Day 225

The Coming of the Lord

Read: Isaiah 63-66

From the parallel language of Revelation 19:15, we learn that he who “comes from Edom” (Isa. 63:1) is Jesus Christ. The loving Savior is also the One whose wrath falls on the ungodly. He “became their Savior” (v. 8), but they “rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit” (v. 10). Paul warns us that we must be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit by our sin.

The plea is to “look down from heaven and see” (63:15), so that seeing, God will “rend the heavens and come down” (64:1). Throughout the history of Israel when God heard the plea of his people and saw their plight, he acted on their behalf. So it will be for us if we have a humble spirit, for the one in this passage cried out, “We are the clay and you are our potter” (v. 8 ESV). To this God said, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit” (66:2 ESV). Meet God’s requirements and he will keep his side of the bargain.

God wants us to cry out to him. “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me” (65:1 RSV). The Lord will come, but it will be in judgment (66:15-16). When he comes he will create “new heavens and a new earth” (65:17; see 66:22). This idea is enlarged upon in 2 Peter and in Revelation. The Bible tells us that Christ comes to us in grace and judgment within history and in his final coming at the end of the world.

PRAYER
Father, hear our cries and see our needs and come to us as we humble ourselves before you. Amen.