And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
When right is driven back and truth has fallen with no one to intercede, God Himself steps in to save by His own power clothed with righteousness and judgment. The Redeemer who comes to Zion is Christ, the Messiah announced after the fall and by John the Baptist and fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, who came in human nature to take away sin and save the lost from Satan's power. He comes only to those in Jacob who turn from wrongdoing, for His salvation never hides sin or calls evil good but exposes its true nature so sinners forsake it. With those who turn He makes an enduring covenant that His Spirit and His words shall remain with them to take away their sins and turn ungodliness from Jacob. They become a chosen people called from darkness into light to live pure and upright lives, arising and shining while darkness covers the earth so others are drawn to that light.
Context and Promise
The promise belongs to a time when judgment is turned backward and stands far off, when truth has fallen in the street and fails, and when the one who departs from evil makes himself a prey. In that darkness God looks for a man and for an intercessor and finds none, and He is displeased that there is no judgment. Salvation therefore rests wholly on His own action, for He Himself is the only hope and stay and strength of His people. His own arm brings salvation and His own righteousness sustains Him, as He puts on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as a helmet, with garments of vengeance and a cloak of zeal, repaying fury to His adversaries and recompense to His enemies and to the islands.
The Redeemer shall come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, so that His coming and deliverance are bound to abandoning wrongdoing. Apart from Christ the perishing world has no hope, and His work saves men from Satan's power. His salvation and righteousness do not conceal wrongdoing, cover up sin, or call sin righteousness. His hatred of sin, His integrity, and His righteousness move sinners to recognize the true nature of sin and to turn from it.
His coming causes the name of the Lord to be feared 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 lifts up a standard against him, opposing evil and bringing deliverance through God's own righteousness. The same chapter shows the state of the world just before the second coming, when the end of all things is at hand. Iniquity then abounds because men have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant given on condition of obedience, and because of continual transgression. The world comes more and more under the sway of seducing spirits as men turn from God and His righteous government, and even those professing godliness indulge their own traits of character and become self-indulgent and self-centered unless conscientiously under the control of God.
Fulfillment in Christ
The Redeemer promised to come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression is Christ, revealed as the one who takes away the sin of the world. The promise was preached by John the Baptist as a prophecy of the Messiah, and it was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. His coming answers the need seen when there was no man and no intercessor, so that salvation comes by God's own arm and is sustained by His own righteousness.
That announcement was heard as a voice in heaven after Adam's fall, declaring Christ as Redeemer in God's stead toward humanity. By that action He saved the race from immediate death and gave to Adam and Eve and to all their posterity a probation in which to return to allegiance. As Redeemer He took the work of mediator between God and man, and in the fulness of time He was revealed in human form. In that coming He took His position at the head of humanity by taking human nature without its sinfulness, coming as humanity's head to bring salvation to those who turn from sin.
The chapter to which the promise belongs describes the character of the priests and rabbis who rejected Jesus, whose divinity was questioned by the priests and Pharisees. It stands with Isaiah 61, which testifies that Christ was to do the very work He did, and with Isaiah 53, which sets forth His rejection and sufferings in the world. Compared with the facts characterizing the life of Jesus, these prophecies show a beautiful harmony between prophecy and fulfillment in the life and ministry of the lowly Galilean. Those who in sincerity study the word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture will not be misled by false reasoning.
Covenant People and Calling
The Redeemer makes His covenant with those who turn from transgression, that His Spirit and His words put in the mouth shall not depart, and as Deliverer out of Zion He turns away ungodliness from Jacob when He takes away their sins. This is fulfilled in a people chosen, elect, and precious now in training, who were once children of disobedience but have turned, been called out of darkness into His marvelous light, become the people of God who have obtained mercy, and arise and shine with the glory of the Lord risen upon them while darkness covers the earth, so that Gentiles and kings come to their light. Its promised representation is fulfilled as God's people take their appointed position and reveal His love by reaching out to others.
The promise is joined to the call for Christians to live pure, upright lives, showing that Christ's grace can redeem people and raise them to moral integrity. For His people and institutions it requires conversion from wrong principles that have come in, a turning and overturning until every unrighteous principle is expelled, working with an eye single to His glory instead of scheming, dishonest plans that tarnish His sacred places. God walks through business rooms and is present in council meetings, and when the sanctification of His Spirit becomes the controlling power God will bless His people.
The verse means all Israel shall be saved after blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The Jews who abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted into their own olive tree again, and their receiving shall be as life from the dead, and among them the Lord has mighty men who will proclaim the truth with power. Therefore Gentiles must not despise the Jews nor boast against the branches nor be highminded, but fear and continue in goodness.
