The opening verse of this chapter is for saints who feel forgotten and unnoticed. Hold on in hope to God\u2019s promises even when the Lord seems far away. Persevere in prayer even when His responses seem delayed. The Lord loves us, His people, and whether we see immediate evidence for it or not, He is actively caring for His little flock. Be sure, His \u2018hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear\u2019.<\/p>\n
When the Lord tarries<\/b><\/p>\n
There is no lack of power in God to do what He has said. Our Lord is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. There is wisdom in God\u2019s scheduling and there is goodness in His method even if we cannot see the reason now. \u2018Behold\u2019 is a call for special attention. Do not doubt! Do not be discouraged! Patience and endurance will be honoured by the Lord when His timing is right and the end of His purpose is fulfilled.<\/p>\n
I never knew you<\/b><\/p>\n
There will always be false professors in the Christian church, men and women who try to claim the promises of mercy and grace while denying the way and means of grace. It is these who have no reconciliation with God and who are separated from Him by sin. There are false preachers who corrupt the doctrine of Christ and whose hands are defiled with blood because they speak lies to men\u2019s souls. This has been the case in every age; it is perhaps more widely prevalent today than ever before.<\/p>\n
What Isaiah foresaw<\/b><\/p>\n
The religion of our age is aptly described in this chapter. Today\u2019s Christianity, so called, is religion without a need for righteousness and faith without a need for truth. Every man does what is right in his own eyes with little concern for the objective truth of the gospel. By their doctrine it appears that few really know the Christ of scripture. The poison of snakes courses in their veins and rests upon their lips. They weave webs of lies which are too thin to provide a covering for sin or supply a righteousness sufficient for heaven.<\/p>\n
The enemies of Christ<\/b><\/p>\n
False religion opposes the true gospel and is quick to attack and suppress faith in Christ wherever it can. The followers of false religion know no peace with God now, despite what they claim, and they will have none from Him in eternity. Their approach to God is crooked and perverse. They come to Him according to their own wisdom, by their own works, through their own righteousness, but it will not do. They oppose and oppress Christ\u2019s gospel as many freewill, and works-righteousness churches do today.<\/p>\n
The effect of false religion<\/b><\/p>\n
Verse 9 changes from \u2018they\u2019 to \u2018us\u2019 and perhaps speaks of the felt consequences of this opposition and the struggles of the Lord\u2019s people who seem to cry in vain to the Saviour for deliverance. Judah cried out under bondage in Babylon for seventy years and God\u2019s people cry out for deliverance from the corrupt Babylon-religion of our day. We wait for light but we walk in darkness, such is the wickedness of the time in which we live. Justice is withheld and truth, having fallen in the street, is denied.<\/p>\n
A man fit to intercede<\/b><\/p>\n
For the Lord\u2019s own reasons He yet waits to deliver His true church from these attacks. However, the hurt of His people does not go unnoticed. The Lord is displeased with His enemies and ours and \u2018wonders\u2019 that there is no intercessor to defend His people. This does not imply surprise on God\u2019s part but displays to the church that there was no other fit person to deliver us. In the absence of a worthy man amongst men the Lord Himself takes our nature and becomes our Saviour. The righteousness of the Godman shall justify His elect .<\/p>\n
Christ\u2019s illustrative armour<\/b><\/p>\n
The Lord putting on righteousness as a breastplate suggests that purity and holiness were next to Christ\u2019s heart throughout His incarnation. Salvation worn as a helmet implies the eternal wellbeing of the elect was Christ\u2019s chief and topmost purpose in coming into this world. He brought vengeance that divides between men for time and eternity, He shows zeal for the love of His Bride and fury against the works of her tormentors.<\/p>\n
Promises pending<\/b><\/p>\n
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Redeemer that has come to Zion. In Christ\u2019s first coming we see redemption prophecies fulfilled. Now we await His future coming when He will redeem His church to glory. These are promises yet pending. These promises are covenant promises. In verse 21 we see and hear Jehovah declare His everlasting purpose to save His people from their sins and gather His church to glory. The Son and His seed will not be forgotten.<\/p>\n
Amen\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n