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Isaiah 51:4–6 ⁴Listen to Me, My people, and hear Me, My nation; from Me the Law goes out, and My justice as a light for the nations. ⁵I am here to do what is right. I’m on My way to save. My arms will judge the nations. The lands by the sea will eagerly wait for Me and put their trust in My arm. ⁶Look up to heaven, and watch the earth below. The heavens will disappear like smoke, the earth wear out like a garment, and those who live there will die like gnats. But I will always save and never be stopped from doing what is right.

As we are ending the church year and facing Advent, where our focus is on the second coming of Christ Jesus culminating in celebrating his first advent with Christmas, we continue to focus on the last days.

The LORD calls us in this passage of Isaiah to pay attention with our ears. He has something to say which is important to us. He speaks to those who should know him, the children of Abraham and those He wants to know Him, i.e. the nations. The LORD’s Torah, His Law or Instructions go out from Him and His Mishpat or Justice goes out as a light for the nations. The LORD is not only concerned for Israel or the Jews but for all people. The LORD is here to do what is right.

And what is that? What is His Torah and his Mishpat? It is Jesus of Nazareth, God’s only-begotten Son. He came and in his way to save. Jesus’ arms judged the nations and because of that the lands by the sea eagerly wait for him and put their trust in him. You see, justice was served when Jesus outstretched his arms on the cross. There our sins were accused rightly and punished rightly. No sin against the Law of God was left undone and unatoned for. The wages of sin is death and Jesus paid that price. Every sin against God and every sin against you was paid for, justice was served, by Jesus.

Now the light of this good news goes out. The Torah and Mishpat of God is seen and says, trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation. Believe Jesus’ death and resurrection reconciled you to God the Father. Listen to Jesus the Torah and Mishpat of the LORD and keep his word. And living in his light, love your neighbor as yourself.

Look now, the end of all things is near. Do not perish with this world rejecting the gift the LORD has provided you. Look up to heaven and the earth below. All creation will wear out like a garment. Peter writes in 2 Peter 3, ¹⁰ “The Lord’s day will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be exposed.” The people who rejected the LORD’s Torah and Mishpat will die like gnats. Since they didn’t trust the LORD’s fulfillment of these in the arms of Jesus on the cross, then they will receive it in themselves. Jesus always saves and never stops doing what is right. His salvation is there whether people trust it or not. Since he was innocent of our sins it is right those who reject it receive a right judgment but because he is merciful and kind, it is right those who trust in him receive his kingdom.

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to stretch out his arms on the cross and provide justice to the nations. Grant us faith in him that his Torah and Mishpat is our light always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.