The Day of Yahweh
Isaiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:40
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· 18 viewsBy looking at the state of Judah and Jerusalem during the time of Isaiah we see what happens when a society rejects God.
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Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever seen those “How it started; How it’s going” meme’s
In the beginning things looked great but now not so much
I feel a bit like that with this passage
This passage today is the ‘how it’s going’ phase & it’s not good
Last week we looked at the ideal - the Kingdom of God that is to come
Next we’ll see the glory of God that will make the ideal a reality
This week we see the actual state of Jerusalem & it’s bad
READ ISAIAH 2:6-22.
We’re going to look all the way through Isaiah 3 today
God is addressing the actual state of Judah & Jerusalem
They are an illustration to us all of our natural state
Reading these verses is like looking at our own society
Today isn’t the cheery, pick me up sermon but it’s very important
If we listen and heed today’s message it will lead to a more joyous place
Today’s message from Isaiah helps us understand why young people don’t trust authority
Gives us understanding about why we can have children believe they’re dogs & adults encourage it
Why are we so fixated on careers and wealth creation
Today we see...What happens when we reject God?
When a society or individual rejects God?
We Raise Ourselves Up
We Raise Ourselves Up
Isaiah 2:6–11
We Forsake God
We Forsake God
In our Strength
In our Strength
Isa. 2:6-8 describes a prosperous Judah & they were
Uzziah was mostly a good king (2 Chron. 26:3-5)
Despite difficult circumstances surrounding they grew strong & prospered (2 Chron. 26:6-15)
God helped overcome Philistines & others
He secured Judah’s place in the region & Ammonites even paid tribute
He became famous & exceedingly strong (2 Chron. 26:8)
He built a navy & grew powerful army of 300 000
Had catapults & ballistas (for arrows) on walls
These aren’t the things that caused them to forsake God
In fact, this strength & prosperity was by the blessing of God
2 Chronicles 26:5“5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.”
Problem came because too often in places of strength we become weak
David said, Psalm 20:7 “7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Unfortunately, Uzziah forgot about God and began to trust in the horses & chariots
He began to believe the fame around him
16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
He immediately caught leprosy and was a leper until the day he died (2 Chron. 26:21)
In our Pride (Isa. 2:6-8)
In our Pride (Isa. 2:6-8)
Sadly, the pride that was in Uzziah’s heart had filled the land of Judah
That pride caused them, not just to trust other things, but to pursue those things instead of God
It caused them to think they were wiser than God
See if this doesn’t sound familiar
Things we take pride in when we reject God:
Took pride in their tolerance
Isa. 2:6 - are pleased with = shook hands, made bargains & deals with them
Were accepting of the ways of others
To be loving & accepting of people doesn’t mean we must accept all they do
Culture isn’t nuetral - every cultural has things that must be refused (even our own)
Their tolerance led them to embrace ways & lifestyles that are opposed to God
Opposed to God is the key - not about being different to me but not following God
God calls us to love our neighbour, in Christ we are one, family
That doesn’t mean we accept ungodliness in the guise of loving
Took pride in their wealth & prosperity
Almost everything is judged from a financial perspective
Wealth isn’t evil but wealth can very easily lead us to evil
Took pride in their military
Being able to defend yourself & fight when necessary is godly
When we trust our our SAS and Navy over the protection of seeking God we are in trouble
Tolerance of Isa. 2:6 quickly leads to the religious pluralism of Isa. 2:8
We’re not a theocracy like Israel was intended to be so I believe you have freedom to believe as you choose
Your freedom to believe what you want doesn’t make it right
Australia was never Christian in the same way USA was Christian
However, we have a very strong Christian history and foundation
Australia is like every other nation, including Israel, that has left God
Even much of what is called ‘Christianity’ today is simply pluralism
In our Worship (Isa. 2:8-9)
In our Worship (Isa. 2:8-9)
Uzziah was mostly a good king & nation prospered
However, he allowed the worship of pagan gods to continue
Here’s the crazy part
People who believe they are too strong for God & reject Him make their own gods
Even in our pride we are unable to face life alone
Things that gave us the confidence to reject God are unable to equip us to live life without God
Instead of admitting we need God we craft our own gods, gods made in our image & according to our will
In the west we don’t carve idols or build temples like the east, etc.
Our idols are more ‘sophisticated’ - so we think
Our idols are science & self among many others
We think we’re more clever, intellegent & informed than the past or 3rd world countries
By far & away most UFO sightings are in 1st world countries - why?
