Sermon Central
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Future Glory Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 7, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: God establishes His disciples in His righteousness. We can be established b/c He promises to guard us in His righteousness & keep us secure
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[In the past He allowed the destroyer (Babylon) to overcome His people, but for those established in rightiousness, this will never again occur. ]
Verse 17 presents the conclusion of this section. “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.
Whoever attempts to use weapon or tongue against the people of God will not succeed (will not take effect or accomplish its designs), because God is not sending that trouble and all things must eventually serve God’s purposes. They may be able to injure God’s servants, even to the extent of appearing to destroy them, but the fact is that will not be able to do so.
Those who decide to make trouble for the people of God should think very carefully. For those who make the trouble have another kind of assurance: they will fall and the fall will be great!
When people speak against you and misrepresent the truth and falsely accuse you they shall be put to silence with your godly lips and life-style. God will use you to prick the conscience of multitudes [as with Paul’s life and writings and preaching]. The Lord will fight the battles with you. He will refute, repudiate and rebuke all the evil forces that wage war against you. God promises protection and security for those who walk uprightly with Him.
The end of verse 17 is a summation statement for this whole segment or chapter. This is a new inheritance, not just a promised land but promised security. Peace and safety are the heritage-the inheritance of those who trust in the Lord. The servants (the singular Servant will not longer occur in Isaiah) are true believers, both Jew and gentile (56:6-8) who are faithful to the Lord..
The word translated vindication is the same word translated righteousness in verse 14. The righteousness of the people of God is from the Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the only righteous one. He is the One who makes us righteous.
CONCLUSION / RESPONSE
As servants of the Lord this promise is also for us. But it is not our own righteousness that qualifies us to claim it. Rather it is because we are in the Righteous One, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Remember, peace will never come to those who do not appreciate what they already have in Christ and His promises.
