Promises and Promises
God is a promise maker. It's unreal to hear how many times in the Bible God speaks about guaranteeing His people's future, safety, and prosperity. Perhaps one of those places in the Bible where the promises abound most incredibly is the second half of Isaiah 54.
God promises to make them beautiful in splendor.
Isaiah 54:11–12 (ESV) “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.
This is a nation that has been in exile, lost, and without hope. There is no beauty to them at the moment. But as the Servant of Isaiah 53 took the ugliness of sin upon Himself, the people of God benefit by receiving the beauty of God instead.
God promises generational safety.
Isaiah 54:13 (ESV) All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
God is not only concerned with our generational blessing. He is thinking long-term. He considers our children and their children as well. The records of genealogies in the Bible are a firm statement that God records our lives and the promises He gives us are intergenerational.
God promises peace of mind.
Isaiah 54:14 (ESV) In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
There will be no terror for those who belong to God.
God promises protection from attack.
Isaiah 54:15 (ESV) If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
God's people are surrounded by the protection of the Lord. We need not fear what happens in the world with God watching over us.
God promises a strong defense against any physical or verbal assault.
Isaiah 54:16–17 (ESV) Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; 17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
I especially love verses 16 and 17. As much as we may fear the physical dangers around us, we all know that verbal attacks are far easier to come by and far harder to forget (sometimes). The word "vindication" could be translated as "righteousness". God is promising that our standing before Him as pure and undefiled is safe in Him. We will cast down every accuser. Why? Because we stand in the righteousness of God.
With such compelling promises in view, what kind of life should a Christian live? A bold, intergenerational, long-term thinking, confident, and courageous life!
Amen.
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