Isaiah 45:17-25, “Justification” in the OT (4)

Job has raised the issue of man being unable to be justified before God.  The prophets solve the problem.  Initially there is hopelessness.

·       Jeremiah (8:12) sounds like Judah, stating that “backsliding Israel” is more righteous than “treacherous Judah.”  Neither is justified or declared righteous; one is just less unrighteous than the other.

·       Likewise, Ezekiel (16:51-52) says that Judah’s sins have justified Samaria and Sodom.  It is justification by comparison with other sinners.  And that is not the standard.  The question is, how does God see us?

·       Isaiah (5:23) declares the sin of those who “justify the wicked.”  But then Isaiah begins to reveal God’s provision.  In Isa. 43:26 he calls the people to state your case, that you may be acquitted, something they cannot do.  But he precedes this call with God’s statement, I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.  How can God do this, and yet maintain His own righteousness? 

·       Consider today’s reading.  God promises Israel will be saved (v17), a promise made by the LORD the Creator (v18), and a promise God has made very clear to Israel (v19).  He calls the regathered nation to make their own case, based on the idols they are worshiping (v20) that they might come to see that there is no other just God or Savior besides Him (v21-22).  This will happen when every knee bows to the Lord and every tongue confesses His Lordship (v23).  At that time they will realize that surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength (v24).  In that setting Israel will be justified (v25).  Certainly you can see, can you not?  This is all found in Christ!  He is the One to whom all must bow and confess as Lord (Phil. 2:11-14).  He is our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:24).  Job longed for this; God promises it will come to pass!

·       Without going into as much detail, this is powerfully repeated by Isaiah.

o   In Isa. 50:8 (one of the Messianic “Servant Songs”) the Messiah says that He who is near (the Lord God, cf. v7) will justify Him (the Messiah).  In other words, He will be the Righteous One in whom we can be righteous.

o   In 53:11 (another “Servant Song”) we see this righteousness is in the Messiah: By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.  Here is a key thought.  God blots out sin through the Righteous One who bears those iniquities Himself.

We now see how God can be said to justify the ungodly (Rom. 4:5) when He had said in the law that He would not justify the wicked.  He has a solution that, as Paul said, justifies the believer and at the same time justifies the One who justifies us!  Hallelujah!