Christ in Isaiah: Hear Our Pleas, O Lord

Today is New Year’s Day. Many of you here this morning have probably made some New Year’s resolutions. If you’re interested here are the perennial top-ten resolutions of Americans.

1. Exercise more

2. Lose weight

3. Get organized

4. Learn a new skill or hobby

5. Live life to the fullest

6. Save more money / spend less money

7. Quit smoking

8. Spend more time with family and friends

9. Travel more

10. Read more

Obviously there is nothing wrong with resolving to do start doing something you’re not doing or to stop doing something you are. Based on this morning’s text, instead of making New Year’s Resolutions, maybe it would behoove us to make some Pleas to God for the new year.

Here in Isaiah 64 we hear the continuation of the prophet’s prayer that began back in Isaiah 63:15 — "Lord, look down from heaven." In other words, “God, please don’t forget about us!” In this prayer Isaiah pleads for God's visitation to come upon Judah. Isaiah's desire was to witness a visible and dramatic manifestation of God's power and presence upon the nation. Isaiah knew his nation’s history and he knew his God (v.4). He knew what God had done in the past. He was tired of the mess that God's people were in (63:17-19). He was tired of the usual, the common acceptance of their situation. Isaiah was one of those prophets who desired to see the unusual, to see the hand of God visit His people in a miraculous way.

Isaiah is calling upon God for a fresh visitation — he is calling for a spiritual awakening, and it must begin with the people of God.

There is, I believe, a similarity between the spiritual condition of Judah in Isaiah’s day and the spiritual condition of America in our day:

Israel Was Rebellious in Soul — so is America. We have essentially told God to ‘get off our backs’ and ‘leave us alone’.

Israel Was Ignorant in Mind —so is America. Israel had forgotten its roots in Yahweh. Similarly, our nation has become ignorant of its Christian heritage. Isaiah contrasts Israel’s foolishness to the wisdom of the ox and the donkey… These “dumb” animals understood where their feed was coming from… but Israel did not recognize God. Generally, neither does America.

Israel Was Sinful in Life —so is America. Israel’s great sin was that they adopted the ways of the nations around them. So has the Church. Poll after poll reveals that most professing Christians lead lives that are little different than their un-churched neighbors. We divorce just as much, we commit adultery just as much, we watch pornography just as much, we play the lottery just as much. Israel forgot what it meant to be holy. So has much of the Church.

Israel Was Evil in Conduct —so is America. While we must certainly celebrate the end of Abortion on Demand on a national level, we must lament that Dobbs vs. Jackson Health Care, did not end the murder of babies in the womb. It now becomes a state issue with some states, like Missouri, ending abortion on demand, but some states, like California, doubling-down and enshrining abortion on demand in their state constitution. The slaughter of the innocents will sadly continue. And then there are the sexual perversions in our culture that will continue to be legalized and celebrated by the society at large.

Israel Was Apostate in Their Acts —so is America. Isaiah said of Judah, “They have forsaken the Lord” (v. 4). The word “forsaken” means to loosen yourself from God. This is us. America is growing increasingly secular. ILLUS. Thirty-five year ago when I became your pastor, a mere 7% of Americans claimed no religious affiliation. Today it’s 21%. In 2021 just 63% of Americans identified as Christians. A mere decade ago it was 75%. To use Isaiah’s words, seventy million Americans have forsaken — or loosed themselves from God. As older Americans age and as they begin to pass away, they are being replaced by a new generation of young adults that's coming of age with far lower levels of attachment to religion than their parents and grandparents before them. That does not bode-well for the future of our nation.

Israel Was False in Worship —so is America. So much of what passes for worship in America is nothing more than self-help homilies or spiritual entertainment.

How did Isaiah respond to Israel’s deplorable spiritual condition? How do we respond to our nation’s deplorable spiritual condition? Here in chapter 64 the prophet appeals longingly to God because unless God’s Spirit comes down the people will not return Him. The people are so distant from God they will not return without God's presence coming in power.