We no longer believe in supernatural but we will believe in interstellar technology
Our land, Australia, is full of idols of our own making
We are Forsaken by God (Isa. 2:6, 9)
We are Forsaken by God (Isa. 2:6, 9)
Left in our Pride
Left in our Pride
We talk a lot about Romans 1 in regards to our society today
Isaiah 2-3 is the Romans 1 of the OT
Having rejected Him God lets us go to read headlong into His judgment
Left in without Forgiveness
Left in without Forgiveness
To reject God & to be rejected by God leaves us in a wholly terrible place
Rather than find forgiveness they will find terror and judgment
Ironically, those that boasted in their mighty armies & power will flee to the caves to hide
The earth will not protect them
Nothing stands in comparison to the unveiling of God’s glorious majesty
God will treat us and our gods like Hulk does Loki in Avengers
After smashing Loki, Hulk remarks, ‘Puny god’
We are Rocked by God
We are Rocked by God
Isaiah 2:12–22
He Wrecks our Might (Isa. 2:12-18)
He Wrecks our Might (Isa. 2:12-18)
Falls on Everyone
Falls on Everyone
Picture drawn here is like a great earthquake & storm
Perhaps because an actual earthquake is still in their memory
God isn’t intimidated by our sophistication & rebellion
Our elite soldiers don’t frighten Him
Our bunkers & tunnels aren’t hid from Him
Our good deeds don’t hinder Him
God’s judgment will come to everyone who rejects Him
Israel tended to look at God’s judgment as being for others
God says His judgment is for all who rebel
God doesn’t care if you’re a member of this church (or any church)
Doesn’t care if you’re a good person
This is a warning: stop trusting in man, in yourself (Isa. 2:22)
No matter who you are you must trust in God alone for salvation
Brings us Low
Brings us Low
In our pride we will be crushed
God will not praise us for our ingenuity, our power or success
At the end of the day God & God alone will stand above all
He Ruins our Religion (Isa. 2:19-22)
He Ruins our Religion (Isa. 2:19-22)
He Terrifies Us
He Terrifies Us
Right now you can pretend to be strong
You can mock God living in your own prideful ways
When He comes you won’t be so strong
You will look for any place you can to hide from Him
There won’t be any place to hide - He will shake open every hiding place
He Trashes our Idols
He Trashes our Idols
All those things you trusted in you will quickly realise are empty & useless
Your science isn’t going to save you from God
‘Your truth’ won’t stop God from acting in truth
We Ruin what is Beautiful
We Ruin what is Beautiful
(Isaiah 3:1-26)
We Become Weak Men
We Become Weak Men
(Isaiah 3:1-15)
Corrupt Leaders
Corrupt Leaders
Famine is on it’s way
Anticipates an actual famine through seige - first by Assyria & finally Babylon
Isa. 3:1 - stock and store = totality
Given what is to follow I think it represents more than just food but famine of character and godliness that leads to complete destruction
Isa. 3:2-3 speaks of corruption of leaders at every level & every form
Final step of calamity is corrupt, inept incompetent leaders
Leaders that act like children, who are not stable, wise or godly
Leaders that are immature, short-sighted and weak
Collapse of Society
Collapse of Society
Isaiah 3:12“...O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.””
Because people of Jerusalem have abandoned God they follow thier leaders into destruction
Today we are watching the same happen
We hope it means Christ is returning soon
Either way we are watching a society crumble
Isa. 2:5 - Leaders oppress in every way
Government, corporate, social
People will look for anyone to lead
No-one wants to lead because there is no hope
Moral order collapses as respect and honour are disdained
This is not a time for the true people of God to dispair and give up
Isa. 3:10 - Not promised ease but we are promised goodness of God
Isa. 3:13 - God has not abandoned His purpose
The collapse of their society is His judgment
We Become Wicked Women
We Become Wicked Women
(Isaiah 3:16-26)
Pride Ruins Lives
Pride Ruins Lives
Pride & arrogance isn’t just in the men with their armies
Women too draw attention to themselves because of their pride & arrogance
God turns their attractiveness into what repulses
Rather than joy God brings shame to them
What once held beauty now disgusts
Result is women find themselves objects of abuse, captivity & loss
I’m not saying it’s women’s fault men do bad things
I am saying the suffering is both their fault & not their fault
2 things are true at the same time: Women must act modestly and men must control themselves
Sign of society collapsing is the ruin of the beauty of true womanhood
Beauty is Ruined
Beauty is Ruined
And so, in every part of society, from top to bottom, men, women, children
Everything that God created with beauty is ruined
Conclusion
Conclusion
The day of Yahweh is about judgment - God’s judgment on our rebellion
For Jerusalem & Judah judgment came with Babylon but a greater is still to come
This is the first part - judgment
Isa. 4:2-6 is about salvation
This is the warning that judgment is coming
This is the call to come & walk in the light of Yahweh
Call to stop trusting in men, in yourself & turn to God
What happens when a society rejects God? Look around you
We put our trust in things that can’t save us
We make gods to worship that only feed our selfishness
Our leaders betray us & our men abandon us & are killed
Our women chase anyone that will give them attention
Everything that once carried beauty is ruined
What happens when a person rejects God? (Isa. 3:11)
A life created to bear the image of God is ruined by sin
Things we trust in vanish and we are left empty, alone and condemned
Our pride leaves us exposed and ashamed
I don’t want that for you, I want you to know joy & beauty
I want it to be well with you (Isa. 3:10)
Here the call to repent, understand your position with God
Turn from your rebellion, trust Jesus as your Saviour
Believer, now is not the time to back down but to stand up
Now is the time to plead on God’s behalf
Maybe, God is calling you to be a preacher in dark times