Zealous God
Today's Advent Promise always gives me goosebumps. It's not a classic "Christmassy" prophecy of Christ, but describes the Incarnation in John's Terms - "Light shining into darkness"Isaiah 59 starts with a description of our human sinfulness:
"For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things."
Our sins separate us from God, justice is driven back, truth is nowhere to be found and those who strive for righteousness are victimised.
But Isaiah reveals a glimpse into God's heart.
When God saw our predicament He was profoundly moved:
- He was appalled at our predicament.
- He set out to work salvation for us.
- His righteousness became the sacrifice that paid for us
- Our salvation was the reason for which He went to the cross.
- He was determined to break Satan's power
- And He wrapped Himself in zeal.
Jesus wasn't resigned to the Incarnation in a "Oh-well-I-suppose-I-had-better-save-these-people" kind of way. No! He was appalled at where our brokenness takes us, and He rolled up His sleeves to get stuck into saving us. He passionately and zealously offered up His very best - even His righteousness (He took on the guilt of our sin) - so that we might be saved.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame."
Take a few moments to read this 400 year promise from a God who was determined to rescue us....
| He saw that there was no-one; He was appalled that there was no one to intervene So His own arm worked salvation for Him And His own righteousness sustained Him He put on righteousness as His breastplace And the helmet of salvation on His head He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. (Isaiah59:16-17) |
