City Life Starter

I. The Word Isaiah 61:7-10 ESV

7Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

they shall have everlasting joy.

8For I the LORD love justice;

I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

II. Reflection Questions

1. What does the emotion of shame usually result from?
2. How do you deal with shame when it arises in your life? Do you ignore it? Internalize it? Or seek God’s forgiveness?
3. Think of a big mistake you’ve made that you received forgiveness for. How did you feel when you were forgiven?

Today’s passage highlights two major themes we have been discussing all week: 1) shame; and 2) being covered.

As Stefan poignantly pointed out earlier this week, the emotion of shame is first mentioned in the Bible when Adam hid from God among the trees after he ate from the tree, which God commanded him not to. When God asked Adam where he was, Adam replied “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked” (Genesis 3:10).  

Here, we see a causal link between being exposed and feeling shame. Adam reacted to shame by making his own “clothing” out of fig leaves, running away from God, and hiding among the trees.

Before Adam sinned, he was already naked and felt no shame (Genesis 2:25). He enjoyed intimacy with his Father God. When sin entered the picture, however, Adams’ eyes were opened and he was made aware of his nakedness, causing Adam to run and hide from God.

What I find so interesting is that God did not cut Adam off when Adam messed up; God searched Adam out and found him hiding among the trees. Not only did God find Adam, but also God covered him in the skins of an animal. This is the first instance in the Bible that points to the cross. Innocent blood had to be shed for the atonement of sin.

Just as Adam was covered by the skins of an animal who had to die because of his sin, we are covered by the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Instead of shame, God gives us a double portion. He clothes us in garments of salvation and covers us with the robe of righteousness. As a result, we greatly rejoice over our everlasting covenant. What a blessing.

On Sunday, Pastor Chris talked about the blessed life and what it means. In today’s culture, people widely have a moralistic mindset, and the blessed life is whatever they want it to be. As long as people are doing what’s right in their own sight, they consider themselves blessed.

However, Psalm 32 clearly states the blessedness of being forgiven and trusting in God. Sin cuts us off from our relationship with God and results in shame, fear, and a downward spiral of life without God. But when we confess our sin to God, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God made a way for us to be in right relationship with Him by sacrificing His own Son on the cross. We know our sin is fully paid for because Jesus was raised to life.

Now we get to enjoy the blessed life of a life with God. Instead of running away from God and hiding from Him, He is our hiding place (Psalm 32:7). He instructs us in the way we should go, not by brute force as one would guide a stubborn mule (v. 8-9), but in love and godly correction as a parent guides his child.

The blessed life is the obedient life–a life in which God is in the driver’s seat and we get to enjoy the ride! All praises to our glorious Lord!

Prayer

Father, I thank You for freeing me from the bonds of sin and shame. Thank You for the sacrifice You made to make me holy and righteous. Father, You are so so good to me and I would be utterly lost without You. Thank You for blessing me with Your Presence. Without You, I would have wasted away in my sin, but You made a way for us to be together. I want to serve You and live for You all the days of life. In Jesus Name, Amen.