September 29
Isaiah 55: 12: For ye shall go out with joy,
and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth
before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13: Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier
shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an
everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
When God gives life and faith by his word,
bringing us to believe Christ, all things become new for the believer. Newness
of life begins with being delivered from bondage into liberty, “For ye shall go
out with joy…” (Is 55: 12) Christ redeemed his people. (Gal 3: 13; Heb 2:
14-15) By making his word effectual in our hearts through the gospel Christ sets
us free. (Is 49: 9; 43: 1; 40: 1-2; Jn 8: 36; Rom 5: 11; 15: 13) Newness of
life is to be under a new leader, “and be led forth with peace.” (Is 55: 12) The
Peace which leads the believer is Christ the Prince of Peace, the LORD our
Righteousness. (Is 55: 4; Jer 23: 6-8; Is 40: 11; 42: 16; 49: 9-11; Rom 8:
14-15; 5: 1) Newness of life makes the believer a new creature, “Instead of the
thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the
myrtle tree.” (Is 55: 13) Like the ground under the curse, every sinner under
the curse is only thorns and briars and that is what we brought forth. (Gen 3:
17-19) Gal 5: 19-21) But the believer is made a fir tree and a myrtle tree, emblems
of pleasant, fruitful, useful trees. (Gal 5: 22-23; 2 Cor 5: 17-18)
Now, all of those things rejoice our hearts. Here is why. In newness of life, we behold
Christ’s glory like never before, “the mountains and the hills shall break
forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their
hands.” (Is 55: 12) Together with the word
of God, we begin to see in all of God’s creation, the glory of the Lord Jesus. For
the first time we behold that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Ps 19: 1) Throughout the scriptures, everything
in God’s creation is used as a metaphor to describe Christ and the blessings we
have in him. It was all made for that purpose. (Col 1: 16)
Therefore, when we see the sun rise “as a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber” then we think of Christ Jesus the Sun of
Righteousness. (Ps 19: 5; Mal 4: 2) He is the Bridegroom, his elect are his
bride. (Eph 5: 24-32) As the day progresses and we see the sun, “rejoice as a strong man to run a
race; His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the
ends of it” (Ps 19: 5) then we are
reminded of Christ, the Strong Man, who ran his race, “who for the joy set
before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12: 2) When we see the rain and snow of
winter then we see the tender bud spring forth in the spring, we are reminded, “as
the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to
the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of
my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which
I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is 55: 10-11) When
we plant the little seed in our garden, we remember Christ’s description of his
great sacrifice for us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth
forth much fruit.” (Jn 12: 24) When we see the rainbow in the cloud we are
reminded of the everlasting covenant of grace God made with us in Christ Jesus.
(Gen 9: 3; Rev 14: 4; 10: 1; Is 42: 6; 49: 8; 2 Sam 23: 5; 2 Cor 1: 20) When we
feel the wind blowing where it will then we are reminded of the irresistible, invincible
grace of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. (Jn 3: 8) All around us, we see
Christ’s glory, “the mountains and
the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the
field shall clap their hands.” And beholding Christ’s glory in newness of life,
we now give God all the glory for his unchanging, immutable grace, “and it
shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut
off.” (Is 55: 13)
How
sad for those who pass through this life rejecting Christ, opposing themselves. They never behold Christ’s glory and peace
and joy. Sinner, do not miss out!
Believe on Christ and you will behold the glory of Christ. The Lord
Jesus said to Martha, “if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory
of God?” (Jn 11: 40)