Isaiah 63:1-65:6; Ephesians 4:17-5:7
As we come to Psalm 112 today, I find it interesting to see how many of the principles of the New Testament are foreshadowed and found throughout the teachings of the Old Testament. For example, we see a relationship between the concepts taught in Psalm 112 and the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5. These truths demonstrate that the principles of Scripture are timeless. God expected His people in history to live by the same truths that guide our lives today, and although we live today in the age of grace, still “the law is good” (cf., Matthew 5:17; 1 Timothy 1:8). The goodness of the law has never been rescinded. In this Psalm, we read that “the man who fears the LORD is blessed and finds great delight in the LORD’s commands” (verse 1). Consider the Old Testament expressions found in this Psalm with their corresponding New Testament expressions: here we see “great delight” (verse 1) and there – joy (Galatians 5:22). “compassionate” (verse 5) compares with love; – “generous and lends freely” with kindness; “never shaken” (verse 6) with self-control; “a righteous man” (verse 6) with goodness; “no fear of bad news” (verse 7) with peace; and “his heart is steadfast” (verse 7) with patience (cf., Galatians 5:22). By contrast, notice what this Psalm says about the wicked man who travels on life’s wrong road: “He will see and be vexed; he will gnash his teeth and waste away – his longings will come to nothing” (verse 10). The Scriptures teach that wickedness leads to a bad end.
In our Isaiah readings today, we see another Messianic reference to Christ (63:1-6). Although He is “robed in splendor, His garments are stained crimson,” yet “He is coming in the greatness of His strength – mighty to save” (verse 1). Here, we see that Christ’s garments are “stained with the blood of the nations” (verse 3). He proclaims, “The day of vengeance was in My heart and the year of my redemption has come” (verse 4). Clearly, this passage reveals the coming day of judgment upon the nations for their sin and their rejection of Israel’s Messiah. Isaiah tells us that “He became their Savior and saved them … redeemed them, even though they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit” (verses 8-10). Here, we see that a remnant of Israel recognized the sins of the nation, and they lifted up their praises and prayers to the LORD, asking Him “to rend the heavens and come down before them” (cf., (63:7-64:12). This is exactly what God did at Christ’s baptism (cf., Mark 1:10). In chapter 65, God tells us that He “revealed Himself to those who did not ask for Him or those who did not seek Him [i.e., to the Gentiles], even though He held out His hands to an obstinate people” [i.e., to the Jews] (verses 1-2). In the face of unmistakable opportunity, people who reject the Lord “become smoke in His nostrils” (verse 5), which definitely leads to a bad end.
In Ephesians 4:17-5:7, Paul makes reference to a form of “Gentile (i.e., heathen) ignorance and darkness that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (verses 17-18). It is important for us to recognize the stubbornness that stands behind and supports a “hard heart,” and how a hard heart willfully produces insistent and intentional ignorance. Paul says that such people “have lost their sensitivity and given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity – with a continual lust for more” (verse 10). Ignorance, therefore, is a deliberate product of choice and the will, and it can only be overcome by a conscious decision to counteract it through the purposeful acquisition of appropriate knowledge that can address the problem. One must be committed to learn the right content. A knowledge of breeding spotted mice only helps the mice. Learning also requires humility. Stubbornness – a form of pride – together with insistent ignorance, keeps many people from accepting the truth of God’s Word. This, too, leads to a bad end.
1 view today