Isaiah 59:17-21: a reflection

17He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle. 18According to their deeds, he will repay as appropriate: wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies. He will repay the islands their due. 19So they will fear the LORD’s name from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the LORD’s breath drives. 20“A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob,” says the LORD. 21“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your offspring, nor out of the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now on and forever.”

After a passage describing God rising to bring salvation and judgment, he gives a promise of a Redeemer and an enduring covenant. A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience, God says. And then he makes a lasting promise: My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your offspring, from now on and forever. God promises that his Spirit and his word will abide with his people, not departing, but remaining with them and their descendants forever.

Notice the promise of God's abiding Spirit and word. God does not promise merely a passing gift, but an enduring one: his Spirit resting on his people, and his words in their mouths, not departing, but remaining from now on and forever, through the generations. The Spirit and the word of God would abide with his people, a lasting possession that would not be taken away. God's covenant was that his Spirit and his word would remain with his people enduringly, not a temporary presence but a lasting one, from generation to generation.

That promise of God's abiding Spirit and word is worth resting in, for it assures us that God does not give himself to his people only for a passing moment, but abides with them. We can fear that God's presence, his Spirit, his word, might be with us only fleetingly, easily withdrawn; but God promised that his Spirit and word would not depart, but abide with his people forever. God's Spirit and word are an abiding gift to his people, not a passing one; they remain, from generation to generation. Do not fear that God's Spirit and word are with you only fleetingly, easily withdrawn; God's covenant is that they will abide with his people and not depart. Rest in the promise of God's abiding Spirit and word, which remain with his people enduringly, from now and forever, as God covenanted that his Spirit and his words would not depart from his people or their offspring; God's Spirit and word abide, a lasting gift, not a passing one.

Lord, after a passage describing you rising to bring salvation and judgment, you give a promise of a Redeemer and an enduring covenant. A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience, you say. And then you make a lasting promise: my Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your offspring, from now on and forever. You promise that your Spirit and your word will abide with your people, not departing, but remaining forever. Show me the promise of your abiding Spirit and word. You do not promise merely a passing gift, but an enduring one: your Spirit resting on your people, and your words in their mouths, not departing, but remaining from now on and forever. Your Spirit and word would abide with your people, a lasting possession. Your covenant was that they would remain enduringly, from generation to generation. Let me rest in that promise, for it assures me that you do not give yourself to your people only for a passing moment, but abide with them. I can fear that your presence, your Spirit, your word, might be with me only fleetingly, easily withdrawn; but you promised that your Spirit and word would not depart. Your Spirit and word are an abiding gift, not a passing one. Keep me from fearing that your Spirit and word are with me only fleetingly; your covenant is that they will abide with your people and not depart. Help me rest in the promise of your abiding Spirit and word, Lord, which remain with your people enduringly.