Jehovah Executes Judgment

There seems to be no justice, righteousness, or truth in Judah.  "Justice was forced to move back, and righteousness itself kept standing simply far off.  For truth has stumbled even in the public square, and what is straightforward is unable to enter."   (Isaiah 59:14) Behind the city gates in Judah, there are public squares where the older men meet to consider legal cases.  (Ruth 4:1, 2, 11) Such men should judge in righteousness and pursue justice, not accept bribes.  (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)   Instead, they judge according  to their own selfish ideas. Worse yet, they view any who sincerely try to do good as easy prey. We read:  "The truth proves  to be missing, and anyone turning away from badness is being despoiled." -Isaiah 59:15a.

 

Those who fail to speak out against moral perversion forget that God is not blind, ignorant, or powerless.  Isaiah writes:  "Jehovah got to see, and it was bad in his eyes that there was no justice.  And when he saw that there was no man, he began to show himself astonished that there was no one interposing.  And his arm proceeded to save for him, and his own righteousness was the thing that supported him."  (Isaiah 59:15b, 16)  Since appointed judges are derelict in their duty, Jehovah will intervene in the matter.  When he does, he will act in righteousness and with power. 

There is a similar situation today.  We live in a world where many have "come to be past all moral sense."  (Ephesians 4:19)  few believe  that Jehovah will ever intervene to eliminate evil from the earth.  But Isaiah's prophecy shows that  Jehovah closely observes human affairs. He makes judgments, and in his own time, he acts according to those judgments. Are his judgments fair?  Isaiah shows that they are .  In the case of the nation of Judah, he writes: "Then [Jehovah] put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and the helmet of salvation upon his head.  Furthermore, he put on the garments of vengeance  as raiment and enwrapped himself with zeal as if a sleeveless coat."  (Isaiah 59:17)  These prophetic words  picture Jehovah as a warrior girding himself for battle.  He is intent on the salvation of his cause.  He is sure of his own absolute and unassailable righteousness.  And he will be  fearlessly  zealous in his acts of judgment.  There is no doubt that right will prevail.

Today in some lands, enemies of truth try to hinder the work of Jehovah's servants by spreading false and defamatory propaganda.  True Christians do not hesitate  to stand up for the truth, but they never seek personal vengeance.  (Romans  12:19)  Even when Jehovah settles accounts with apostate Christendom, his worshipers on earth will have no hand in her destruction.  They know that Jehovah has reserved vengeance for himself and that he will take appropriate  action when the time comes .  The prophecy assures us:  "In accordance with the dealings he will reward correspondingly, rage to his adversaries, due treatment to his enemies. To the islands he will recompense due treatment." (Isaiah 59:19) As in Isaiah's day, not only will God's judgments be fair  but they will also be complete.  They will  even reach "to the islands," to distant parts.  No one will be so remote or isolated that he will be out of reach of Jehovah's judgment acts.

Those who exert themselves to do right are judged righteously by Jehovah.  Isaiah foretells that from one horizon to the other-throughout the entire earth-such ones will survive.  And their experiencing Jehovah's protection will profoundly strengthen their reverence and respect for him.  (Malachi 1:11)  We read:  "From the sunset they will begin to fear the name of Jehovah, and from the rising of the sin the glory of him, for he will come in like distressing river, which the very  spirit of Jehovah has driven along." (Isaiah 59:19)  Like  a powerful windstorm pushing a destructive wall of water ahead of it and washing away all in its  path, Jehovah spirit will sweep away all barriers to the fulfillment of his will.  His spirit is more powerful than any force that man possesses.  When he uses it to execute  judgment on men and nations, he will have certain and complete success.

Next time: Hope and Blessing for Repentant Ones

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