Isaiah’s prayer — for that’s essentially what it is — reveals the hope of Israel in Isaiah’s day as well as the hope of the Church today. If God’s people will confess their sins and turn to Him, God might rescue the nation from its tragic condition. Yahweh works wonders for those who walk in righteousness befor Him.

I. Plea #1: GOD, DEMONSTRATE YOUR POWERFUL PRESENCE

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.” (Isaiah 64:1–3, NIV84)

1. Isaiah begins with an ardent plea for the manifestation of God’s presence — Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence

2. the prophet here pleads for God to come down and shatter whatever barrier is separating us from Him

a. Isaiah is asking, "Why have You let the situation get so desperate? Why have You not already intervened? Why have You not restored the nation?”

b. it’s Isaiah’s heart cry for God's direct intervention in the affairs of his nation

3. in vs. 2 the prophet gives an illustration of how he wants the Lord to manifest His presence

a. as fire kindles dry twigs, as fire causes water to boil — he pleads for God to make His consuming presence known to both His people, Israel, and His adversaries, that both may tremble at His presence!

1) throughout the Bible, God's manifested presence is so intense that it is like a consuming fire that burns everything in its path

b. but fire also represents the cleansing presence of God in that it burns out all the impurities in one’s life or even the life of a nation

1) the Prophet Isaiah had himself experienced the consuming presence of God in his prophetic calling

2) early in his prophetic ministry Isaiah had a vision of God on His throne

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:5–7, NIV84)

c. if God were to come among us and apply His fire to our unclean lips and hardened hearts as He had with Isaiah (6:1ff); the trash of our lives would be consumed in flames and the lukewarm water of our souls would burst into a rolling boil

1) the result would be a great spiritual awakening that would cause people to tremble

ILLUS. In 1904–1906 spiritual awakening in the small country of Wales broke out. It was the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. It was one of the most dramatic in terms of its effect on an entire nation, and triggered revivals in several other countries. Out of a population of two-millions, over 200,000 people came to Christ, and into the churches. Whole communities were turned upside down, and were radically changed from depravity to glorious goodness. The crime rate in Wales dropped to nothing. Police forces across the country reported that they had almost nothing to do. The Cardiff police reported a 60% decrease in drunkenness. A great wave of sobriety swept over the country causing severe financial losses to the liquor trade and bankruptcies of many of the taverns. In coal mining towns so many miners returned stolen equipment that mine owners eventually told the men to keep any remaining equipment. The movement kept the churches of Wales filled for decades. At the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Swansea seats had to be placed in the aisles for over twenty years.

2) this is what Isaiah is pleading for from the Lord, and ought to be one of the things we plead for in the new year

4. in verse 3 Isaiah reminds God that his plea is not beyond God’s ability

a. He has done it before and he can do it again

b. Isaiah refers to the Exodus miracles when God did awesome things which we did not expect

c. Isaiah wanted God to behave as He had in the past

1) recalling God's appearance at Mt Sinai, (Ex.19:16-19) Isaiah longed for a repeat performance when God met Moses there with lightening flashes, peals of thunder, bellowing smoke, and quaking earth

2) surely doing so again would garner the attention of Israel as well as her pagan neighbors

3) our God delights in doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20)

5. God had earlier promised Isaiah that something new would be taking place in Israel

a. and it would be astounding

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”” (Isaiah 42:1–9, ESV)

b. the something new that God was going to do in the midst of His people was Emmanuel — God with us!

c. Israel indeed needed — and would get — a visitation from God

1) it would be in Isaiah’s words an awesome thing that they did not expect, God came down

2) he did not come down in Isaiah's lifetime

3) and He did not come down with lightening and thunder and smoke

4) He came in the unassuming form of an infant

6. the Prophet Isaiah is calling upon God to change Israel’s circumstances

a. God would rather change their character

Plea #1: God, Demonstrate Your Powerful Presence

II. Plea #2: GOD, HONOR THE PLEA OF THE RIGHTEOUS

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. ... ” (Isaiah 64:4–5, NIV84)

1. vs. 4 reveals that God's past actions have taught that there is no God like Him

a. think back as far as you can, Isaiah says, can you think of any other pagan deity who has accomplished what our God has accomplished?

1) has Buddha accomplished the things Yahweh has accomplished?

2) has Krishna accomplished the things God Almighty has accomplished?

3) has Allah or his prophet accomplished the things God the Father has accomplished?

2. no other God has revealed Himself to mankind like Yahweh has—Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him

a. before we know our needs, God knows them

b. before our prayers are prayed, He has prepared His answers to them

3. the Apostle Paul uses these verses from Isaiah in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth to help them anticipate the glories of God’s Heaven

“However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV84)

a. have you ever wondered why God doesn’t speak more to us about heaven?

1) because we couldn't comprehend it

ILLUS. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 the Apostle Paul records a vision of heaven. The experience was so real to him that Paul doesn’t know whether it was a vision are whether he was physically transported to heaven. He write that he heard and saw inexpressible things ... and oh, by the way, I’m not permitted to tell you about! Oh man!

2) Paul tells us that we simply couldn’t comprehend the sights and sounds of heaven — it’s inexpressible

b. and when God does give us glimpses of heaven in John’s Revelation he uses descriptions that seem utterly fantastic

1) streets of gold

2) walls of precious stone

3) a sea of glass mixed with fire before the throne

4) strange six-winged creatures flying above God’s throne

4. if you're living for your job, your bank account, your possessions; or even your family, you'll miss out on the life God has for you both now and eternally

a. but if, like Isaiah and Paul, you set your heart on heaven, you'll have an abundant life on earth and eternal life in Heaven

1) Isaiah writes that God acts on behalf of those who wait for him

2) this implies an anticipation by God’s people that they are patiently waiting for His visitation

5. the first part of vs. 5 indicates that our waiting is not passive but while we wait, we are to act in righteousness

a. it’s the righteous who remember God’s ways

1) we are to remember the way of the Lord and all He has done for us

ILLUS. Here is Isaiah’s call to Count Your Blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!”

b. live according to the ways of God, joyfully doing righteousness, expectantly waiting upon Him, and sooner than you might think, you will be regularly meeting with the One who one day soon will meet us all

Plea #2: God, Honor the Plea of the Righteous

III. Plea #3: GOD, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY

“ ... But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.” (Isaiah 64:5–7, NIV84)

1. Isaiah does not hesitate in these brief utterances to go to the heart of the matter and attribute the anger of God to human sin

a. God was angry and He had every right to be angry because, despite all his goodness and tendermercies expressed toward His people, they continued to sin

1) they found themselves in a hopeless condition

b. Isaiah wonders out loud How then can we be saved?

2. Israel had chosen to live in sin

a. they had continued in their rebellious sin for decades and decades

b. they acknowledge that they have no right to expect salvation or deliverance

c. God's anger, a hundred year’s after Isaiah’s prophecy, will culminate in Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon

3. God has every right to be angry with sin

a. in vs. 6 Isaiah begins to describe the spiritual condition of the natural man before God

1) the prophet describes his people as unclean

a) unclean means unclean as in becoming defiled and defiled things are useless things

ILLUS. In surgery, when an instrument touches anything but the patient, the surgeon immediately discards it and asks for a new one. The instrument has become defiled and useless for accomplishing its purpose.

b) when God’s people become unclean through sin and disobedience, they become useless for accomplishing their purpose — which is to glorify God, and represent His presence on Earth

c) the prophet describes our good deeds, the best of our actions as filthy rags

2) lastly, Isaiah confesses that they are like the dried shriveled leaves on the trees

a) just as the wind carries away the faded leaves of autumn, so our sins take us away from God

b. the Apostle Paul describe us as unclean, and says it simply: "There is no one who does good, no not one" (Romans 3:12)

