the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Isaiah 63:15-19; ; Isaiah 64:1-12
The faithful remnant have recalled "the great goodness" which the LORD had formerly bestowed on His people (Isaiah 63:7). Having given such proof of His love, could He now abandon them? They therefore appeal to the heart of this God of all help who is their Father. "Look down from heaven . . ." Yet this is not enough for them. "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down . . ." they cry. That is what Christ once did in order to save us, but He will come down again to deliver His own who are under trial, consuming their enemies (Psalms 18:19; Psalms 144:5).
V. 6 compares "all our righteousnesses" to "filthy rags". We can understand that our sins are like that, but our righteousnesses? Yet in truth it is so! What ever good or righteous deeds we performed before our conversion are as rags, which only confirm our wretchedness instead of hiding it. But the Lord replaces these filthy rags with the garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:1-5).
Formed like the clay on the potter’s wheel (v. 8), we can make nothing of value out of the dust from which we were made (Psalms 100:3). The work of the divine Craftsman who applies Himself to the task of making of us "a vessel unto honour" (2 Timothy 2:21) is alone of value.
