Weekly Verse - Isaiah 59:15-17

This week we see God's plan for salvation and the Giver of our armor.

"Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey:"

This verse reminds me so much of our world today. Satan is working in the world to destroy the truth and confuse the hearts and minds of all he can. It is very much the spiritual battle that we saw in the last passage we studied. Those who decide to side with the truth and "depart from evil" are attacked and ridiculed by the world and the devil.

"and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment."

It is a great comfort to know that the LORD sees all that happens to and around us. The evil of this world and the persecution of believers does not go unnoticed by Him. Here we see that it displeased God to see the fact that there was no justice, so he acted.

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

This is a clear reference to Jesus Christ. When the world was being consumed by sin and truth was failing, He became the intercessor for us and brought salvation by His death on the cross. All that we deserve is death, but Christ paid the penalty for us, giving us His righteousness for our sins, and rose again to intercede for us so that the justice of God is satisfied. All that we must do to access His righteousness is to repent of our evil ways and and have faith in Him. Then we can walk in peace and righteousness knowing that we never have to fear eternal condemnation again.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25

"For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head;"

These are two of the elements of the armor of God that we've seen in Ephesians 6: the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. Jesus is the source of both. As God, He alone is righteous and can alone provide salvation. We can wear the armor because He gives it to us at the moment of salvation.

"and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke."

God does not take sin lightly. He can't. He is holy and just and must enact justice. Those who do not repent and access His salvation by faith will face His vengeance. I know where I want to stand when I stand before the throne of God in heaven.

This week remember that you cannot fight this spiritual war without Christ. He is the one who has given you your armor and fights for you.

In Christ,

Mission