For the day of vengeance was in my heart,
and the year of my redemption has come.
I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm worked salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.
Here in Isaiah 63, God puts together two seemingly opposite concepts into one theology. When we think of redemption and salvation we think of forgiveness, mercy, grace and love. We don't often think of vengeance and wrath or judgment. We like to think of God brushing away our sins, overlooking our offenses or turning a blind eye to our iniquity. This is not what happened on the day of salvation.
On that great day of redemption when God's only Son went to Calvary, He not only bore the weight of the cross and the pain of the whips, fists and nails, but also our sin and the vengeful wrath of God toward the sins of the world. Punishment was not withheld... only withheld from us. This was the price paid by Jesus to redeem us from condemnation, from slavery to sin and eternal separation from Him. This is a picture of that great year of Jubilee when a relative was permitted to buy back a family member in bondage or slavery (Lev. 25).
So when we think of our salvation and redemption, we must remember the cost. We cannot forget the weight of our sin, the severity of the punishment, the sacrifice of our redeemer and satisfaction accomplished at the cross. We cannot have redemption without wrath.
Oh Lord,
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge. (Psalm 51:1-4)
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