Israel's Children Acknowledged as Blessed
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
12/15/2013 PM
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Text:
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Isaiah 61:9
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Psalters: |
173, 190, 273, 186 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- What it is.
- “Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people.”
- Captivity usually leads to a nation dying out as a separate nation.
- But instead of the shame of banishment with the threat of distinction, they have a great promise of honorable distinction.
- True Israel and their children will be recognized as distinct because they have God’s blessing on them.
- First, Israel’s children are recognized by clear distinctive marks as being God’s peculiar people (cf. Acts 4:13).
- Second, the children of the redeemed people of God are certainly known as those whom “Jehovah hath blessed.”
- The reason they are known.
- Isaiah speaks in the language of types and shadows about the promised experience of glory.
- He promises the rebuilding of beautiful cities in Canaan which is presently desolate ruins (60:1-22; 61:4-11).
- So, instead of the shame that now hangs over the church, they will receive double honor or glory (7; 40:2).
- Further Isaiah promises the exiled Israelites will return to Canaan as kings and priests of the Lord (6).
- This is typical of the “heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22), the “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2-4,9-27).
- This promise of blessed future is because of God’s covenant in Christ.
- Isaiah’s certainty concerning the future of the church is rooted in God’s covenant (8b).
- The covenant centers in Christ, who is described in the first part of this chapter as bringing the blessing (1-3).
- The various features of this everlasting covenant lead to the conclusion that Christians are a people the Lord has blessed.
- This blessing is described in picture form during the last half of the Old with Abraham and his seed as the land of Canaan.
- And this promise is the same for all the elect, in the New as well as the Old Dispensations.
- The knowledge of God’s blessing is the reason why the church of God (true Israel) rejoices in the God of its salvation (10,11).
- Their joy is not little, but “greatly” (rejoicing I rejoice).
- Salvation is righteousness, the state of being right with God, for Jesus’ blood and righteousness are our glorious dress.