Consideration of the Past

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to lov … More

Compassion

This passage consists of a review of Israel’s relationship with the Lord (vv. 7-10) and a call for Israel to remember who He is (vv. 11-14). Isaiah announced that he would reflect on the loyal love of the Lord toward His people Israel (v. 7). God had elected Israel as His son. This was not due to anything in Israel but totally due to God’s loving selection of them for special blessing (v. 8). The Israelites had responded to God’s grace in electing them by committing themselves to Him (Exod. 19:8) (v. 9). It is one of the most moving expressions of the compassion of God in the Old Testament.

Even though the Israelites pledged themselves to follow the Lord faithfully, they rebelled against Him and so grieved His Holy Spirit (v. 10). Having experienced the chastening of the Lord for some time, the Israelites reflected on former times when God had fought for His people rather than against them (v. 11). He had manifested His power through Moses as He divided the waters of the Red Sea  and the waters of the Jordan River (v. 12). He led them as their deliverer, and made them as sure-footed as a horse traversing open country (v. 13). He even gave His people rest in Canaan (v. 14).

Isaiah next appealed to God on behalf of the nation, to have pity on Israel (vv. 15-19). He called on Him to look down from heaven, on His people below and reminded Him that He was Israel’s true father (vv. 15-16). God allows people to sin, but He does not make it inevitable that they sin (v. 17) (James 1:13). The holy people that the Lord had redeemed possessed the temple only briefly (v. 18). The Israelites had become like any other nation with whom God had no special relationship (v. 19).

Application

Just as Isaiah reminded the Lord of His past compassion toward His people I can remind the Lord of His past love and compassion toward me and request Him to have pity on me.

Isaiah 63:7-19 (English Standard Version)


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