Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Sin has a penalty which Jesus paid (Colossians 1:14). But sin still has consequence. “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap, because the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:7-8). God is ALWAYS with us, but there are times that even though we are forgiven and washed clean we have to deal with the consequences of what we have done.

The Israelites – who were under an inferior covenant to believers today, Jew and Gentile – had separated themselves from God with their iniquity. They had blood on their hands. They spoke lies. They had muttered perverseness (from God’s point of view). They were vain. Their thoughts were NOT set on the Lord but on sin. They didn’t partake of justice. They didn’t have peace. Their paths were crooked.

But there would be a time, when they were walking out their poor harvest through their captivity, that they would RECOGNISE their condition. They would understand WHY it was happening. They would see their spiritual blindness. They would know their transgressions were multiplied before the Lord. That they had departed from His ways. That their justice was backwards and their truth was lacking. This realisation would enable them to SEE their need for a redeemer. The Redeemer of Zion (Jesus) would put on His breastplate of righteousness and His helmet of salvation. He would repay in fury to His adversaries. All would see it and revere the Name of the Lord (Jesus). He would come for those who would turn back from their way to the Lord’s Way.

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says Yahweh: my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have placed in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children,” says Yahweh, “from now on and forever.”” (Isaiah 59:21)

Arise, said the Lord through Isaiah, and shine. The glory of the Lord was come. The deep darkness covering the Earth would be no match for the LIGHT of the Lord (Jesus). Nations would come to the Light. The glory of the Lord would be seen on His people and attract them. Their sons and daughters would be gathered to them and their hearts would thrill and rejoice in God. Their fortunes would be restored and the riches of the Earth would be gathered to them. The nations and peoples of the world would come and be accepted at the Lord’s altar (Jesus). The walls of Jerusalem would be rebuilt. The homes and palaces would rise again. Those who had been so hated in exile would be honoured by the nations who would build these things for God’s children. The Lord (Jesus) would be their light, more than the sun or the moon. He would shine on them and the people would be righteous forevermore. Violence would no longer be in the land and they would be a people of peace. A strong nation in Him before the whole Earth.

“The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives and liberation to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and our God’s day of vengeance, to comfort all those in mourning, to give for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

When Jesus came as a man, He fulfilled the first part of this verse (Luke 4:16-30). Right up to “proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor.” That was His ministry and His mission. He did it all. When He comes again, Jesus will fulfill the second half. He will restore His children on this Earth. Zion will rise again and be the apple of the eye of the nations of the world. The old ruins will be built up. The waste cities will be rebuilt. Strangers and the sons of non-Jews would serve them. Feeding their flocks. Plowing their fields and tending their vineyards. The children of God would be priests, the ministers of God. They would have double honour. They would have everlasting joy in their land. They would partake of the best things of the Earth and the nations in it. God would clothe them with garments of salvation (Psalm 132:9), robes of righteousness (Job 29:14), and they would be a bride adorned with jewels (Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 21:2). Jesus would be their bridegroom (Matthew 25:1).

This is NOT something the Lord will be silent about. He will NOT rest. He will make the nations see their righteousness and the kings of the Earth their glory (which is the Goodness of God). They will be called by a new name. They will be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord (Jesus). They will not be forsaken. Their land will not be desolate. The Lord would delight in them and it would be obvious to EVERYONE. The Lord has set watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem who will not be silent during day or night. They would continue to proclaim until the Lord establishes and makes Jerusalem a glory in the Earth. The Lord has sworn by His right hand (Jesus) and by His strong arm (Jesus). He would prepare the way of His children. He would remove the stones in their way. They will be known as The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, the Sought Out ones, and the City Not Forsaken (amen, this is coming!).

The One who speaks in Righteousness mighty to save (Jesus) would come in robes dyed red. He has trampled the winepress alone. In His year of redemption the wicked would be trampled. His vengeance on the wicked who refused Him and worked against Him would be walked out. No one helped the Lord, so His own arm brought salvation (Jesus). They will be trodden down and their blood poured out. [The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord is coming and it is the wicked who will be lost, taken, and removed.]

The Lord has (and will) bestowed on His children great goodness. The House of Israel has experienced (and will) the multitude of His kindnesses, His mercy. The angel of His presence (Jesus) saved them. He lifted them and carried them. They rebelled against Him and grieved His Holy Spirit, but they remembered Him. They remembered Him and became penitent. They repented. In their captivity they would call to Him. They would submit to Him. They would worship Him again. They would declare Him their Father, their Redeemer. They would ask Him to return to them, to remove their iniquity so the gulf between them would cease.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 59:9-15, 19-21; 60:1-7, 15-22; 61:1-3, 10-13; 62:1-5; 63:1-6, 15-19