Isaiah 63:7-14--The LORD's Mercy Remembered

Isaiah 63:7-14
English Standard Version

The LORD's Mercy Remembered
7 I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD,
    the praises of the LORD,
according to all that the LORD has granted us,
    and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
8 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
    children who will not deal falsely.”
    And he became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction he was afflicted,
    and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

10 But they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
    and himself fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old,
    of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
    with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
    his Holy Spirit,
12 who caused his glorious arm
    to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
    to make for himself an everlasting name,
13     who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
    they did not stumble.
14 Like livestock that go down into the valley,
    the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
So you led your people,
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

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How should the redeemed react when the prophecy of the future judgment and wrath of the LORD overwhelms them?  They should worship the LORD in remembering and recounting all the other attributes of the LORD--His mercy, His steadfast love, and His goodness that He has shown to His people throughout all the generations.  Don't let this one point in history when God judges the wicked make you forget all the times in history that He has proven His love and mercy and goodness to those He has redeemed.  Certainly, He will keep us from this wrath and judgment, for He tells us, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  The qualifier though is that we must be "in Christ Jesus" for the "no condemnation" part to apply to us.

He has made us His children by Adoption and has transformed us into the likeness of His Son so that we can once again be His image-bearers.  He has become Father, Savior, Healer and Redeemer to us.  He also sustains us and carries us to make sure we get to the destination He as ordained for us.  Nothing will snatch us out of His hand.

However, all we like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way.  We have all rebelled against the LORD and His Law.  We have grieved the Holy Spirit and at times set our face against God as we have foolishly declared war against Him.  The LORD had to do battle with His own people not to annihilate them like He will do with the wicked, but to save them from themselves and to purify them.  This is the same God who spoke everything into existence and delivered His people who cried out for redemption in the Exodus "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm."  He brought them through the Red Sea and caused it to swallow up all the Egyptian soldiers--see how the day of salvation for some is the day of judgment for others?  We cannot forget that God pouring out His wrath on the wicked is still a part of His salvation of His people.

He then led them like the Good Shepherd that He is for forty years as they wandered through the wilderness.  He provided them with food and water and made sure that their clothes and sandals never wore out.  He defeated and struck down all the enemies that rose up to oppose them and struck fear in the hearts of their enemies because they knew the LORD dwelt among His people.  He tabernacled among them in the middle of their camp.  The LORD was their king.  Now, He will be with them again as they go into Exile and He will deliver them once again with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  The LORD led them to a place of "rest" in Canaan, but it was not the final place of rest, because there were still enemies there that were to be defeated.  Sin was not dealt with completely.  The Curse had not been reversed and there was still a need for all kinds of sacrifices to atone for sin.  One day, the book of Hebrews tells us that the LORD will provide a better rest for His people.  A day when we minister before the LORD as His priests, but not to offer blood sacrifices, for Jesus put an end to the need for all of them--His blood is better than the blood of bulls and goats.  We will serve the LORD in gladness and we will be like Adam and Eve ministering and ruling over the creation that He has given us dominion over.  No more war, no more sin, no more death, and no more Curse.