Introduction: The beginning of this chapter is all about comparing the power of God to the uselessness of worshipping idols. That is the context of today’s passage! God calls upon ‘His’ people who have deserted Him to think again. How relevant that is for our nation’s people who have followed a pantheon of idols!
8 “Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors, – God doesn’t address people as ignorant or uneducated but as having transgressed – as having crossed the line which God drew!
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ –
11 calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”
Comment: I have highlighted in red all the things which God has said about Himself. He is not vainglorious but is God and wants people to think again, remembering Who He is! Calling them to remember His ability to do what He has planned! The only two which I will comment upon are the last two ‘I’ statements: ‘I bring near my righteousness‘ & ‘I will put salvation‘. The other things are very easily understood but what do these two mean? Is bringing His righteousness near mean in Judgement? I think that verse 13 is strongly Messianic.
Firstly, Jesus brought the righteousness of God so that all could see what His righteousness is when seen in human form! Secondly, As recorded in Isaiah 64: 6 ‘We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.’ and because God in Jesus worked salvation: 2 Corinthians 5: 21 tells us that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Highlighted in blue just before the last two ‘I’ comments outlined in red (commented on above) God tells us clearly why He has to act and why He does – ‘You stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness‘. We are all rebellious as far as He is concerned and desperately in need of His action on our behalf! Remember and Think Again!
Isaiah 1: 16&17 – Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. – We cannot undo our past failures by good actions but being forgiven in Jesus name we are expected to live aright!
Prayer: Thank You God for covering my failure with Jesus’ righteousness.