"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will
not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her
salvation like a blazing torch."
- Isaiah 62:1
I want to cover the OT lesson from this Sunday's lessons. Tomorrow I
will cover the Epistle lesson. Hope you will be able to see the
unifying theme in the lessons. If you have any questions or suggestions
please let me know.
Many believe Isaiah is speaking in this verse. If so, Isaiah's zeal for
his people and his desire to see the work of salvation completed caused
him to pray without resting, hoping that Israel would be saved. If this
is true we . . .
"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch."
- Isaiah 62:1
I want to cover the OT lesson from this Sunday's lessons. Tomorrow I will cover the Epistle lesson. Hope you will be able to see the unifying theme in the lessons. If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.
Many believe Isaiah is speaking in this verse. If so, Isaiah's zeal for his people and his desire to see the work of salvation completed caused him to pray without resting, hoping that Israel would be saved. If this is true we should have Isaiah's zeal to see God's will done. This is what we mean when we pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
At the time the Prophet Isaiah wrote the words in this passage, Israel and Jerusalem were in trouble. The people had neglected God's Word; they were unfaithful and idolatrous. God's chosen people had economic and political, spiritual and moral problems. It appeared that God had forgotten or given up on His promises to Abraham.
This reminds me when Jesus told the story of the prodigal son. It was a good illustration and an example of how the Israelites as individuals and also as a nation were conducting themselves. During Isaiah's time the people had begun to worship foreign gods and chase after other religions. They had corrupted themselves and were in a state of spiritual starvation. It was at this time they came back to God repenting of their misbehavior. That is why the prophet had to speak out and admonish his fellow Israelites and call them to repentance. He reminded them of God's promise to help. He had promised deliverance, forgiveness and salvation for the people. God had already made these promises to their forefathers, to Abraham and Israel.
There have been times even in our day when it seemed the Christian church couldn't survive. If it were not for God's protection and preservation the church would long ago have succumbed to the attacks of her enemies. Just as the prophet found it necessary to speak up for Zion, it is also time for us to speak out because the only real security of God's people lies in the salvation which our LORD Jesus Christ won for us on the cross of Calvary.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
And drives away all fear.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Let us declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light!