When right is driven back and truth has fallen with no one to intercede, God Himself steps in to save by His own power clothed with righteousness and judgment. The Redeemer who comes to Zion is Christ, the Messiah announced after the fall and by John the Baptist and fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, who came in human nature to take away sin and save the lost from Satan's power. He comes only to those in Jacob who turn from wrongdoing, for His salvation never hides sin or calls evil good but exposes its true nature so sinners forsake it. With those who turn He makes an enduring covenant that His Spirit and His words shall remain with them to take away their sins and turn ungodliness from Jacob. They become a chosen people called from darkness into light to live pure and upright lives, arising and shining while darkness covers the earth so others are drawn to that light.
Context and Promise
The promise belongs to a time when judgment is turned backward and stands far off, when truth has fallen in the street and fails, and when the one who departs from evil makes himself a prey. In that darkness God looks for a man and for an intercessor and finds none, and He is displeased that there is no judgment. Salvation therefore rests wholly on His own action, for He Himself is the only hope and stay and strength of His people. His own arm brings salvation and His own righteousness sustains Him, as He puts on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as a helmet, with garments of vengeance and a cloak of zeal, repaying fury to His adversaries and recompense to His enemies and to the islands.
The Redeemer shall come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, so that His coming and deliverance are bound to abandoning wrongdoing. Apart from Christ the perishing world has no hope, and His work saves men from Satan's power. His salvation and righteousness do not conceal wrongdoing, cover up sin, or call sin righteousness. His hatred of sin, His integrity, and His righteousness move sinners to recognize the true nature of sin and to turn from it.
His coming causes the name of the Lord to be feared 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 lifts up a standard against him, opposing evil and bringing deliverance through God's own righteousness. The same chapter shows the state of the world just before the second coming, when the end of all things is at hand. Iniquity then abounds because men have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant given on condition of obedience, and because of continual transgression. The world comes more and more under the sway of seducing spirits as men turn from God and His righteous government, and even those professing godliness indulge their own traits of character and become self-indulgent and self-centered unless conscientiously under the control of God.
Fulfillment in Christ
The Redeemer promised to come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression is Christ, revealed as the one who takes away the sin of the world. The promise was preached by John the Baptist as a prophecy of the Messiah, and it was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. His coming answers the need seen when there was no man and no intercessor, so that salvation comes by God's own arm and is sustained by His own righteousness.
That announcement was heard as a voice in heaven after Adam's fall, declaring Christ as Redeemer in God's stead toward humanity. By that action He saved the race from immediate death and gave to Adam and Eve and to all their posterity a probation in which to return to allegiance. As Redeemer He took the work of mediator between God and man, and in the fulness of time He was revealed in human form. In that coming He took His position at the head of humanity by taking human nature without its sinfulness, coming as humanity's head to bring salvation to those who turn from sin.
The chapter to which the promise belongs describes the character of the priests and rabbis who rejected Jesus, whose divinity was questioned by the priests and Pharisees. It stands with Isaiah 61, which testifies that Christ was to do the very work He did, and with Isaiah 53, which sets forth His rejection and sufferings in the world. Compared with the facts characterizing the life of Jesus, these prophecies show a beautiful harmony between prophecy and fulfillment in the life and ministry of the lowly Galilean. Those who in sincerity study the word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture will not be misled by false reasoning.
Covenant People and Calling
The Redeemer makes His covenant with those who turn from transgression, that His Spirit and His words put in the mouth shall not depart, and as Deliverer out of Zion He turns away ungodliness from Jacob when He takes away their sins. This is fulfilled in a people chosen, elect, and precious now in training, who were once children of disobedience but have turned, been called out of darkness into His marvelous light, become the people of God who have obtained mercy, and arise and shine with the glory of the Lord risen upon them while darkness covers the earth, so that Gentiles and kings come to their light. Its promised representation is fulfilled as God's people take their appointed position and reveal His love by reaching out to others.
The promise is joined to the call for Christians to live pure, upright lives, showing that Christ's grace can redeem people and raise them to moral integrity. For His people and institutions it requires conversion from wrong principles that have come in, a turning and overturning until every unrighteous principle is expelled, working with an eye single to His glory instead of scheming, dishonest plans that tarnish His sacred places. God walks through business rooms and is present in council meetings, and when the sanctification of His Spirit becomes the controlling power God will bless His people.
The verse means all Israel shall be saved after blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The Jews who abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted into their own olive tree again, and their receiving shall be as life from the dead, and among them the Lord has mighty men who will proclaim the truth with power. Therefore Gentiles must not despise the Jews nor boast against the branches nor be highminded, but fear and continue in goodness.