THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD
Isaiah 54:1-17
“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”
It is quite amazing, really, that God would commit himself to Israel as a husband to his wife. It is quite amazing that he would be the husband who would forgive even though the wife has humiliated him to such a degree as Israel had.
No, God is no weak, henpecked husband. He is fully aware of Israel’s infidelities and he did not withhold judgement. Yet he returns to Israel with compassion and kindness.
No, God is no blind lover, willing to overlook the sin of Israel. He commits himself to solving the problem of Israel’s sinful nature, in order to be her source of blessing and joy. He will establish their righteousness; he will personally teach them; he will restore their glory, that was lost through sin, and indeed, glorify them even further.
If God is so committed to Abraham’s descendants, as a result of the covenant he made with him, imagine how he regards us, born out of Jesus’ sacrifice, redeemed by his blood, who now calls him our King. Again we must not view him as weak and willing to compromise for our sakes—far from it! But he was willing to sacrifice his Son and to send to us his Holy Spirit, in order that sin may be defeated without requiring our deaths.
For those of us who long to be on the side of God, he demonstrates to us his willingness to go all the way for us to succeed. As Paul asked rhetorically, “how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
“This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.