OUR FATHER WHO UNDERTAKES TO FREE HIS PEOPLE

Isaiah chapter 52 verses 4 - 5 says this;

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.

“And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord. “For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, ” declares the Lord.

“And all day long my name is constantly  blasphemed.

In this passage, the Lord recounts the oppression that His people suffered at the hands of the Egyptians and then at the hands of the Assyrians.

Then the  Lord asks, "And now what do I have here?" 

His people have been displaced for no reason and they are subjugated and mocked. Their God is constantly being blasphemed. 

In their state of weakness while under the foot of the oppressor, the Lord intervenes to redeem His people.

Isaiah writes in verse 1, "Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city."

He cajoles the people of Zion to rise in strength and in the splendor of the One who has saved them.

As he declares the coming salvation, Isaiah writes about how welcome the news of this gift of God's salvation shall be to those who receive it in verse 7,  "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Isaiah, in verse 14, foresees that the high cost of our salvation will be paid for by a person who will be disfigured and marred beyond recognition. The verse says it this way;

Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness-

Because so many were appalled at Him, the saviour earned the right bring his influence  to bear on many nations and lead His people  out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Amen.