God's Restoration Plan

Don’t lose sight of God’s Restoration Plan!

Illustration: Junior Seau was well-known as a passionate, fist-pumping, emotional leader and superstar for the San Diego Chargers. In his 13-year pro football career, Seau made the Pro Bowl 12 times. He was also selected to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. Sadly, on May 2, 2012, at the age of 43, Seau took his own life. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, his former teammate and friend, Rodney Harrison, explains that in Seau's last days he was desperately searching for peace. Harrison said:

He would tell me that the only time he truly felt at peace was when he was with his children or in the surf. He would say, "When I'm on those waves, it's the greatest feeling. I have no worries, no stress, no problems. I just forget about everything." Junior was always searching for peace.

How easy it is to lose hope of God’s plan. How often do we see the world searching and lost. Here Is. 54 we see God’s Restoration Plan. Notice that Israel does nothing to deserve this, they are undeserving, yet God restores them. He does this in immediate fulfilment of His promises, but also in coming future fulfillment.

1. In Restoring Israel’s Population (v.1-3)

V.1: Sing Israel called to sing by Isaiah. What they have to sing about? Barren Isn’t Israel just return from Babylonian captivity? Aren’t they small nation, unable to grow because God has made the nation as a whole barren? Why would God made nation barren? Well, God likens himself to Husband and Israel wife. Israel’s been unfaithful, committing adultery by worshipping other idols. break forth singing Yet, this call to sing by Isaiah is specifically to those who are unable to bear children Children desolate one more Israel look around see other nations more people, bearing children. So why called to sing?

V.2: Enlarge tent, curtains stretch out, cords lengthened, stakes strengthen called to sing because God promises the nation will grow and be fruitful.

V.3: Spread abroad, offspring posses nations, people posses desolate nations another promise of fruitfulness and growth for Israel. Both the promises in verse 2 and 3 have both immediate and future fulfillment. Following these promises Israel did grow and increase, but the ultimate fulfilment in these promises will come in the Messianic Kingdom. How will they be fulfilled? Christ’s Kingdom centered in Jerusalem will stretch worldwide. Israel will rule every nation, every tongue, tribe, desolate city, through reign of Christ

Apply: Remember God’s restoration Plan? Part of that restoration will include restoring Israel’s population, which had both an immediate fulfillment and an future fulfillment. As Isaiah recalled this to Israelites surely they would feel called to sing in worship of God’s Restoration Plan. Us Perhaps you look at world feel outnumbered as Christian, feel no reason to rejoice. Rejoice in God’s promise! While these promises made to Israel, we can rejoice in God’s Restoration Plan that will bring Christ to the center of the world. What a hope to lean on for this world’s future!

2. In Restoring Israel’s Land (v.4-10)

V.4: Fear not Why should Israel not fear? They will not be ashamed, confounded, disgraced, not remember shame of youth, forget reproach of widowhood. As a nation Israel had many things to be ashamed of. Didn’t their sin led to captivity both in Egypt and Babylon? Didn’t their sin led to destruction of temple and cities? As a nation that had been made the laughing stock, they had been confused on what God was doing, they had been disgraced, they had been temporarily abandoned by God. Here the promise of God has both a immediate and future fulfillment. Immediately God was going to be with Israel as they rebuilt nation, but the ultimate fulfillment will come when Israel is honored as the world power, through reign of Christ. This future kingdom will be so great and mighty it will overshadow any past failures and Israel will forget their past shame as a young nation.

V.5: Why Israel not fear? Israel’s Maker is Husband, Lord of Hosts, Holy One Israel’s Redeemer, God of whole earth Since God is Israel’s Maker He will not destroy a people that He created for His glory. Since God Husband, He will not break covenant w/Israel even though Israel was unfaithful. Since He is their Redeemer, He cannot sell Israel into hands of enemy.

V.6: Lord called wife deserted, grieved spirit, wife youth cast off Israel was temporarily abandoned by the Lord, her Husband for her unfaithfulness

V.7: Brief moment deserted God had to be angry over Israel’s sin, but now His chastening over, and now Israel return to land. At times we refuse to listen to God’s warning and we rebel. God must chasten us, but He does so in love. God cannot permit us to continue in sin without dealing with it. Remember God never chastens just to chasten, but His purpose of chastening is to bring us to repentance and then to enable us to produce fruit of righteousness. God’s chastening is always for our good and His glory! It’s never for our harm. temporary abandonment. Both an immediate and future fulfillment. Temporary abandonment during captivity, and temporary abandonment until Christ return. This desertion is brief compared to an everlasting kindness Israel enjoy when Christ will return for wife. Great compassion gather God gave Israel an opportunity to live in the land as other nations, gave Israel opportunity to live as they wished, opportunity to see what it is fully like to live in land where people worshipped false god. Ultimately, God had great compassion upon Israel after allowing her to fulfill her desires. God would have compassion and call her back and win her heart. Israel would no longer be “a wife deserted”.

