This prophecy from
Isaiah is quoted in Matthew 4, and there is quite a grammatical puzzle in the
wording. In the time of the New Testament,
it would make sense to use the past tense “have seen,” for the people had
indeed seen Jesus, the light of the world.
Yet would it not make sense that as a prophecy in Isaiah the verb be in
the future tense? After all, Isaiah was
writing about what had not yet happened.
Would it not have been better for him to have written, “The people will
see a great light?”
This is one of the
many things I love about God. His
promises are sure. They are rock solid,
one hundred percent guaranteed. You can
take them to the bank. So certain are
the promises of God that the prophet Isaiah could use the past tense to
describe an event that was still nearly 800 years in his future.
Usually the best I
can do when our children ask to go somewhere special is to say, “We will see,”
or “We will try,” or more likely, “Let me talk with your mother.” They get beside themselves if I actually
commit by saying, “Okay, we will go.”
Can you imagine the confidence I would need to have to say, “We have
gone to the pool later today” as if it were an already accomplished fact?
Lord, it is so
comforting, so strengthening to know that Your promises are sure. I know I can count on You and Your word. May Your words become my flesh, Your promises
the very strength of my life. In the
name of Jesus, Who has proved Your faithfulness beyond measure, amen.
Copyright © 2013 by Steven R. Perkins
No comments:
Post a Comment
While I welcome comments, even those that disagree with something I have written, I will delete any comment that is profane, vulgar, threatening, or in poor taste.