I heard this phrase in a song this morning and as I thought about it, I started to do some scripture searching and thinking of what this song might be to us, the redeemed!
Literally, to redeem means to free or buy back, to be ransomed. Divine justice required payment for sin and I know we are all very familiar with 1 Peter 1:18,19:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father, 19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
I found the Old Testament book of Isaiah to be rich in meaning, in this, our redemption.
Isaiah 43:1 ‘But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.” This is a wonderful picture of the redeemed in Christ, the spiritual Israel. God calls us each by name and we have nothing to fear for we are His.
Isaiah 44:22 “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” In redemption our sins are forever blotted out and God remembers them no more.
Isaiah 44:23 “Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel” This is again, not only specific to the redemption of Israel from captivity but is a type of our redemption in Christ. Let us break forth in singing for what the Lord hath done in Christ, redeemed us from sin, the law, death, condemnation, hell and all our enemies for the glory of God!
Isaiah 62:12 “And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken” We are a peculiar people, sought out by the Lord and set apart for His use. We are a city that will never, never be forsaken.
Sing with me, won't you, the song of the Redeemed!
Psalm 71:23 “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed”
We are like pilgrims here, sojourners if you will, for this is not our home. This is part of the song of redemption that we sing for we have been redeemed to serve and praise the living God and to spend eternity with Him.
Psalm 111:9 “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name”
Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people”
It is a covenant of Grace made with Christ, it is everlasting and sure, it stands fast with Christ forever and can never be removed and it has come in the flesh, in Christ Jesus!
Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”
Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption”
In the flesh He came to shed His precious blood, to redeem us from sin, to redeem us from the curse of the law, to purchase our inheritance with the saints! This is our life, a redeemed life and there is nothing more profound than to know the One who has redeemed us, the only worthy One, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Revelation 5:9 “And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
I think of my blessed Redeemer
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.....
All praise and glory to Him alone!