Isaiah 58-59

Book of Isaiah Chapters 58-59 HCC June 30th, 2024 Book of Isaiah Source: Preaching Today.com Isaiah 58: | God Seems to Ignore His People 2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Isaiah 58: | The Hypocrisy of the Religious Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? … Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? Jesus’ Criticism of the Religious Leaders in Luke 18 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus’ Criticism of the Religious Leaders in Luke 18 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Isaiah 58: | True Purpose of Fasting 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Spiritual Disciplines… • Fasting …are for a Greater Purpose • Humbling ourselves • Prayer • Seeking God’s righteousness, NOT our own righteousness • Worship • Must include love for others • A lifestyle, not an isolated activity • Not to impress others, to please God alone Ask Ourselves • What pleasures am I seeking in life that would crowd out the Holy Spirit in my life? • Whom in the body of Christ do I feel the most judgmental or angry towards? • What would it look like if I proactively did something loving? Isaiah 58: | God’s Blessings to Those Who Seek Him 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 59: | So Why Was God Hidden? Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Is Sin Always the Reason Why God Feels Distant? • Willful, unrepentant sin  distant feeling from God • But having a distant feeling from God does not mean it is due to sin • Book of Job • Jesus on the cross Isaiah 59: | Effects of Sin 9 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; … we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. 14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Impact of Sin in Our Lives • At a societal level, we lose: • Justice • Truth • Wisdom (become blind) • At a personal level, it creates separation from God’s: • Fellowship • Blessings But Remember… And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Now the Good News… Isaiah 59: | God’s Compassion and Intervention The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Isaiah 59: | God’s Promise 20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD. 21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Review of Today’s Message 1. Sin in our lives (pride, contempt for others) will distance us from God’s fellowship and blessings 2. God does not want us to be discouraged, and promises if we repent that His blessings are still available to us 3. But sin is so deep in our hearts, that we are blind to it. Even trying to do “good” can create more sin, when we do it on our own terms 4. God intervened on our behalf through Jesus’ mission to die on the cross 5. God gave us the righteousness of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to see beyond our blind spots and to worship God on His terms Small Group Discussion Questions 1. Share an experience where you didn’t feel close to God. How did it make you feel, and how do you reflect on it now? 2. What are the reasons in Isaiah 58-59 for why God has “hidden his face”? How does it compare to what God says at the end of the book of Job? 3. What is the impact of sin on our relationship with God? 4. How does the gospel give us confidence that we can draw near to God, no matter our situation? APPENDIX Book of Isaiah Source: Preaching Today.com The Gospel says we are more sinful than we dared imagine, yet we are more loved than we dared to believe