Isaiah 51 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; 2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.3 The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be fSound in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
Isaiah speaks to Jews in his day, Jews in Jesus and Paul’s day, and Jews in our day who seek righteousness and seek the LORD yet they seem it without understanding of faith. As can be clearly seen by Jesus’ and Paul’s words they sought both through the means of obedience to the Torah and most especially to the commands.
This is not the way the LORD wanted them to seek righteousness or the LORD. Why else would say to them, “Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;…” If were merely obeying the commandments he would not say that. Plenty of people seek the LORD and his righteousness through moralist i.e. Trying to be good. They never make it. The rock from whence the Israelites were cut is Abraham.
What does Scripture say? Abraham believed God’s promises and it was credited to him as righteousness. If you want to pursue righteousness and seek the LORD and find him you must believe his covenant and promises. His covenant and promise was to send a Savior and Redemer from the loins of Abraham and David. His promise was to establish a new covenant because Israel broke the first one. Jesus of Nazareth is that seed of David who established the New Covenant through his blood.
In this new covenant, we have the free forgiveness of sins. God forgets our sins. He gives us the Holy Spirit and puts his Torah, instruction, In our hearts. He gives us faith to believe and trust he has done this and he counts this faith as righteousness. When we believe this we know and have found the LORD as the LORD Jesus Christ. If you pursue righteousness and seek the LORD through being good, you missed him and it completely. Now as his Church,his Israel, he does want us to love our neighbors but that is the result of the former not be later.
The LORD promises to his ragged Church, his Israel, he will make all things new. When he returns the earth will be like the gardens of he LORD. Rejoicing and singing, thanksgiving and praise, joy and gladness will be the characteristics of the life of his people who trusted him who trusted Jesus as the LORD.
Heavenly and merciful Father, you call us to seek your righteousness and to know you through trusting your son Jesus Christ. Grant is faith and your Holy Spirit that we may do this and be credited with your righteousness and know you truly now and in the age to come. In Jesus ‘ name we pray. Amen.
