Israel's Children Acknowledged as Blessed

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