Isaiah 59 … Consider Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation

Originally posted: 4/21/2021

Therefore justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not overtake us;
We hope for light, but behold, darkness,
For brightness, but we walk in gloom.
¹⁰ We grope along the wall like blind men,
We grope like those who have no eyes;
We stumble at midday as in the twilight,
Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men.
¹¹ All of us growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We hope for justice, but there is none,
For salvation, but it is far from us, (59:9-11).

It was almost as though I was reading about my own country. Although I’ve all but stopped feeding on the news as a steady diet, not wanting to live in complete denial I force myself to periodically read the highlights of current events. And more and more, graphic headlines relate acts of injustice and evil that seem to be overtaking our society at its core.

Often darkness appears to have the upper hand, choking out the light and leaving us in the gloom of despair as we grope along for the all-elusive glimmer of justice to no avail; leaving us to surmise that based on the current condition of our nation, salvation is nowhere near in sight.

And as a country established on the principles of God’s Word, the place we now find ourselves seems preposterous. But how much more so, that God’s chosen people, who had been delivered from bondage, had seen His wonders and signs repeatedly, had been given His Law and promises of blessings, would find themselves living in a place without hope.

But the truth is, this is the state of every man, woman, and child. For we are born into a place without hope. But we were never meant to find hope in a place, but in a Person. And no one is beyond the reach or concern of Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear, (59:1)

Even when the future seems bleak.

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear, (59:2).

And as Isaiah further recounts the seemingly hopeless condition of God’s people, we see a great chasm fixed between the people and their God. But even then, even when salvation seems so very impossible and so very far away, even then, He is there as Our Only Hope for Salvation.

Consider Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation

The glorious revelation of our Savior continues in this book penned some 750 years before His birth. And once again, as we consider Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation, we will turn our eyes to Jesus.

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, for it is impossible with man.
  • And He saw that there was no man,
    And was astonished that there was no one to intercede… (59:16).
    • When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁶ And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” (Matthew 19:26).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, Who brings His salvation through His righteousness.
  • …Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
    And His righteousness upheld Him, (59:16).
    • He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, Who comes clothed for battle.
  • He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
    And a helmet of salvation on His head;
    And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
    And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle, (59:17).
    • He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God, (Revelation 19:13).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, Who reconciles us to God and rescues us from His wrath, even when we were yet His enemies.
  • According to their deeds, so He will repay,
    Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
    To the coastlands He will make recompense, (59:18).
    • But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life, (Romans 5:8-10).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, Who establishes us in holiness before His glorious presence.
  • So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
    And His glory from the rising of the sun,
    For He will come like a rushing stream
    Which the wind of the Lord drives, (59:19).
    • that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints, (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, Who redeems us from our lawless transgressions when we turn to Him for redemption.
  • “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
    And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord, (59:20).
    • looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds, (Titus 2:13-14).

• He is Our Only Hope for Salvation, through His Eternal Covenant
  • “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever,” (59:21).

• • • …the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (Hebrews 13:20).

How do we respond to Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation?

Our response must begin by believing what Jesus and the Scriptures have declared, He is Our Only Hope for Salvation.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved, (Acts 4:12).

But as we well know, salvation in Christ does not alleviate the problems or evil in this world. At least not yet. And the truth is, there is no man who can save our nation. Government is not the answer. Commitment to good causes will not restore our justice and peace. Elections will not usher in paradise. There is Only One Who can Save.

We must be intentional, each and every day, to get our eyes off the mess and onto the Messiah, Our Only Hope for Salvation.

• Let us always seek His Righteousness first, trusting Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation, for our every need and every tomorrow.
  • “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” (Matthew 6:33-34).

• Let us be prepared for every battle as we clothe ourselves in the strength and might of Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation.
  • Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, (Ephesians 6:10-11).

• Because we are the blessed recipients of His great love, let us live as His ambassadors ever making an appeal to others to be reconciled to God and be rescued from His wrath through faith in Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation.
  • Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God, (2 Corinthians 5:20).

• Let us live in holy obedience, walking in the fear of His Name, that we would bring glory to Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation.
  • • As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth, (1 Peter 1:14-17).

• Let us pray that our lives would bear fruit as we turn away from our sins and turn to Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation, each and every day.
  • “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance, (Matthew 3:8).

• And let us stand secure in His Eternal Covenant as we depend on His Holy Spirit through the equipping power of His Word to live a life that pleases Him, Our Only Hope for Salvation.
  • Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, ²¹ equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen, (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Let’s Grow Together!