epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Monday, November 12, 2007

Isaiah 43

The worth of any promise depends on the character, power, and intentions of the maker of the promise. A promise is of little value if any of these things is lacking. Of course the most secure promise that we can possess is a promise from God. He has the best character, the greatest power, and the most wonderful intentions toward His own name and toward us as His people who have been named with that great name.

In Isaiah 43 God makes a great promise to Israel. His words are full of love and commitment. The best promise that He can make to us as we go through the challenges of this age is that He will be with us. This is His commitment to Israel. Yes, they will face deep waters and flames, but the floods will not overwhelm them and the fire will not consume them. Egypt may be destroyed, and Cush may fall, but God will save His Israel. She is precious in His eyes, and the object of His great love. The church has inherited these promises as the new covenant community. We are treated as the special people of God. He will take us through suffering to victory.

The way that God speaks of helping His people here is through a marvelous work of gathering them from far-off nations. There are several levels of fulfillment in this powerful word of grace. First, after the exile to Babylon, many of God’s people would eventually be restored to the land under Ezra, Nehemiah, and others. Second, when Christ came and the Spirit was poured out upon the church, people of faith would be gathered to the Lord in an amazing way in the first century of the church and beyond. Finally, the most complete work of gathering is in the Lord’s eternal kingdom when Christ returns to bring His people home for good. Then the sons of God will be finally revealed – the people who are called by His name. He has not only created them physically, but also spiritually. They are waiting for Him. The partial fulfillment of the Lord’s promises is great, but those who hear the fullness of His Word are eager for the fullness of His power. We long for that day when we can say that all that was promised we now fully possess.

This day of gathering at the return of the Lord Jesus will not only be for blessing but for judgment. We who believe and obey the gospel are eager for that day of the Lord’s visitation, because it will mean for us the fullness of grace. But for some the Lord will be glorified in a different way, particularly for those who have persecuted the church. What a great messenger of grace is the apostle Paul, for he was a persecutor of the church who was arrested in advance by the Lord that He might not be detained on the final day. We seek that many would face some confrontation of their souls now so that they might be turned from being enemies of Christ and His church to being servants of the gospel and the Kingdom.

Our God is the real God. It is certainly wise to surrender to Him now while there is yet time. He has made a way for us through the sea, a way through the wilderness, a way home. Jesus is that way, and heaven is our desired destination. He can save us now from the wrath of our enemies. He is our creator and our defender. No army can stop Him when He has determined to bless or when He has determined to judge. One man standing against a might horse and a rider in a chariot can be utterly frightened at the power of a fierce animal before him. But no horse is mighty before the Lord. No weapon of men is overwhelming to God.

If God chooses to bless, if He determines to do a new thing – a thing of life and not death, He will not be stopped in His purpose of grace. We live because of His purpose of grace expressed so perfectly in the atonement. God’s justice for us has been satisfied through the death of His Son, and there is no obstacle against us that will keep us from the fullness of His blessing. This is the new thing that He has done for those who deserved nothing from Him but hell. This is particularly remarkable since some Gentiles will be shown mercy and some Jews have been cut off from the Lord’s Kingdom. Today thousands of Jews and Gentiles make a wretched choice, but millions are safe in the Kingdom of Christ as those who have been chosen by God.

Pity the nations, O our God, constrain the earth to come. Send Your victorious word abroad, and bring the captives home.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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