PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 41-42
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” (Isaiah 42:4)
God’s passion and purpose is to restore justice in the world.
Justice is not just legal fairness, it means ‘everything right in the world.’
The word for ‘justice’ is the same word for ‘righteousness’.
Everything right includes justice and mercy, equality, security and freedom.
The world in Isaiah’s day was a day of violence, suffering, immorality.
God’s people were struggling to hang on to hope; faith seemed futile.
Isaiah reminds them that God is always pursuing justice and rightness.
He repeats God’s promise: the messiah will come to put things right (Isaiah 42:1-4).
Jesus is that messiah, and he lives the righteous life we all long for.
Jesus has beaten satan, sin, injustice, un-rightness.
He invites us to stand with him in his victory over these things.
We have a choice; feed the un-rightness, or stand with Jesus against it.
As Jesus followers, we can join with Jesus in not giving up.
Help the poor, needy, oppressed, sick, etc., for this is where Jesus is!
PRAYER
Lord, I see in you the life of justice and goodness we were made for, and long for. Help me to persevere like you in my pursuit of justice and goodness, knowing that you have won the battle!
Who do we listen to? In who and what do I trust? My own securities? Ultimately, they are nothing. My house could burn down and my securities in RRSPs could become worthless. Like Israel – I need to be reminded that there is only one security – that is in Jesus. So I need to be attentive to what I listen to, to what I follow, as the prophet writes: “Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?” What can I learn from Isaiah here? That I don’t look to technology, science and my own saved securities for my life now and for eternity – but that my security is in knowing that I belong to Jesus. Lord forgive for the times I do not listen! May I grow to trust you more nearly every day!