“Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 59:15-20 NKJV
Father God,
Justice, (truth?) had disappeared from society, and no-one was willing to step up. You, God see and know that no human is capable of fixing man’s mess. Or of standing in the gap between You and sin as an intercessor. Isaiah glimpses the future, a future where You would step down into our world. He may not have seen that Yu would be born and grow as a servant and teacher. And it was not till the resurrection that we saw Jesus, in a new light, as a warrior defeating His enemies and death itself.
Perhaps Isaiah used his picture language because in their history there were many occasions when Israel saw You God enable them to defeat their enemies. Sometimes without lifting a finger (2 Chronicles 20:22–23:). Jesus too showed His dominion over all that is evil (Matthew 11:2-6). The promise was given that a Redeemer would come to those who choose to turn from transgression to Him. And we have experienced it. And yet, there is still a future battle to be won. We see pictorial language in Revelation 19:11-21. We may not understand it fully but we know this. Nothing can defeat You God.
Its a choice to believe in You, God, Your goodness even amongst a fallen world. To go on believing even when bad things happen. To go on praying, interceding with the one who is able. To go on turning from transgression to Your arms of love. It’s not all won yet and no one said it would be easy? But we have Your gift of faith and hope and love and one day a glorious future . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 2nd October 2026
When I cannot understand it all, when God’s ways are bigger than my mind – I choose to keep worship now and simple.
I sing a simple song of love
To my Savior to my Jesus
I’m grateful for the things You’ve done
My loving Saviour oh precious Jesus
My heart is glad that You’ve called me Your own
There’s no place I’d rather be
Than in Your arms of love
In Your arms of love
Holding me still, holding me near
In Your arms of love
Lyrics: Craig Musseau