The Remnant Will Return

Introduction

Talking about ‘end times’ prophecies always brings out the crazy people

Dispensationalism (misunderstood) has had its fair share of nutty ideas

Every view of eschatology has its weirdos & strange ideas

Mostly, our problem is our speculation

We like to read current events into Scripture

e.g. I heard a theory this week that the Apostle John isn’t dead

God has kept him alive to be part of fulfilling the coming of Christ

When talking about things to come we ought to speak with humility

There is much the Bible does say & we should seek to understand

There is much more the Bible doesn’t say

Here we take prophecy the same way we take all other Scripture - literally

That is, we seek to understand it in its context & literary style

Seeking to understand the things of the future through the context of the whole Bible

So we recognise God acting with consistency throughout all of history

Why am I talking about prophecy?

Our passage today begins with a phrase that points us beyond the immediate moment

In that day

It’s immediate context is to cause us to look beyond the Assyrian & Babylonian judgment

Also a phrase the prophets fill with meaning about the ultimate future of Israel & the nations

Here it gives us a chance to see the consistency of God’s work

We have seen Israel fall into sin, rebel against God & refuse to hear God’s warnings

God eventually brings Israel into judgment, using other nations (Assyria)

When God’s purpose of chastisement has finished God judges those that afflicted Israel

Restores Israel

The Great Day that is to come sees the same pattern

Daniel & Revelation especially tell of a future judgment on Israel

They’ve been warned for their rejection of Jesus but continue to rebel

A period of judgment will fall on them - God will use the nations

This period of judgment ends with God judging the nations

Result will be a remnant of Israel will return to God & enjoy the blessing of His promises

In Isaiah’s prophecies we now come to the illustration of his other son

Shear-Jashub - a remnant will return

This is a message of God’s abiding faithfulness to His people

We’ve noted that God has a purpose in this judgment

Here we find out why God does what He does

Call to the faithful to believe God and endure to the end

Divide into 2 sections:

In THAT day - the outcome of God’s judgment

In THIS day - how to live now in light of what is to come

In THAT Day

Isaiah 10:20-23

Chastening Causes us to Lean on God

Isaiah 10:20

Escape Deception

Part of God’s purpose in chastisement is to open our eyes to our deception

To see ourselves in the light of truth and to see the world (& enemy) in truth

King James Version Chapter 10

Shall no more again stay upon him that smote them

will never depend on him who defeated them

Israel (Judah particularly here) had placed their trust & hope in nations they believed were stronger

Judah looked to Assyria to rescue from Israel & Syria

Assyria would turn on them

Judah thought they could form an alliance with Assyria

Assyria only cared about Assyria

Bible warns us that this is the way the world, sin & Satan always work

It appears like its good for us, the answer to our problems

The world, sin & Satan are only about themselves

To follow sin or the ways of Satan will always lead to betrayal

In times of chastisement God opens our eyes to see the truth

Truly Depend on God

It is a form of repentance

We turn from trusting our own plans & schemes to trust God

Purpose of chastisement is to lead us to see we should depend on God

stay upon = depend = literally to lean on

Through this they learn the nature of God

Learn His commands are burdensome but freeing

e.g. Adrian Rogers in a sermon about leaning on God from the life of Jacob:

God will protect you but not pamper you

God will hurt you but not harm you

God will break you but His desire is to bless you

Hebrews 12:11 “11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

God is working so that we will truly depend on Him

Moving us from superficial belief to actual, real dependence

Chastening Leads us to Return to God

Isaiah 10:21

There Will Be Loss

Though this is a passage of hope there is a threatening tone present in places

God’s promise & security isn’t to all who call themselves Israel

Only a remnant will return, nation will suffer significant loss

This is part of why God must bring judgment - to purify

Hebrews 12:10 “10 For they (earthly fathers) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

It’s a necessary part of cleansing

God will save those of Israel who believe Him

His promise was never to save them regardless of their belief in Him

God works similarly in our lives

When He chastens us there is loss - pruning (John 15)

