God will save those who repent

ISAIAH    CHAPTER 59

The Lord tells the people that he is not deaf, that he hears when they call, but their sins have cut them off from him. He turned away and will not listen because their hands are the hands of murderers and fingers filthy with sin, mouths full of lies and lips tainted by corruption.

He claims that the people are constantly using lies to base their lawsuits and spend their time plotting evil. they cheat and shortchange each other and nothing they do is productive. Violence is their trademark. Misery and destruction follow them and they do not know what true peace is or what it means to be just and good.

Because of all this evil, deliverance is far from the people. That is why God does not punish those who injure us. No wonder we walk in the gloom and grope like the blind. The people growl and look for justice and wait to be rescued. And the people know what sinners they are and what they have done.

So the Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice and nobody intervened to help the oppressed. Thus he stepped in to save them with his power and justice. He put on the righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with the robes of vengeance and godly fury. He will repay his enemies and foes in distant lands and they will respect him and glorify his name.

"The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem", says the Lord. He will buy back those who have turned from their sins. This is my covenant with them and my spirit will not leave them and neither will the words I have given you.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: History shows God would act to rescue the nation from enemies (Assyria and Babylon) and punish wicked Israelites.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY?
First let me say how great it is to hear the prophecy of the Redeemer coming to Jerusalem. Think how many hundreds of years before this prophecy would come true. How would you react to such a prophecy if it were given to you? Would you believe? Be skeptical? Isaiah was a beloved character as well as a wise prophet. I like to think we would believe in the coming Redeemer.

How does the sinning of a group of Israelites affect us today? Well, it shows that God can and will rescue those who are willing to put an end to sinning. Even in our times, God can save us whether we sin once or many times. We must truly repent and ask his foregiveness.  For when he saves us, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and the desires to sin no longer lure us into a life of sin.

As Christians today, we are heirs of this prophecy. We can see God's will and distinguish it from evil because the Holy Spirit is with us.

If you haven't done so already, ask God for foregiveness. Put yourself in his hands and let the Holy Spirit come over you.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.