November 16, 2004

THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

"Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth" (Isaiah 54:5, NKJV).

There are thirty occurrences in the Bible of the title, "The Holy One of Israel." Twenty-five of these are found in Isaiah, It is obviously Isaiah's favorite description of the Messiah. The Holy One of Israel is called king (see Psalm 89:18), creator (see Isaiah 40:28), and God of all the earth (see Isaiah 54:5). He is no national God, but the God of the whole earth. He is God of all humanity.

The universal spread of the gospel takes place under God's reign of grace, through Christ the Saviour of all humanity--Jews and Gentiles alike. Through His mighty redeeming power, the earth is to be full of the glory of God (see Isaiah 6:3). In response to God's global mandate, the light of the gospel is to penetrate every nation and reach every culture, race, language, tribe, and people-group in all the world (see Isaiah 54:2, 3; Matthew 28:19, 20). Habakkuk also predicted that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14, NKJV).

The ultimate triumph of the gospel will be the inauguration of the kingdom of glory under the supreme Lordship of the Holy One of Israel who will reign forever in righteousness as the "God of the whole earth" (Isaiah 54:5, NKJV). Then our Creator, Redeemer, and King will bring in the everlasting joy and peace the redeemed have prayed and worked and waited for so long. Speaking of the Holy One of Israel, Ellen G. White assures us, "He is infinite in resources. The Holy One of Israel, who calls the host of heaven by name, and holds the stars of Heaven in position, has you individually in His keeping."--Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 84.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I submit myself fully to Your sovereignty, and I make you the Lord of my life. Amen.