The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
(Isaiah 59:15b-17 NIV)
You’ve looked around. You’ve seen it. Felt it. A time when, everywhere you looked, all you could see was injustice. You longed for rescue. Prayed for it. Then felt despair when it was nowhere to be found. There was no one righteous, or even willing, to step in and sacrifice for the cause of moral truth.
The world has seen such times before. In the days of Noah. The days of the Judges. During the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Roman empirical reigns. But God was not blind. Detached. He was angered by the detestable state of things. The Lord saw there was no truth, justice, or righteousness. And “He saw that there was no one to intervene.” This provoked Him. The translation in the New International Version Bible says this “appalled” Him. The Hebrew, shamem, can also mean “horrified.”
So, what did He do? He stepped in. The Word of God, Creator of man, not only put on flesh, He dressed Himself in divine armor for battle. “He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak” (Isaiah 59:17). It’s a vivid picture. The Messiah, God’s Anointed, came as a conquering victor. God’s “own arm” came to intercede… to conquer the evil no one else could.
God promised a Redeemer would come to Zion, to those in Israel who would turn from their transgressions (Isaiah 59:20). He has assured, “he will repay according to their deeds: fury to his enemies, retribution to his foes” (Isaiah 59:18).
He did come! He came wearing righteousness and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:5). But His own didn’t recognize Him. He was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). But the Father was “well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Jesus was faithful. He accomplished His mission to perfection. He “achieved salvation” for mankind (Isaiah 59:16)… and glory for His Father. Dressed in righteousness, the Lord Himself conquered His enemies and provided rescue for His people. And the hearts of those He has redeemed look radiant, their hearts throb and swell with joy (Isaiah 60:5a). We look expectantly to the skies, for the day when the Son of Man will come “on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). The Victor, returning to claim the spoils of war.
Comments