Robed in Righteousness

In worship services, we read the Bible differently than we read any other book. Here’s what I mean: in worship services, we rarely read a whole book of the Bible. We read a portion each Sunday: last week the opening paragraphs in the NT from the 2nd letter to Timothy, this week 5 verses of poetry in the OT book of Isaiah the prophet.

Unless you read the Bible in an orderly way at home, you won’t get a sense of the whole narrative. It takes discipline and stick-to-it-iveness. When I was a kid, and most of us were in school, my parents read the Bible at meals: Genesis to Revelation a chap. or so each day.

Some years, I follow a plan to read the whole Bible in a year – like some of you are doing this year. It helps you understand God’s Word.

It honours God too. Most people don’t just read snippets of an email from a friend – you read the whole thing! And when you get a new Lego set and want to build it for the first time, you start at step 1 and work our way through to the end. Your Lego castle won’t work if you only read steps 47-49, would it?

There’s a reason we read shorter passages in church services. All 66 chapters of Isaiah take too long to read at once. We wouldn’t get to the sermon that day.

Since we can’t do that, can I give you a basic outline of Isaiah?

Context:

Written by the OT prophet Isaiah who proclaimed the word of the Lord in Jerusalem roughly 742-700 BC.

Outline:

Wrongdoing & Judgement (ch. 1-39)

Rescue & Renewal (ch. 40-55)

Renewed Life with God (ch. 56-66)

Knowing where the verses we read fits in Isaiah’s prophecy helps us understand the verses we’re reading.

The verses we read from Is. 61 are in the 3rdsection. In renewed life w/ God, the Lordpromises a double inheritance and everlasting joy. God promises to clothe his people in a robe of his righteousness.

These verses fit us as NT Christians. B/c of Jesus, this is our reality: we live a renewed life with God. We only enjoy this renewed life b/c we admit our wrongdoing and accept God’s generous offer to rescue us.

That’s what we find in the gospel of Jesus. It’s what Jelte & Evelien speak of when they profess their faith. It’s what we all admit when we recited the Apostles’ Creed earlier.

The news of salvation starts w/ bad news. Although people were created good and holy, Adam & Eve rebelled against God. All their descendants do too. Isaiah mentions human wrongdoing in his messages from God. It’s strong language:

Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great,

a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption!

They have forsaken the Lord;

they have spurned the Holy One of Israel

and turned their backs on him. Isaiah 1:4 (NIV)

That’s just in ch. 1!

It’s true about all humanity. It can be recognized for a whole community. It also needs to become personal:

I recognize my own wrongdoing. I don’t live up to God’s expectations. Confessing my shortcomings makes me ashamed before God, b/c, as Isaiah reminds us, the Lordhates robbery and wrongdoing. The Lordloves justice.

Justice demands that wrongdoing is punished. Isaiah brings that message in ch. 1 as well:

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,

the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes

and avenge myself on my enemies.

I will turn my hand against you;

I will thoroughly purge away your dross

and remove all your impurities.” Isaiah 1:24–25 (NIV)

It’s intimidating news for nations and for individuals. That’s why yesterday, Canada was confronted with our past on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. We heard the voices of First nations speaking of broken treaties b/t nations and injuries done to families and individuals.

Guilt and shame are personal too. No matter how hard I try, I can’t do better on my own. If left alone, I face God’s justice and punishment.

But God has a rescue plan for nations and for individuals. We hear about God’s rescue plan in the book of Isaiah. In ch. 40, Isaiah proclaims good news:

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her

that her hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins. Isaiah 40:1–2 (NIV)

We often hear these words at Christmas, b/c a key part of God’s rescue plan unfolds when Jesus is born at Bethlehem. It’s the miracle of a virgin birth. Jesus is 100% God & 100% human.

Matthew records how, when Jesus began his earthly ministry, he quoted the opening verses of Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

Jesus was anointed by the HS to bring the good news that God was about to restore his kingdom and reign over all creation.

Jesus won the victory by defeating sin and death. It’s what we celebrate on Good Friday & Easter Sunday. Jesus was crucified. As Jesus was nailed to the cross, God put all human punishment and shame on Jesus. He died the death I deserve.

Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave. His resurrection proves that sin and death have been conquered. All who have faith in Jesus are rescued and given everlasting life with Jesus. That’s the beautiful promise God made through Isaiah:

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours. Isaiah 61:7 (NIV)

You can accept God’s promises, trust in Jesus, and your shame will be taken away too. Trusting in God’s rescue plan, you are included in the double portion of inheritance.

Offering a double share in an inheritance is significant. It’s a special privilege. In Isaiah’s day, when a person died, the property was divided among the children. But the firstborn son had special privileges – he rec’d a 2X what the other children did – a double portion.

When God rescues his people and establishes his kingdom, he assures you that you will be treated like his one and only Son. By faith in Jesus, you receive the firstborn’s privilege: a double portion. Although we don’t deserve it, our heavenly Father treats us like he treats Jesus. B/c of Jesus, we’re all adopted as God’s children and treated like the firstborn. Those are the terms of God’s everlasting covenant with his people.

Our part of the covenant involves living as God’s people. We can’t avoid all wrongdoing – not yet – but guided by God’s Word and Spirit we strive to honour our heavenly Father and our Rescuer by obeying God’s instructions.

Following Jesus’ example, we strive to love God & neighbour. We live up to the righteousness of Jesus that covers our shortcomings. That’s the delight of wearing the garments of salvation. Did you catch that in vs. 10?

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)

Jesus covered our sin and shame with the robe of his righteousness. We strive to walk and talk like Jesus did, full of love for God and kindness – love – for the people around us.

Encouraged and buoyed by God’s love and his rescue plan, we respond with righteous behaviour and praise to God. Righteousness and praise are the fruit of God’s salvation. Like sprouts coming up from the soil, praise comes from the people God rescues and renews. For some people it’s natural to sing God’s praises. Others praise God by deliberately offering their daily work to God as a service for their Lord & Master.