Isaiah 59:20-21 – The Redeemer Comes to Zion

To these people, sick with their sin, a Redeemer comes. And He brings, as we see in verse 20, remission of sin, and in verse 21, the gift of the Holy Ghost. The separation of the true Israel of God from Him finally shall come to an end. Here we read in verse 20, the Redeemer will come to Zion. You who are mourning for your sin, you who hear God’s accusation and weep confessing your sin, and know you are powerless against the power of sin, you who yearn to be delivered and to be right with your God, a Redeemer has come! He came to save you. He does not flee from you in disgust. He came in love, coming in covenant faithfulness to deliver you. This is what is said to these transgressors in Israel, those who seek to turn from their transgression in Jacob. And true to his word, the Redeemer came to Zion even as God said.

All who are found in Jesus Christ have this unbreakable promise that we see here in verse 21. Why? Because of Who Jesus is and because of what He will do. Because He takes care of the covenant. He heads the covenant. He secures the covenant. The redemption is accomplished. The covenant of grace is now fully secured, fully implemented in and through the finished work of Christ. Thus it is that God says here that His Spirit should not, and in our day shall not and does not depart from His people. And this unto generations. This is a teaching that Peter picked up on Pentecost when he said, “For the promise is unto you and to your children, or unto your seed, and to those who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

All the promises here have come true. All the promises then, are for anyone who even yet turns to the Redeemer. Are you grieving over sin? Have you seen that there is no way out for you? Do you long to be delivered from something you cannot save yourself from? Do you cry out for a rescuer? He has come. He receives any and all who come to him. Cry out to him, then acknowledge your sin, just like the people did here, as we saw earlier in the chapter. Cry out for forgiveness of sin, cry out for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and you shall receive Him. Or, more to the point, He shall receive you. The promise is true. The Redeemer has come to Zion, and from Zion. Yield yourself to him and find joy and redemption!

Question

  1. What does God promise to those who cry out to Him?

Prayer Points

  1. Give thanks for our Redeemer.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.