The Divine Call for Intercessors
"¶ And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16
In the midst of chaos and despair, the profound truth of Isaiah 59:16 shines a luminous light, revealing the heart of God regarding His people. The verse compellingly states, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." This scripture unpacks a rich tapestry of God's longing and the essential role of intercession in our relationship with Him.
**A God Who Seeks:**
The opening of this verse, "And he saw that there was no man," suggests a moment of divine observation. God looks down upon humanity and notices a significant absence – the absence of intercessors. This moment of divine wonder speaks volumes about God's nature; He is relational and longs for partnership with His creation. In His omnipotence, God could execute His plans single-handedly, yet in His wisdom, He chooses to involve us, His children. The absence of intercessors is not simply a statement of fact but a lament over the disconnection between God and man. God seeks men and women who will stand in the gap, pray, and intercede not just for their needs but for the needs of others, communities, and nations. This principle remains timeless; God desires us to call upon Him and to mediate on behalf of others.
**The Weight of Responsibility:**
The phrase "and wondered that there was no intercessor" bears profound significance. The word 'wondered' implies surprise and sadness in the heart of God. When we consider the weight of this message, we must ask ourselves: Are we responding to God's call for intercession? This verse challenges us to take seriously our commitment to pray. In a world filled with turmoil, division, and pain, God still waits for His people to rise up and intercede. The responsibility for intercession does not rest solely on leaders or the faithful few. Every believer is called to engage in prayer, to lift each other up, and to connect with the Divine in profound ways. This verse ignites a sense of urgency—a call to action for the church, for families, and for individuals. We must become those who pray not just in times of need but with a commitment to uphold the righteousness of God in our lives and the world around us.
**God’s Response:**
The latter part of the verse brings comfort and assurance: "therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." In contrast to the absence of intercessors, God’s response is both powerful and redemptive. His ‘arm’ symbolizes strength and capability. When the intercessors were missing, God did not abandon His mission; instead, He ensured that salvation was brought near through His own might. His righteousness stands unwavering, an eternal promise upholding those whom He loves. This is an important reminder that while God seeks our partnership, His plans cannot be thwarted. He remains faithful even when we falter. He acts with grace and mercy, unearthing the depths of His love for a broken world.
**Our Role in Salvation:**
As modern-day believers, we can take great solace and inspiration from this verse. We can become the intercessors that God desires. When we intercede, we participate in God’s work of salvation. Whether it be through fervent prayers for friends, family, community, or even global concerns, our participation invites the movement of God’s arm. We embody the righteousness of Christ, drawing upon His strength rather than our limitations. Thus, we should not only pray for our own needs but broaden our vision, understanding that God’s heart beats for the world.
In conclusion, Isaiah 59:16 serves as a clarion call to rise as intercessors in a world desperate for divine intervention. Let us not overlook the power we hold through prayer. Let us not stand idly by while God seeks those willing to engage in the sacred work of intercession. May we find courage in His righteousness, knowing that as we pray, God’s arm will bring salvation, and our world will be forever changed.
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Isaiah 59:16 - "¶ And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
"¶ And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16
Isaiah 59:1 - "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"
Isaiah 59:20 - "¶ And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
Isaiah 59:7 - "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths."
Isaiah 59:14 - "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter."
Isaiah 59:18 - "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence."
Isaiah 59:15 - "Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment."
Isaiah 59:6 - "Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands."
Isaiah 59:5 - "They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper."
Isaiah 59:4 - "None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity."
Isaiah 59:8 - "The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace."
Isaiah 59:3 - "For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness."
Isaiah 59:17 - "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke."
Isaiah 59:11 - "We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us."
Isaiah 59:12 - "For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;"
Isaiah 59:13 - "In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood."
Isaiah 59:2 - "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
Isaiah 59:9 - "¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness."
Isaiah 59:10 - "We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men."
Ezekiel 16:59 - "For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant."
"As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." - Isaiah 59:21
Psalms 59:16 - "But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble."
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 shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."
"¶ And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 59:20
"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:" - Isaiah 59:1
Isaiah 59:4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
Isaiah 59:4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
Isaiah 59:4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
Isaiah 59:3 (KJVA) 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.