Daily Devotions
The Holy One of Israel Is Your Redeemer
Reading for July 18th: Isaiah 12-14
You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me."
Isaiah 12:1
There is a tension that runs throughout the first 52 chapters of Isaiah. Over and over we are told that God is holy and righteous. One of the most common titles of God in the book is "the Holy One of Israel" (1:4; 5:19; 12:6; 30:11-12, 15; 48:17; 60:14). When Isaiah receives his call in chapter 6, he sees a vision of the "Holy, Holy, Holy" God and exclaims how utterly sinful he is. Throughout the first 39 chapters, Isaiah warns Israel that God is going to judge them because God's wrath is burning against them (5:25; 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4, 5; etc.).
However, throughout the first 52 chapters of Isaiah there are promises of God's mercy and forgiveness. God is going to take their sins, which are like scarlet, and make them white as snow (1:18). Throughout chapter 43 God reassures his people of his love, telling them to not fear because he will be with them and that he will blot out their transgressions and not remember their sins. In chapters 40-48, Isaiah calls God Israel's "Redeemer" no less than 8 times (41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26).
But how can this be? How can the "Holy One of Israel" also be Israel's "Redeemer?"
This tension is not resolved until you come to Isaiah 53. It is here we see what God does with his wrath against sin. He does not pour out his wrath on his people. He does not give Israel what she deserves. His wrath is poured out on his servant.
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows...
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53:4-5
Father, we come humbly before your throne confessing our sin and our shame. We have unclean lips! You are holy, holy, holy! All of our righteousness is like filthy rags before you! Forgive our sins, not because we are worthy of this! Forgive us because of what your Son did for us on the cross!
