Everlasting Covenant

September 25, 2016 Background Scripture: Isaiah 61 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 61:1 – 4, 8 – 11 The good news in today’s lesson is God’s promise to make an everlasting covenant with His people. Because of the nature of prophecy, this prophecy was viewed in one context at the time of its delivery and immediately following it, however, it is viewed in a different context since the Messiah’s advent. For the recipients in Isaiah’s day and immediately following it, this prophecy gave assurance that the future Babylonian captivity of the Jews would not be the end of God’s people. God would again gather them in Zion and restore the form of worship He delivered to them through Moses. Although their sins would lead to their captivity, the prophet assured them that they could look forward to a future deliverance after God exacted vengeance on their enemies. They were looking for a Messiah who would be a military leader similar to King David. He was expected to restore the nation’s pride and provide the security for them to exist among the other nations. The actual arrival of the Messiah presented a very different understanding of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus was indeed a descendant of King David, but in his first advent, his mission was quite different than the military quest expected by Israel. How appropriate that Jesus chose this text out of the writing of the prophet Isaiah for his inaugural message in a synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus used the first verse and a half to announce the beginning of his ministry by declaring that the fulfillment of the prophecy was taking place before them at that very time. This text was the Messiah’s introduction of himself to Israel. Today, Christians refer to this as Jesus’ first advent or first appearance on earth in the flesh. According to Isaiah, the Messiah’s ministry would constitute a comprehensive outreach to the lost sheep of Israel. The meek, the broken-hearted, the captives, and the imprisoned were now about to receive the proclamation of good news, healing, deliverance and freedom. But this was just the first verse and a half. As we continue to read the prophecy, we see beyond the Church Age—which is represented in its entirety by a comma in verse 2. Beyond the Church Age, after the gospel has been preached to every creature, the Messiah will return for the time of vengeance in his second advent. God will punish the wicked and abolish sin. All who refuse to put their trust in the Lord will be destroyed. The covenant of restoration is an everlasting covenant. The faithful will be clothed in salvation and wear righteousness as an outer garment. The shame of sin that exposed the spiritual nakedness of Adam and Eve would be forever banished just as sin will be destroyed forever. This is the everlasting covenant and there will be no need for fear because this covenant is upheld by God and Him alone. Free of sin, the people of God will praise Him spontaneously. In the absence of sin, the people of God will walk continuously in righteousness. This will be everlasting. Robert C. Hudson September 10, 2016