“For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned… until the Spirit from heaven is poured out on us. … Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the orchard. The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:14-17 CSB)
Redemption is not just a noun; it’s a process. To see it, you have to back it all the way back. It begins with man’s arrogant rebellion. Man decides he can do without God, and that his own abilities are sufficient. God gets relegated to the corner in his life, if that. Or so he thinks. That’s when judgment comes crashing into his life. Blessing becomes elusive, and sorrow ensues and persists even when man inserts all sorts of “pain killers” into his life to try to ease the pain. Still the judgment is there. In the process, though, if repentance comes, then so does forgiveness, and God then pours out His Spirit, like a desert deluge. Life springs forth, particularly in the form of justice and righteousness. These lead to the renewal of peace. This right relationship then brings about “quiet confidence.”
Isaiah uses the term “quiet confidence” on more than one occasion. Always it involves peace and righteousness and the Spirit of God. Confidence never requires bravado’s support. Genuine confidence is the kind that comes from God and is placed in God. It doesn’t need to be fanned into flames, because it is an eternal flame of quiet confidence born of redemption.
Lord, We commit this day and each day to You in the quiet confidence that comes from Your Spirit. Amen.
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