Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 27

versebyverse | June 05, 2008 19:35

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:27 (NIV):  "Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness."

Thought:  To me, injustice and unrighteousness are very relevant sins of today.

Question:  Have I been "redeemed"?

How ironic that Jerusalem, or Zion, will be dealt with in justice and righteousness from God when she herself failed miserably to display these qualities to her citizens.  God is good in the face of evil, overcoming the evil.  He combats the bad in us by giving the good of Himself, sacrifically.  We are redeemed by the very goodness we are incapable of imitating, that is, the faithful promise of forgiveness from God if we confess our injustices and unrighteousnesses.  

To be "redeemed" is to be "bought back" out of a hopeless, losing fate.  God redeems us by accepting Christ's blood as sufficient payment for our sins.  When we admit our sins humbly we are "penitent", as Webster says, "feeling sorrow for offenses."  This, however must be a true, inward grief of guilt for the wrong we've done and not merely feeling sorry we got caught at doing what someone else is calling wrong.  We must agree it was wrong.  We must agree we were wrong.

Prayer:  Lord God, help me to be thoroughly and authentically penitent.  Give me the desire to agree with You, Father.  Save me from a rebellious attitude that destroys my life and works at cross purposes with Your desire to forgive me!  Amen.

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