Isaiah: Holy One of Israel

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.  The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.   Isaiah 29:18-19 [KJV]

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped, Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing… Isaiah 35:5-6a [KJV]

What is holy?  Webster defines the word as “spiritually perfect or pure; untainted by evil or sin; sinless; consecrated.”  The name in Hebrew, Qedôsh Yiśra’el, is defined as “A title of God ascribing to Him absolute perfection of character.”    The coming Deliverer was to be pure, sinless, holy.  When the angel Gabriel came to Mary with his astounding message, he proclaimed: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  [Luke 1:35 KJV]

Isaiah further reveals the focal point of the Holy One’s work: the hearing of the deaf would be restored, the blind would receive their sight, the lame would leap for joy, and those who could not speak would sound the praises of their Deliverer.  When the disciples of the imprisoned John the Baptist came to ask if Jesus was the One “that should come, or should we look for someone else?” [Luke 7:19-22], Jesus had them shadow Him for the day, then told them to go tell John what they had seen and heard:  the fulfillment of these prophecies from Isaiah.

I cannot begin to count the times in my life when I have longed for Him to walk among us here on earth – healing the blind, the physically disabled, the deaf, the lepers, and those with heart disease, hepatitis, mental illness, diabetes, all cancer, and every other affliction that haunts the human race.  It would only take a touch, a glance, or a spoken command  for one’s entire life to be changed.  However, Jesus has gently taught me over the years that He is here, through the power/presence of the Holy Spirit, through the constant watchcare of His angels, and His heart is always open to our prayers.  

 Holy, holy, holy, Holy is our God.

Glorious and beloved is the One adored.

Holy, holy, holy, Holy is the Lord.