear friend? Its putting your faith in the Lord Jesus who can bring this peace between you and God. Romans 5:1 assures us thus: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What a glorious state to have eternal peace with God and to rest in this promise! Let us today enjoy this and rest in our Lord's doing.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, today I understand the value of this peace covenant with you and rest in this promise through our Lord or which I praise you and worship you. Amen.