Often the Lord our God is described as a warrior Who is ready to come to the aid of His people. In Isaiah 59, God saw that there was no man to intercede and bring salvation. Therefore God Almighty became our intercessor and His own arm brought salvation. God said He put on a breastplate of righteousness and a helmet of salvation. He put on garments of vengeance and a cloak of zeal. God Almighty is arrayed to take vengeance on the enemy.
You need to take this into account in your life. God is prepared to come to your aid.
Having encouraged us with this, God has given us various warnings that the enemy is coming out against us. God wants to let you know that the enemy is coming. In John 10:10 Jesus warned that the thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. We all know something about the day of trouble and the attack of the enemy.
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
God does not want His people to be caught off guard with the sly and sneaky attacks of the enemy. In Ephesians 6, we are told to arm ourselves and be ready.
Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV84 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
It is apparent that God wants to tell you that an evil day is coming. God is giving us this kind of warning so that we will be prepared and be able to stand our ground. I want to remind you that heaven will be worth the journey when you get there. When you see Jesus sitting on the throne, you will be so glad you made yourself press on home. Down here, we are hard-pressed on every side, yet we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. We are persecuted, but not forsaken.We are struck down, but not destroyed.
Listen to this! The same God who raised up Jesus will also raise us up!
You need to know that the evil day will come, but you really need to know that God is already prepared for anything that will happen.
Isaiah 59:19-20a So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. The Redeemer will come…
It is so important that we understand that God is ready for the times that the enemy comes in.
- The NIV says, “For He will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.”
- The NLT says, “For He will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.”
- The Amplified Bible says, “the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].”
Whenever you begin recognizing the attack of the enemy, get ready for the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard. He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives.
What is going to happen?
Isaiah 59:20 follows on the heels of the raging, pent-up flood that is driven by the breath of the Lord. It starts with these words… The Redeemer will come…
So often even God’s people focus on the fact that “the enemy has come in…” God wants you to know that The Redeemer will come… Encourage yourself in the Lord. The Holy Spirit is already prepared to lift up the Standard, Jesus Christ.
The Redeemer will come… and bring the aid you are needing.
Don’t lose heart, even if it looks like the outward man is perishing, (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:8). Often trials are dark on every hand and we fail to see that deliverance is possible. God is telling you that when the enemy comes in, there is a flood of victory coming your way. These things are coming to an end. The enemy is about to be defeated. Hold on in faith. You may see a lot of things that are very negative and it may feel like your doom is at hand.
God is on the throne. There are some unseen victories headed your way. God has made some promises that you need to hold on to in faith.
1 Samuel 13-14 gives a perfect illustration of this.
Saul began to reign in Israel and had chosen three thousand men. Two thousand were with him in the mountains near Michmash, the rest of the people were sent back to their tents. Jonathan attacked a garrison of Philistines, and when the Philistines heard of it, they gathered thirty-thousand chariots and six-thousand horsemen, and the foot soldiers were as the sand on the seashore for multitude. When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger they hid in caves, thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. They were terrified and started trembling when the enemy came in. To complicate matters, at that time there was no blacksmith to be found in Israel. In the day of the conflict, there was neither sword nor spear to be found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree with six hundred men of Israel, (1 Samuel 13-14).
I want to remind you, that ‘When the enemy comes in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. The Redeemer will come…
- While Saul was watching the enemy, Jonathan told his armorbearer, “Come let us go over to the garrison of the enemy… It may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
- Later Jonathan told his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
- When they got to the top of the hill, “There was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.” (1 Samuel 14:15).
- When the enemy comes in, “the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].” (Isaiah 59:19)
Isaiah 59:20-21 NKJV “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the Lord. “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
Isaiah 60:1-2 NKJV Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
God is going to turn things around for you!
The Redeemer is coming to your aid.
