Sermon Snippet – God, the Savior of Israel
INTRODUCTION – We have spent the last four weeks in the Messianic book of Isaiah considering God as our Savior. Isaiah 59:16-21 is completely clear in its message: God will be “the Redeemer” of “Zion” and “Jacob” – synonyms for Israel (verse 20). Why is this Biblical teaching important to us?
1. THE REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL IS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO GOD
Verses 16-17 tell us that no human – not even the high priest of Israel – could be an “intercessor” between sinful man and the Holy God. Thus, God Himself, God the Son, came to us, born as an Israelite and ministering primarily to the people of Israel. Being fully divine, the Messiah’s “righteousness” made it possible for Him to bridge the cosmic chasm between Him and us. His intercession will include intervention to protect His people (verse 18). The regathering of the Jewish people into the Promised Land in 1948, right after roughly a third of the world’s Jewish population was massacred in the Holocaust, is a reminder of God’s concern and a preparation for the final fulfillment of His promises to the nation of Israel.
2. THE REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL IS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL
When God keeps a remarkable prophecy, He is making Himself known to all people (verse 19) and encouraging and edifying those who trust in Him. The specific promise of this passage does not directly pertain to Christians, for the Church has not taken the place of the nation Israel (as some erroneously teach). If the Old Testament promises to the Israelites were transferred to Christians, then they would not be promises! However, from these specific promises, we can learn principles about God, for He does not change. One grand principle here is this: God is faithful. Back from Egypt, back from Assyria, back from Babylon, back from the nearly two-millennia-long Diaspora – each time God has restored the Jewish people to the land of Israel. These improbable returns confirm that God can be trusted.
3. THE REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL IS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE GOD CARES ABOUT PEOPLE – AND WE LIKEWISE SHOULD CARE
The promise of verses 20-21 is “for ever.” God’s concern for us is not limited to this life. All of His interest in us is directed to drawing us to Himself for all eternity. Romans 11:26-27 echoes these verses: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob’: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” The details of this salvation are compelling. At the time of the Tribulation, in that nearly seven-year period of great grimness and grief, God the Savior will seal 144,000 Jewish men for the purpose of evangelism (Revelation 7:2-8; 14:1-5). The results are stunning: not only will “all Israel” be saved – yes, all, every Jewish person! – but the message will reach others as well (Revelation 7:9-14). In the midst of the antichrist’s reign, Jesus the Savior will reign in many hearts, and His reign will be “for ever.”
CONCLUSION – I do not know many Jewish people, but I am deeply moved that one day “all Israel” will be saved and that even now individual Jews are trusting in Jesus the Savior. To my knowledge, I have never met a Slovenian or a Slovakian, an Andorran or an Angolan, a Bolivian or a Botswanan, an Austrian or an Australian (although I did once meet a dingo in the Maine woods, a story for another time). However, the Scripture is unequivocal: folks of “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” will be in heaven (Revelation 7:9). Of course they will be there, for Jesus is reaching out to everyone. He is reaching out to you, drawing you to Himself. Trust in Him today for salvation, for He is God the Savior.