November 15, 2022 – Tuesday
Again, More on Repentance
Isaiah 59:20 NIV
20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.
Romans 11:26 NIV
26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
Comment
In the above two verses Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:20 in Romans 11:26 changing the word Redeemer to deliverer. Only in the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) does the word Redeemer remain as Redeemer. The commentaries at Biblehub.com are all in agreement that the verse in Isaiah is written about the Messiah to come, Jesus the Christ. It also seems to be agreement with Psalm 14:7, 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
From Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, the point is made this is not the first coming of the Messiah, but of his spiritual coming to Zion to the church of God in the latter day, at the time of the conversion of the Jews, as appears from the quotation, and application of it by the apostle. Gill notes that a number of Jewish writers, understand by the enemy, in the preceding verse, Gog and Magog. Looking at Revelation 14:1 this makes sense, 1Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I am excited by the unity of the Bible here, how the Old Testament and the New Testament fit so well together in presenting Jesus, the Messiah, to us throughout. Sunday, when Pastor Luke Stephens preached on Acts 9, 26-40, he covered what a eunuch was reading from the book of Isaiah 53:7-8 in verses 32-33, 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch needed the verses explained to him, which Phillip did by telling him of the good news of Jesus Christ. As a result, the eunuch accepted Christ and was saved.
We have yet to look forward to Christ’s return and many of us long for His return day by day. Some of us, not so much as they simply want to see more and more people saved. Some believe the only thing holding off Christ’s return is God wants more people saved in our current day and age … and perhaps into the future. But that is only a guess as only God really knows what His reasons are or as He stated it in Isaiah 55:8-9, 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Bottom Line: Let us not try to guess God’s reasons, thoughts, or His ways for His ways are surely beyond our understanding as He clearly pointed out to Job. Let us live as we are directed to live by Him and leave the rest up to Him.
Prayer: Almighty God, Thank You for revealing so much of Yourself to us through Your prophets and especially through Your Son. You reveal a love and sacrifice beyond our understanding, yet we remain so grateful for what You have done for us. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek