Your Lifestyle Matters

Intro:

AG:

TS: (ISAIAH 56–57) Isaiah proclaims salvation for the Gentiles and grace for Israel’s wicked leaders. He describes God’s dealings with different kinds of individuals. In doing g so, godly individuals are contrasted with the godless.

RS:

I. Godly Individuals (Isa 56:1–8; 57:1–2, 14–21)

To be godly, we must live as God instructs us

A. Those who do right (Isa 56:1–2):

Isaiah 56:1–2 NKJV

Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

God blesses those who are fair and those who honor his special day.

The Bible discusses several aspects of living righteously.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Obey the word

James 1:22 NKJV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Summary

· Love Everyone

· Love God

· Don’t condemn people

· Serve others

· Forgive others

· Follow His commands- don’t lie, commit adultery, use God's name in vain , don’t murder, don’t steal, covet Do worship God alone , take a Sabbath rest, obey parents

God blesses those who are fair and those who honor his special day.

B. Saved Gentile (Isa 56:3a, 6–8)

Isaiah 56:3a NKJV

Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lord Speak, saying, “The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; Nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.”

Isaiah 56:6–8 NKJV

“Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant— Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.”

1. They are not looked upon as second-class citizens (56:3a):

When they turn to the Lord, they are accepted as Jews are.

We are one in God's family

2. Their sacrifices are accepted (56:6–7).

Our worship is as good as the faithful Jews

We are part of the family and accepted as we approach Him

3. They experience God’s joy in the Temple (56:7–8):

His Temple is a house of prayer for all nations.

Salvation is universal and worship is for all

In millennial kingdom, there will be no barriers between us and God

C. Dedicated eunuchs (Isa 56:3b–5):

Isaiah 56:3b–5 NKJV

For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.

God gives them more honor than sons or daughters could ever offer!

In their society, the childless felt scorned. Their family line was at and end.

God is more to them than any child could be

D. The good who die (Isa 57:1–2):

Isaiah 57:1–2 NKJV

The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness.

Sometimes God allows this to happen that they might be spared future evil.

They are spared from the judgment

E. The contrite (Isa 57:14–21):

Isaiah 57:14–21 NKJV

And one shall say, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.” For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners. “I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.” But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. “There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah describes God’s relationship with repentant and humble individuals.

1. Concerning the person of God (57:15a):

He is the holy, high, and lofty one who inhabits eternity.

2. Concerning the promises of God (57:14, 15b–21)

a. To safely regather the contrite (57:14):

God clears the way for his people to return from captivity.

b. To revive their spirits (57:15b):

He refreshes them and gives them courage.

c. To never again accuse them of sin (57:16–17):

He does not fight against them forever.

d. To heal, lead, and comfort them (57:18)

e. To impart to them his peace (57:19):

He heals them, and they praise him.

II. Godless Individuals(56:9–12; 57:3–13)

A. Israel’s religious leaders (Isa 56:9–12)

Isaiah 56:9–12 NKJV

All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.”

1. The transgression (56:10–12)

a. They suffer from self-induced blindness (56:10):

They give no warning when danger comes.

They have compromised to the point they no longer recognize sin and impending doom.

b. They are greedy and totally self-centered (56:11):

They follow their own paths, intent on personal gain.

They live for themselves alone

“Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”

They live for the here and now

c. They are materialistic drunkards (56:12):

They buy wine to get drunk.

They have no true righteousness although they do pretend they do.

2. The tragedy (56:9):

Because of their sin, God’s flock is torn apart by the wild beasts of the field.

Sin the congregation breaks the flock apart

Its consequences

Its judgments.

etc

B. Israel’s idolators(Isa 57:3–13)

Isaiah 57:3–13 NKJV

“But come here, You sons of the sorceress, You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot! Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood, Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, Slaying the children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these? “On a lofty and high mountain You have set your bed; Even there you went up To offer sacrifice. Also behind the doors and their posts You have set up your remembrance; For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me, And have gone up to them; You have enlarged your bed And made a covenant with them; You have loved their bed, Where you saw their nudity. You went to the king with ointment, And increased your perfumes; You sent your messengers far off, And even descended to Sheol. You are wearied in the length of your way; Yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’ You have found the life of your hand; Therefore you were not grieved. “And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me? I will declare your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you. When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.”

1. Their wickedness (57:3–4):

They are the offspring of adulterers and prostitutes, children of sinners and liars.

2. Their worship (57:5–11):

They worship and love gods of stone.

3. Their hope (57:12–13):

Nothing can save them but trust in God.

Conclusion:[1]

RS:

IS:

[1] H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Is 56–57:13.