Hope and Blessing for Repentant Ones

Under the Law of Moses, an Israelite who sold himself into slavery could be bought back out of slavery by a repurchase. Previously in Isaiah's prophetic book, Jehovah has been characterized as the Repurchaser of repentant individuals.  (Isaiah 48:17) Now he is again described as the Repurchaser of repentant ones.  Isaiah records Jehovah's promise:  " 'To Zion the Repurchaser will certainly come, and to those turning from transgression in Jacob,' is the utterance of Jehovah." (Isaiah 59:20) This reassuring promise is fulfilled in 537 B.C.E. But it has a further fulfillment. The apostle Paul quoted these words from the Septuagint version and applied them to Christians.  He wrote: "In this manner all Israel will be saved.  Just as it is written:  'The deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob.  And this is the covenant on my part with them, when I take their sins away.' " (Romans 11:26, 27)  Indeed, Isaiah's prophecy has a greatly extended application-one that reaches down to our time and beyond.  How so?

In the first century,  a small remnant of the nation of Israel accepted Jesus as the Messiah.  (Romans 9:27; 11:5)  On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., Jehovah poured out his holy spirit on about 120 of those believers and brought them into his new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ.  (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 9:15)  On that day there came into existence "the Israel of God," a new nation whose members are characterized, not by fleshly descent from Abraham, but by a begetting by God's spirit.  (Galatians 6:16) Starting with Cornelius, the new nation included uncircumcised Gentiles.  (Acts 10:24-48; Revelation 5:9, 10)  Thus they were adopted by Jehovah God and became his spiritual children, fellow heirs with Jesus. -Romans 8:16, 17.

Jehovah now makes a covenant with the Israel of God.  We read:  " 'As for me, this is my covenant with them,' Jehovah has said.  'My spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth-they will not be removed from your mouth or from the mouth of your offspring or from the mouth of the offspring of your offspring,' Jehovah has said, 'from now on even to time indefinite.' " ( Isaiah 59:21)  Whether these words had an application upon Isaiah himself or not, they were certainly fulfilled in Jesus, who was assured  that 'he would see his offspring.'  (Isaiah 53:10) Jesus spoke words that he had learned from Jehovah, and Jehovah's spirit rested upon him.  (John 1:18; 7:16) Fittingly, his brothers and fellow heirs, members of the Israel of God, also received Jehovah's holy spirit and preach a message that they have learned from their heavenly Father.  They are all "persons taught by Jehovah."  (Isaiah 54:13; Luke 12:12; Acts 2:38) Either through Isaiah or through Jesus, whom Isaiah prophetically pictures Jehovah now covenants never to replace them but to use them to time indefinite as his witnesses.  (Isaiah  43:10)  Who, though, are their "offspring" who also benefit from this covenant?

Next time: Conclusion of Hope and Blessing for Repentant Ones

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001