An Intercessor
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 42, “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion,” on Gospel Library
Start
In Isaiah 59:16, the Lord looks for someone to step in and save his people. He finds no one, so he does it himself.
Read Together
The chapter opens by saying the Lord’s hand is strong enough to save and his ear can hear. The problem was sin, which had separated the people from God (Isaiah 59:1–2). In verse 10, they feel their way along the wall like people who cannot see.
16And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. 17For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
20And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.
What It Teaches
An intercessor is someone who steps between two sides and pleads for one of them. No one in Israel could do that, because everyone needed saving. So the Lord’s own arm “brought salvation.”
In our day the Savior has told us what he says as he pleads our cause with the Father. He points to his own suffering and death and asks the Father to spare those who believe on his name (Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5).
Verse 17 shows him dressed for the work, with righteousness as a breastplate and “an helmet of salvation upon his head.” Paul told the Saints to put on the same breastplate and helmet (Ephesians 6:14–17). We wear his armor, and he does the saving.
Verse 20 gives this week’s title. “The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression.” He comes to people who turn toward him, and verse 21 promises that his Spirit and his words will stay with their children “for ever.”
Talk About It
When has someone stood up for you or spoken up for you? How does it feel to know the Savior pleads for you with the Father?
Take to Church
No one else could step in to save us, so the Savior did. He still pleads our cause with the Father.