#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Holy One Of Israel
Isaiah 29:15-19 15Woe to those who keep their plans hidden deeply from the LORD. They do their work in the dark and say, “Is there anyone who sees us or knows us?” 16How wrong you are! Is a potter to be treated like his clay? Should what is made say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me?” And what is formed say about him who formed it, “He doesn’t understand?” 17In just a little while will not Lebanon turn into a garden-land and the garden-land be considered a forest? 18On that day the deaf will hear the words written in a book, and the blind coming out of their gloom and darkness will see. 19The humble will find a new joy in the LORD, and the poorest of people will delight in the Holy One of Israel.
Well, it doesn’t seem we have progressed much since Adam was trying to hide from the LORD in the Garden after he sinned. We may try to hide our sins and our sinful plans from God but with the LORD darkness is as light. Perhaps these Israelites or Judahites were making idols to worship in dark places and worshiping them in dark places so they couldn’t be seen by the faithful Israelites. It also appears some were claiming the LORD wasn’t the one who made them or that the LORD understood what they were going through.
The LORD says otherwise though. He is our maker and as our creator he understands what we are going through more and better than we know ourselves. You can be absolutely certain of it. We certainly try to be special not only among people we know by saying, “You don’t know what I’m going through,” we also try to pull that on God as well. I guess if you want to wallow in “specialness” feel free, but you certainly cannot tell your God and Maker this.
There is good news though in the midst of this bad news from the earlier verses of the LORD sealing up his word from those who would not listen. There is coming a great reversal and indeed it has already started though it’s fullness has not reached it’s pinnacle. On the one hand we are still looking forward to Lebanon turning into a garden and garden land into a forest. On the other hand in the ministry of Jesus we see the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, the cripple being healed. All these physical ailments will be healed at the resurrection on the Last Day.
But the deafness, blindness and humbleness here is also speaking the book being sealed, the people not being able to read in the earlier verses of this chapter has come to a reversal in the ministry of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Church. In the ministry of this kingdom of God those who could not hear God’s word now can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Those who have been blind to the ways of the LORD can now see what the LORD has done in Jesus Christ for their salvation. Those who were humble find joy in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The poor take delight in the Holy One of Israel who is Jesus Christ. Jesus with his word which the Holy Spirit always accompanies as the Church proclaims his good news that we have been freed from sin, delivered from death and have been bestowed with son-ship to the Father of lights give us hearing, sight, joy and delight. Jesus, the Holy One of Israel did and does these things for all people everywhere. He has done it for you. Don’t close your ears and eyes to his word but delight and rejoice in it.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending Jesus, your Holy One, to deliver mankind. Grant us such faith in him so our ears, eyes and hearts may receive him and rejoice in him. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.