A Witness to the People
DAY 65 WRITTEN BY: LEE WELBORN-
Isaiah 55:4
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
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Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, God raised up a prophet named Isaiah. Because of his vivid imagery, his mastery of language and command of the written word, Isaiah is referred to as the Prince of Prophets and the Shakespeare of the Bible. Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament more than any other prophet. Jesus himself quoted Isaiah many times, which is a sure sign that Jesus wants us to spend time meditating on his words. Through Isaiah, God communicated to the world that a Messiah was coming.
Isaiah chapter 55 was a call to the people of his day to come to God, but the message is timeless and meant for future generations as well. God promises to make an everlasting covenant with the hearers of his words because of his faithful love and promise to David. At first glance, Isaiah seems to be describing David, but look at the words he uses. “See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.” David lived 300 years before Isaiah. David died long before Isaiah wrote verse 4. God, through his prophet Isaiah, must be describing Jesus. Isaiah may not have been given his name, but God clearly revealed the coming Messiah’s nature and mission to him.
In court, a witness gives testimony of what he has personally seen and heard. Isaiah is prophesying that a witness is coming soon who will testify about the Almighty God he has personally seen and heard. That witness’s name is Jesus.
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Father, thank you for giving Isaiah visions of you, of your son Jesus, and of future events. Thank you for inspiring him to write them down so that I could read them today. Thank you for making an everlasting covenant with us, a promise that we can rely on, that Jesus’s shed blood has paid the price for our sins in full, and because of him we are reconciled to you. Amen.
