Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Eleven

As the New Testament progressed from Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, in like manner, so does the book of Isaiah as we arrive at the closing chapters: 63, 64, and half of 65. This prophet is privileged to envision the crucified Christ, dressed in garments of red shades, returning for Judgment Day. Isaiah questions who this is and Jesus responds, “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”  Isaiah asks why He’s dressed in red, like wine stains, and Jesus took this opportunity to explain, using the prophetic telescope, that those stains are actually the blood of those who refused His salvation.

He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. Revelation 19:13-15 

Isaiah’s emotions over this revelation drove him into prayer for God’s people, who had also rejected Him, grieving the Spirit. He’s their Father (vs. 16), their Redeemer, and his prayer asks God to look down from heaven and see, even rip open the heavens and come down (Ch. 64). Yes, sin has hidden Your face, but God, remember You’re our Father, the divine Potter, and we are Your clay to mold back into your image (vs. 7-8). 

In chapter 65 God responds to Isaiah’s fervent plea for his people with a reminder that He’s always ready, for Jew or Gentile: “Here I am, here I am.” You may fit into the category of ‘those who didn’t ask or seek God’ (vs. 1) like the parable of the treasure found in the field that a man stumbled upon … he wasn’t looking and yet he found God. That’s grace. 

God looks back to His sin-stained people that were led into Babylonian captivity, however, He promised a new type of wine coming,

“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But You have kept the best until now!” John 2:10

The warning is there, don’t forsake the Lord, don’t trust in prosperity, answer God when He calls, listen, and serve Him (vs. 11-12). Then (vs. 13-16) you’ll never be hungry, thirsty, shamed, in pain, receive a new name (repeating Is. 56:5 and 62:2), and all your former troubles are forgotten and hidden from God’s eyes. That’s our future as Christ followers,

And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17c

Next week we close this book with more end times prophecies of new things that you won’t want to miss!