V.8: anger moment hid face Israel surely felt forsaken by God, but God reminds them that there is no reason to fear. He never gave them up. It was all apart of His plan is bringing Israel back to Himself. Everlasting love compassion, Redeemer Remember God’s whole purpose in chastening is out of love. Now in His love and compassion His brings His people back to Himself, despite of their unfaithfulness. Israel has no reason to fear, when they serve such a loving, compassionate God.

V.9: swore waters Noah no more God reminds the people of His promise to Noah. Did He not promise to never flood the earth again? Has He not kept that promise? Israel has no reason to fear for as God kept promise to never flood, so God will keep His promises to Israel. They can depend upon His love, His mercy, His covenant with them. sworn not angry with you, not rebuke you This a promise of the future. God is promising that He will not abandon them, nor in the day of judgment will He rebuke them. He is promising that in His wrath to come He will save Israel from His complete wrath.

V.10: mountains depart, hill removed read Revelation then we know how much the topography change in end times. Throughout God’s judgment upon the world, His wrath will destroy and change earth as we know it. Yet Israel has no reason to fear for steadfast love not depart, covenant peace not removed God’s promise that even as His whole wrath is unleashed on world, God’s promise for Israel’s well-being will not. His love for them will remain steadfast in earth changing judgment. In His wrath upon mankind, God will not forget His covenant of peace with Israel. His compassion will continue for them. How can Israel fear when they have these promises to hold to in future times?

Apply: Read these verses and we can fear. Yet, while we aren’t Israelites, God has also applied these truths to Gentile believers. We have no reason to fear the judgment of God, for Christ intercedes on our behalf. He’s paid the price and His blood washed away sin. We never have to fear God deserting us. Christ is the faithful Husband, and we are the unfaithful wife. Thank God that Christ will never hid His face from those who are children of God. Maybe here and never trust in Christ, then you do need to fear. There is no peace for you, no promise of God to cling to, no compassion from God. Call on the Lord JC today! Questions talk to someone here today!

3. In Restoring Israel’s Cities (v.11-14)

This section almost primarily deals with things that have not yet been fulfilled. We know that Israel would be rebuilt under great leaders like Zerrubabel, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zachariah. These verses however set our eyes to Israel’s hope… The Reign of Christ, Millennial Kingdom

V.11: Afflicted one, storm- tossed, not comforted God recognizes the difficulties Israel’s been through. He recognizes the affliction and devastation of seeing their home destroyed and entered into captivity. Yet God now sets their minds to what lays ahead. Stones in antimony chemical that sets things together and hard to break. Meaning this will be a place of protection. What hope that bring after Israel’s seen walls been destroyed. foundations with sapphires,(v.12) pinnacles of agate(beautiful stone), gates of carbuncle(red gem), wall of precious stones Jerusalem rebuilt with Christ will be magnificient. A truly magnificent sight! A city worthy of Christ as its ruler! Will be greatest city, wonder ever made on earth.

V.13: Children taught by Lord Jesus will teach children the things of the Lord. This will lead to them coming to know the Lord, not out of force, but because they are taught by Christ, so the Spirit will draw them through the Word. Christ is the perfect teacher. Imagine if your children taught by Lord. Imagine wisdom gleaned, knowledge learned. Time of spiritual prosperity and great knowledge of the Word. As a result of this Great peace of your children because of Christ’s teaching, great peace will be had, peace for 1,000 years. Children of Israel will not be in war for over 1,000 years as Christ as Ruler, Priest, Warrior, Teacher, Judge,

V.14: righteousness established Israel will be a place of righteousness. Christ will rule as judge, so righteousness will rule the world. He will not deal with evil as we see some in our world, He will deal with evil in righteousness judgment. He will not sweep things under the rug, He won’t be corrupt Far from oppression If any nation knows about oppression, it’s Israel isn’t it? Perhaps for the first time Israel will experience a time of peace. A time of unity. A time of power and respect. Not fear or terror Israel will have nothing to fear as Christ as King. David, Solomon King Israel still had to worry, but not with Christ.

Apply: What promises Israel has to hold to! What promises we have to as we look at the future of our world! Perhaps look at world disgusted, disappointed, broken. Current pride month, our world celebrate sin, celebrates unrighteousness, but mocks truth. Rejoice that one day this world will be ruled with righteousness! Where Christ preached in whole earth, Christ worshiped. Now ruled by unrighteous, Christ is mocked, idols worshiped. Don’t lose hope of Christ return! Don’t lose hope of Jerusalem's restoration!

Challenge: As we look at this chapter, perhaps at times you lose faith in what God is doing. Don’t lose sight of God’s Restoration plan for this world, for Israel! Are you tempted to lose hope? Think world beyond hope of Christ? World will get worse, before better

Encourage: Remember Christ come, establish Kingdom on earth, reign will iron fist, reign with righteousness, return Jerusalem as center of world, restore Christ as true ruler. Time of peace, prosperity, joy, righteousness

Maybe you feel like football player Junior... Lost hope? Nothing look forward to? No hope? Remember God’s Restoration Plan. Remember all He has given us to look forward to… to hope in! Are you thankful, will you praise Him for His Restoration Plan?