THEY WILL NOT LIE Monday:
The sixty-third chapter of Isaiah looks forward to the coming of the Savior. He is pictured as coming from an unlikely place, Edom, with garments that are stained crimson with blood. He is "glorious in His apparel," and travels in "the greatness of His strength." He comes with the accompanying cry, "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." When asked why His garments are stained crimson, He replies "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me." He relates His mission to "the day of vengeance" and "the year of My redemption" (vs 1-4, NIV). In His fury, He would tread down opponents, bringing down their strength to the earth – or burying their power (v 6). All of this relates to the day of salvation, as announced in verse five. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me." His fury was released against sin, the devil, and principalities and powers that had dominated the earth. Sin was judged in the Person of Christ, as He bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Pet 2:24). He brought salvation to Himself by extricating people from the cauldron of iniquity, and lifting them from the pit into which their transgressions had cast them. Of course, it is only as the glorious light of the Gospel is focused upon this text that such things can be seen.
Isaiah then breaks out in praise to the mighty God of Israel. "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD . . . and the great goodness toward the house of Israel . . . to His mercies . . . the multitude of His lovingkindnesses" (verse 7). He sees the preservation of the people of God as a token of His lovingkindness, goodness, and mercy. And how does he draw such a grand conclusion? What moves him to speak of such great Divine kindness toward the ancient people? His reasoning is explained in our text.
"FOR He said, Surely they are My people, children that will not lie." The first evidence Isaiah had was the Lord's acknowledgement of Israel as "MY people." In those very words Isaiah properly saw Divine kindness and compassion (NIV). That nation could certainly not boast that they had earned such kind consideration, and Isaiah knew that well!
The second evidence Isaiah cites is God's statement of their determination. They were "children that will not lie." Other versions read, "Sons who will not deal falsely" (NASB), "sons who will not be false to Me (NIV)," "children who are not disloyal" (NAB), and "children who will not betray me" (NJB). How can such a thing be? If anyone proved unfaithful and false, it was Israel. Is not this the nation of whom God said, "All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Rom 10:21; Isa 65:2). How, then, can God speak so favorably of them in our text?
This text is not a Divine assessment of Israel according to the flesh. Neither, indeed, is it a view of them apart from Christ Jesus. This is nothing less than a proclamation of the effects of His great salvation – the year of redemption. It is the result of the enemies of humanity being pushed into the background by the Captain of salvation, and the head of their prince being crushed by the Savior.
Israel repeatedly sinned against the Lord, tempting Him no less than "ten times" in the wilderness (Num 14:22). Even after they entered into the land of Canaan, God had to thrust them out of it because of their repeated and grievous transgressions (2 Chron 20:7). Rather than being children who proved faithful, they wandered from the Lord time and time again. Yet, Isaiah has God saying they are "children that will not lie." That is, they will not lie to God, prove unfaithful to Him, or wander from Him.
Salvation involves a change in nature – something that is not often declared in our day. The church is hearing a lot of explanation for sin in our generation – sin that is found even within the church. Believers are being told of addictions, weaknesses, psychological deficiencies, environmental effects, physiological causes for iniquity, and character flaws that are inherited. Handy rationalizations for Christian leaders falling into sin are offered, together with explanations for enslavement to iniquity, children born out of wedlock, and the likes. This is all a lot of nonsense!
Salvation addresses ALL moral deficiencies. In Christ people receive a "new heart" and a "new spirit" (Ezek 36:26). A new birth is experienced (John 3:3-5), they become "a new creation" (2 Cor 5:17), and "all trespasses" are forgiven (Col 2:13). They are given the Holy Spirit who leads them in the mortification of all natural proclivities to sin (Rom 8:13). They become "children" who have no heart for lying, dealing falsely with God, or wandering from Him. That is how every person begins to "walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). Their sin has been put away, they are forgiven, reconciled to God, and their names written in heaven. They have the Holy Spirit to strengthen them, and the promises of God to provide strong incentive (2 Pet 1:4).
The salvation of God is thorough and effective. It addresses every area contaminated by sin, and renews every aspect of our persons that it has blighted. God be praised for this! That is simply the way it is. To address a salvation as great as this by providing canned explanations for failure, and normalizing sin is certainly not wise – to say the very least.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, raise of preachers and teachers who will proclaim Your great salvation.