THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION

Isaiah 59:1-21

Saturday, 21 December 2024

“The Redeemer will come to Zion,

And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”

Says the LORD.    -Isaiah 59:20

The Bible reveals God’s plan of redemption of fallen humankind, who got separated from the love of God through sin. It further reveals God’s love and relentless search of His creation whom He wants to bring back to the original glory with which He created them!

Isaiah expresses the sin of Israel that separated them from God which made His face turn from them, yet offering restoration through the Redeemer. Thus our text exposes the heart cry of an evangelist exposing sin and its consequences as well as the deliverance offered by God. Isaiah 59:2 clearly mentions the greatest tragedy of sin—an eternal separation from God who is the fountain of all goodness. Since we are living in a world that thrives on self-reliance, this separation is seldom noticed. Man thinks he is self-sufficient to create his own realm of life which is so poetically described with its folly in the chapter from verses 1-8. 

Man’s world is filled with wicked actions, falsehood, injustice, evil, violence and trouble. V.12 says that our actions testify against us as our rebellion towards God is quite obvious. God was greatly displeased with the situation as He saw the helplessness of it all, with no one to deliver. Yet the heart of God did not abandon man— “his own arm achieved salvation for him” (V.16).  His redemption plan was set in place! “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD (V.20). The way of redemption is turning away from iniquity in repentance, and turning towards God. The Redeemer that God sent to the world is Jesus Christ who only can forgive us our sins and make us righteous before Him. 2 Cor.5:21 says: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus Christ established a New Covenant through His death and the shed blood on the cross for those who would receive Him. In the New Covenant that God makes with His redeemed ones, He makes His dwelling in us through His Spirit (V.21). The same promise was given by God through Ezekiel: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). That’s life through the Holy Spirit that every believer in Christ can experience!

Brothers and sisters, sin separates us from the God of all blessing and goodness, but if we are willing to heed to His voice through His Word and Repent, He will give us a new life through His Spirit.  He will establish us through His wonderful covenant which is sealed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ himself. This covenant is an eternal covenant and it guarantees us to be eternally united with our God in heaven. Thanks be to our Savior who saves us and is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude v.24). Would you receive it?

Prayer: God of all goodness, I submit to Your call of repentance, understanding my own wretchedness: please deliver me through Your Son and establish me under Your eternal covenant. In Jesus name. Amen