Isaiah 52:11-12

Face the Future with Hope

I believe that as we face the new year, we will face new challenges in life. Wala pa nahuman ang challenges sa 2023, unsa na kaha pud ang challenges sa 2024? Probably some of us are fearful for the future. Some of us are worried.

But we only need to rememberthat our God is a promise-keeping God and He will go with His people, always ready to guide, to provide, and protect. So, let us go to the Word of God to comfort us with these truths.

Here in our passage, Isaiah talks about God’s future deliverance and redemption of the nation Israel from the bondage of Babylon and it will become a day of rejoicing! Read with me verses 8-10.

Background context:

At this time, they were in exile in Babylon, oppressed, treated as slaves/servants, and 2nd class citizens.

Isaiah 52:2 “Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captiveJerusalem; Loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captivedaughter of Zion.”

God used Babylon as His agent of judgment against Israel for their sins of idolatry and rebellion against Him. Jerusalem was destroyed and the Israelites were exiled to Babylon. You can read more about the exile in Jeremiah.

But God prophesied and promised them that they would return to Jerusalem after 70 years, a new and better exodus. Open your Bibles to Jeremiah 29:10–14 .

That prophecy was fulfilled in 537 B.C., and the Jews were allowed by King Cyrus of Persia to return to Israel and begin rebuilding the city and temple.

The seventy-year period of the Babylonian captivity is an important part of Israel’s history, and Christians should be familiar with it. Like many other Old Testament events, this historical account demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His people, His judgment of sin, and the surety of His promises.

In our passage, we read, that the LORD gave a message of comfort for them as they wait for His deliverance. In the same way, God reminds and comforts us this morning that in this difficult and challenging world, a world full of trials and storms, and danger, we just have to wait and TRUST God because He will rescue, He will provide and he will protect.

3 Things To Help Us To Face the Future with Hope:

I. Wait for God’s Deliverance

Isaiah 52:12 “12 But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives;

The condition of their deliverance: A comparison between their deliverance in Egypt and Babylon.

In Egypt, they went out in a hurry and as fugitives. In Babylon, they will not go out in a hurry and as freed people.

They were able to go out without haste and not as fugitives for they were given approval by King Cyrus of Persia to go home to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. Because God moved in the heart of King Cyrus to grant the Jews freedom.

2 Chronicles 36:22–23 “22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah—the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!’ ””

God has not failed his promise!

But remember, they have to endure 70 years of harsh treatment under the Babylonians. But they have to wait patiently for a future deliverance will come.

Reflection:

A. Will you have patience when a season of storms comes?

B. Will you surrender your worries and your future to God?

Application:

A. To be able to wait for God’s deliverance, ask the Lord for patience and the ability to endure for a long period(70 years?).

Facts: God’s answer to our prayer may not come in our lifetime.

B. To be able to wait for God’s deliverance, remember God’s promises through His Word.

Illustration: They must go back to the Word day after day so that they will not forget that in 70 years they will come out of Babylon.

Gospel:

God’s deliverance is not just for the daily struggles in life. The greatest deliverance for a person is the deliverance from the slavery of sin and the punishment of SIN.

In the OT, God promised eternal deliverance from the punishment of SIN through the promised Messiah.

Chapter 52 - The exalted servant, talks about the Victory of Jesus. Isaiah 52:13 “13 Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” - Jesus was lifted up on the cross and was exalted in His resurrection.

Chapter 53 - The Suffering Servant, talks about the Sacrifice of Jesus.

In the NT, God fulfilled His promise of eternal deliverance from the punishment of SIN through the present Messiah.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This verse pronounces the problem and the solution.

You and I are sinners and in fact, more often than not, It is the sin that we commit that leads us to troubles and pains. Do you agree?

John 8:34–36 “34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

We have a problem - SIN. We need a solution - SON - Jesus Christ.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,”

You have to believe and trust in Jesus for your Salvation! Without Jesus in your life, you are not assured of God’s deliverance. God’s deliverance comes through Jesus and Jesus alone.

When you have Jesus in your life, you can claim God’s promise of eternal deliverance from the punishment of SIN.

When you have Jesus in your life, you are assured of God’s protection, and that leads me to my 2nd point.

II. Trust in the Lord’s Protection (v.12)

Isaiah 52:12 (b) For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Who will protect? - The LORD - YHWH, the most powerful and sovereign, all-knowing God.

How God will protect?- God shall protect His people by functioning as both their vanguard and rearguard. This implies the totality of God’s protection. Just like the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness.

Remember the words of Immanuel, Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:20, “I will be with you until the end of the age”

• God will accompany and lead you to accomplish His plans in your life – to glorify God as you enjoy Him!

• God will protect you from outside (attacks) and inside (wrong motives/desires)

You will surely arrive where God will send you.

Application:

A. To trust God is to choose where God is because that is where His protection is.

Psalm 91:4 4 He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.

To stay under His wings, To hide behind His shield.

Illustration: When my kids were young, we often went to the mall and they would run ahead of us and they would get lost and they will cry.

• Out of the will of God, there is danger and even greater pain.

B. To trust God means to walk in step with the Lord.

Illustration: Proverbs 16:3–4 “3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. 4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

• Ayaw pag-una sa Ginoo - listen while you wait.

• Ayaw pag-pauwahi sa Ginoo - ready your heart always (like the parable of the ten virgins who were wise to prepare their lamp and oil)

However, let us remind ourselves of the reason why the Israelites stayed 40 years in the desert instead of 40 days - They did not HONOR the LORD (a constant murmur, complaint, ungrateful heart)

So, for us to be able to Face the future with Hope, this is the 3rd and last point.

III. Commit to Honor the Lord

Isaiah 52:11 “Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord.”

depart - don’t think about staying in Babylon (in Sin),

Get out of it! - don’t think about bringing with you the lifestyle of Babylon.

Purify / Sanctify - see that your heart is clean and right before God.

Let go of worldly desires and commit yourself wholly to the Lord.

Reflection:

A. This year, what are the beliefs and pet sins that I need to leave behind?

B. What are the godly things that I need to spend more time and effort with so that God will be honored?

1 Samuel 2:30 “For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!

God’s blessings accompany those with whom God is pleased.

The areas where we fail to honor the Lord: Mind, Heart, Wealth

Application:

1. Honor the Lord with your mind and heart - this year, honor God by filling your minds with godly things and by pursuing a deeper relationship with God.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

2. Honor the Lord with your wealth- this year, when the Lord increases your wealth, increase not in lifestyle but in giving. Increase not the wall, but the table. Go with me to 1 Timothy 6:17–19.

· Stewardship is an issue of the heart.

· Our giving to God and His work is a tangible expression of our trust in Him by which we are made agents of God’s love.

· Trust and see, the Lord will secure your provision!

Conclusion:

You can face the future with hope. You only need to remember that our God is a promise-keeping God and He will go with His people, always ready to guide, to provide, and protect.

Wait on Him, Trust in Him, and HonorHim!