GOD’S GIFT OF LIGHT (2)

“I will keep You and give You as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the GENTILES” – Isaiah 42:6b

Covenant Blessings are packaged in GOD’S GIFT of LIGHT: “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a COVENANT to the people, as a LIGHT to the GENTILES, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house” (Isa.42:6-7). This is about God’s Plan to give His Servant as Light and Salvation to His people. Simeon recalled this in his song: “A LIGHT to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Lk.2:32). Isaiah 49:6 also says: “I will also give You as a LIGHT to the Gentiles, that You should be MY SALVATION to the ends of the earth.’”

The Messiah was ordained to be “a covenant to the people” and “a light to the nations" As a covenant, He is the fulfilment of everything ever promised to God’s chosen people – the consummation of all they ever hoped for. In Him they found their identity and experienced God’s redeeming love. As Light for the nations, the Saviour took the Grace of God beyond the borders of Israel and brought it to those in darkness, to experience forgiveness of their sins and the hope of eternal life. Christ’s Life and Ministry established and proclaimed the glorious fact that sinners are reconciled to God not by their own works but by His Grace in action.

The scripture does not say that the Messiah will give God’s covenant to the nations, but that He, Himself, will be given as the Covenant. Likewise, it does not say that He will share God’s light with the world, but that He Himself will be the Gift of Light to the nations, to open blind eyes, deliver prisoners from the dungeon, and liberate those who sit in darkness (v.7). Darkness signifies spiritual alienation from God, the Source of all Life and Light. He says: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Having been baptized into Christ and thereby united with Him in His death and resurrection, we also are to be “a covenant to the people” and "a light to the Gentiles.” We are called to be witnesses to those outside the fellowship of the Church, who do not believe in Christ, in love pointing out to them the emptiness of their false beliefs and the futility of their well-intended works, as well as proclaiming to them the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to live, die and rise again for all sinners in need of forgiveness, all the spiritually dead in need of New Life. We who believe in Christ have been called to service, to bring the Light of Salvation to all for whom Christ accomplished it.