God Provides an Intercessor (Isaiah 59:15-21)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
18 October 2020
An intercessor is a mediator between two parties at odds with each other.
Why do we need an intercessor? It is because we are alienated from God our Creator (59:2). We were not created to be separated from him but separation has occurred and has brought loneliness, meaninglessness, despair to individuals and ungodliness and evil to society. Isaiah 59:1-15 makes this clear.
The Lord God sees the evil in the world (59:15,16). There is injustice (59:4,8), violence (59:6,8), lying and oppression (59:13). People sin and sin and think nothing of it. But God sees it all. Remember David who committed adultery and murder and thought nothing of it, but the Lord saw it all and was displeased (2 Samuel 11:27).
The Lord saw that there was no intercessor (59:16) and he was astonished (59:16). He laments over human sin and the inability of people to find a way out of their mire. God is a God who laments. He takes no pleasure in evil. He grieves over our unbelief. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He weeps for the lost.
But the Lord arises from lamentation and he himself provides an intercessor (59:16). This is prophetic of Christ Jesus. Isaiah lived about 700 years before Christ but he foretells the coming of Christ who would come and mediate for sinners. What people cannot do; God does.
Note some of the characteristics of the intercessor (59:17). He would be clothed in righteousness, salvation, vengeance and zeal. All these traits are seen in Jesus. Jesus was perfectly righteous. Jesus brings salvation. Jesus takes holy vengeance upon evildoers and he was filled with zeal in doing his Father’s work. Jesus perfectly fits Isaiah's description of the intercessor.
The notion that God repays his adversaries and enemies is rejected by sceptics but the Bible is clear about the judgment of evildoers. We stand on the authority of the Bible and are not swayed by people’s opinions.
When people see the judgments of God they will be possessed with fear and holy awe. They will see God’s glory in the way he preserves his people. When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord raises up a standard and the church is preserved.
For us there is no need to live alienated from our Creator. He has seen our plight and has provided a way to bridge the gap that separates us from him. This way is through the person of Jesus Christ who is the only person qualified to be our intercessor.
He is qualified because he has been accepted by God. The Father has declared "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." No further testimony is required. He is qualified to represent us because he is fully human and understands our failings and frailties.
Enter today into the presence of the Lord God your Creator He has made this entry possible. Jesus Christ who is God and human is the perfect intercessor.
Finally, note his intercession is lasting. He comes into our lives and never departs (59:21). Because his intercession is forever our salvation is also forever. To think otherwise is to deny the finished effectual work of Jesus our great High Priest.
Give God the glory for his provision of an intercessor — Christ Jesus.