We are returning to our study of Isaiah 61 after the little
4th of July break. In verses 8-9 we hear God’s promise of an ‘everlasting
covenant’ with those on whom the Spirit of the Lord has come. We’ve already
looked at promises of the Lord’s favor with joy and rebuilding of ruins. We’ve
seen how we are called to be priests of God to minister and serve one another
and the world.
Now Isaiah continues “For I the Lord love
justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their
recompense, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and
their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they
are a people whom the Lord has blessed.”
God says that those who live into the
anointed life of faithful service will be recognized as “a people whom the Lord
has blessed.” This can be in spite of outward circumstances. We may not always
feel that we are blessed, because life often has twists and turns, and bumps
and bruises.
In the Beatitudes Jesus tells us, “Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.” He continues, ”blessed are you when people revile you and persecute
you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.”
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather blessings
came in the form of soft kitties and gentle words than in the form of
persecution or being reviled. However, it is “the one
who endures to the end, [who] will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and
then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:13-14)
In the Letter of James we hear “Blessed is
a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will
receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James
1:12)
What does all this talk about enduring
through troubles and trials and tribulations have to do with Isaiah’s promise
of an everlasting covenant for the ‘people the Lord has blessed’? In a time
when we hear of persecution of our brothers and sisters across the world for
their faith, we could retreat in fear. Or we could take heart from the promises
of God and rejoice when we hear that they know and testify that ‘our Jeshua
doesn’t fail’?
In our day-to-day living, we likely won’t
have to face extreme persecution or death for our Lord. We can pray for those
who are facing dire persecution. We can work for peace and reconciliation
starting with our own relationships. We can persevere in the ministry we feel
called to and live out the promises of God who heals, frees, and restores. We
can remember that we are ‘in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us.’ (Romans 8:37)!
We might ask ourselves do we, too, know
that our Jeshua does not fail? And then live like we believe it!
