A Justice-Loving God

April 26, 2020 Background Scripture: Isaiah 61:8 – 62:12 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 61:8 – 11; 62:2 - 4a The background scripture covers two very important aspects of Isaiah’s prophecy, the advents of the Messiah and the restoration of God’s people. The gospel story presented in the four accounts of the gospel starts during the Messiah’s first advent. The gospel accounts take us to the birth and early history of the church. The Messiah’s second advent takes place during the prophetic timeline in the book of Revelation and it leads to the ultimate restoration of God’s people. One of the things that makes Isaiah the greatest of the writing prophets is that his prophecy reaches across the entire spectrum of the bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The sixteen verses in the background scripture cover an enormous span of time. It started around 30 A.D. and continues to unfold today. That’s too much for us to grapple with in one lesson. However, prophecy has two other properties that make it useful for us today. In addition to its ultimate fulfillment, it also had meaning and relevance for the original recipients of the writing. This was their encouragement as they went through difficult times and eventually were exiled in foreign lands. Because of the word of God, the people of God knew that God would restore them to a glory befitting God’s people. No matter how dark the days may have gotten, the people of Israel knew that God watched over His word and He would bring it to pass. They knew that God would deliver them from whatever they faced, and He would restore them. Isaiah’s prophecy assured them of it and encouraged them. God promised to have watchmen appointed on the walls who would not rest but cry out to Him to fulfill His promises to His people. No matter how dismal the day was for them, God always provided a watchman. Those are the two extreme interpretations of prophecy, the ultimate fulfilment at the end of time and the immediate meaning for the original recipients of the writing. Our benefit today lies in the spiritual nature of the prophetic message. The prophetic message has spiritual principles that contain truth that is always applicable. When a child of God embraces this, then there is a seeking of that truth whenever the prophetic word is under consideration. There are great promises as well as stern warnings to be found in the word of God. When God declares a thing to be wrong for Israel, then there is something wrong about that for the people of God in all ages. When God makes bold promises to Israel concerning their future, then there is something encouraging about that for children of God in all ages. Israel suffered many things during their history as a result of disobedience on their part. God never abandoned them at any time. God was always faithful even when they were not. Today, we understand that God never changes because we have the benefit of Israel’s history that shows it. We can rest assured that God will never leave nor forsake us either. Just as we have those great promises of God, we also should remember to heed God’s stern warnings. God demands that His people show justice—tempered with mercy. This is God’s character and He demands it of His people. God declares that He is holy and demands that His people be like Him. We must love justice because we serve a justice-loving God. Robert C. Hudson April 16, 2020