4. this is, to say the least, an unflattering picture that the prophet draws

a. the people were religious, carrying out religious acts, but they did not know God

ILLUS. A few minutes ago I told you that a growing number (21%) of American now claim no religious affiliation whatsoever. The younger one is the more true that is. If current trends continue, by 2070 Christianity may no longer be the dominant expression of American religion. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Americans are non-spiritual. Many of those “nones” will tell you they still pray, they still believe in a Devine being, and they still believe in treating others like they would like to be treated. What’s interesting is that the vast majority of these spiritual-but-not-religious folks, are urban, highly educated, financially well off, and politically liberal. The problem is that no one who claims to be “spiritual” seems to be able to define “spirituality”. To say, “I’m spiritual” has all of these positive connotations of having a life with meaning, a life with some sacredness to it, a life with some depth to who you are as a human being. But there’s no meaning, no substance to any of it — it’s like a spiritual placebo ... you think you feel better even though nothing has happened.

1) being “spiritual” may get you “likes” from you Facebook fan club, but it doesn’t get you anywhere with the one who is able to rend the heavens

2) all of your “spirituality” is as filthy rags to a God who makes the mountains tremble

b. in Isaiah's day there was no one who truly sought God's face for salvation

“Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.” (Isaiah 64:7, NLT)

1)as a result, God had hidden His face, and withdrawn His presence, from His people, and the people experienced the consequences for their sin

5. Isaiah’s call is for God’s people to repent of sin, call on God, and live righteously

a. this is God’s call to the Church today

Plea #3: God, You Have Every Right to Be Angry

IV. Plea #4: GOD, RESCUE AND RESTORE US

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people. Your sacred cities have become a desert; even Zion is a desert, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and glorious temple, where our fathers praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. After all this, O LORD, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?” (Isaiah 64:8–12, NIV84)

1. the final part of this impassioned prayer by Isaiah is a confession of trust in the Lord

a. Isaiah addresses God as their Father and as the Potter

b. the People of God must begin to address God like obedient children, as submissive to God's hand as clay is to it molder

2. God is the Master Potter who expertly crafts each of us to be part of His glorious purpose

a. how can we trust He'll do what's best?

b. by looking at His Son and His redemptive work on the cross

3. Isaiah’s prayer implores mercy and the mitigation of judgment in vs. 9 — Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord, nor remember iniquity forever. Behold, look now, all of us are Your people

a. ultimately, our only hope is that God will intervene in the hearts and lives of people, doing in them what they haven't been able to do for themselves

Plea #4: God, Rescue and Restore us

CONCLUSION

If you’ve adopted some resolutions for the new year I think that’s great. Some of you are going to lose some weight and exercise more. Some of you are going to quit a bad habit that’s affecting your health. Hopefully all of us will spend more time with friends and family. But I submit to you that what we really need to do, beginning this morning, is to cry out to God.

1. To plead with God to demonstrate His powerful presence in our life and in our church and in our community.

2. To plead with God to do great acts among us, and that we might wait on him and for His second advent in righteousness.

3. To plead with Him on behalf of the lost and on behalf of the nation that no longer calls on His name asking for forgiveness because our sin has angered Him. He has every right to discard us as one does a filthy rag.

4. To plead with God to rescue the lost and restore the Church to holiness, that He might be the potter fashioning the clay into glorious works fit for His use.

PRAYER: O Lord God do not wait for us to return to You. Meet us while we are a long way away. Come to us the moment that we turn our hearts and feet towards Your throne. We are like the prodigal, a great way off, but see us, and have compassion upon us. Run to meet us we plea in Jesus' name! In Your faithfulness, in Your love, in Yourself, in Your ways of mercy there is continuing salvation. In Your path is our salvation and safety.

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