Pruning has the effect of strengthening what is healthy

Through this Israel may be small but they will be strong, holy, pure

God is Our Reward

We talk about how God is keeping His promises to Israel

Including things like a land and a kingdom

This isn’t really about a kingdom or land

Where do they return to? God

God’s chastisement isn’t about all these other things

Promises of kingdom, land, etc. were all about reconciling to God Himself

Interestingly He uses the name Mighty God here

Where have we most recently seen that name used? Isa. 9:6

They will come to Jesus, the Messiah they rejected

God’s work is always leading us to Jesus

Chastening Teaches us about the Faithfulness of God

Isaiah 10:22-23

God Does What He Says

King James Version (Chapter 10)

The consumption (destruction) decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

Consumption/destruction = consummation, completion

God has always been very clear about what He will do

They were warned if they strayed they would be judged

Told them that judgment was intended for cleansing

God will bring this to its determined end - for everyone involved

God Does What He Says in Righteousness

God hasn’t hidden anything, hasn’t treated anyone unjustly

Everything He has done & everything He will do is done completely purely

Its not just about doing what God wants or has determined

Its about God doing what is right & God always wants what is right

In THIS Day

Do Not Fear

Isaiah 10:24-25

The Enemy is Powerful

Here we see more examples of God’s consistency

Pain, loss, judgment is coming from a powerful enemy

We must never forget the power of sin & power of Satan in this world

Never think that you’re strong enough to overpower the consequences of your sin

Judgment they would face because of their sin was swift, powerful & terribly destructive

The Enemy is not All Powerful

See how God addresses them?

O My People, who dwell in Zion

2 important things are said here to help strengthen them against fear

God works based on His relationship with them

God works based on His promises to them (Zion references promises about Jerusalem & Kingdom)

Why shouldn’t they fear the enemy & judgment to come?

God is stronger than their enemy

God is working with righteous purpose & when He is done He will save them

Isa. 10:34 ends with interesting comparison to previous

Assyria was God’s axe against Israel

Though Assyria was mighty like forests of Lebanon, God will cut them down

Chastisement & judgment aren’t fun but for God’s people it isn’t the end either

You won’t enjoy it but you don’t have to fear it either

Proverbs 3:11–12 “11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

Live by Faith

Isaiah 10:25-26

God Delivers His People

God reminds them of His deliverance in the past

Both examples are meant to encourage because they are examples of divine deliverance in the face of powerful enemies

Israel was caught between Egypt and the sea & with the raising of a rod He delivers them to safety

Israel was tormented by Midian (because of their sin) God delivers them with 300 men holding torches and pitchers

God promises to deliver His people

Nothing / no one is greater than God

Nothing can pluck you from Him, nothing can separate you from His love

This is a call for them to trust God in their distress

To seek God in their judgment

Faith is a Way of Life

Faith isn’t just the means of our justification

Faith is also how we are to live each day

2 Corinthians 5:7 “7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

We live today based on God’s promise for the future

Grow in God’s Strength

Isaiah 10:27-34

God Will Set You Free

God isn’t trying to weigh you down or bind you up

God is working to set you free, to ease your burden

He chastises us, correct us to free us to live in peace & joy

Sin is what weighs us down, sin is what ruins life

God isn’t working to destroy you

God is working to release you from the burden

God Will Make You Strong

Last phrase of Isa. 10:27 is difficult

No-one seems certain what it means specifically

Though every commentator I read comes to similar consensus on its general purpose

Anointing oil can also be translated fatness (both fit aspects of context)

Refers to richness, abundance

I think the clearest way to understand it is the yoke on the oxes neck will break because it has gotten so fat

Maybe my description of strength isn’t quite right but I believe the principle is accurate

Under the yoke of judgment God isn’t weakening you but growing you to a place where the yoke of your sin is broken from your neck

Jesus describes it John 15 as pruning & burning what shouldn’t be there so that you can grow strong & healthy producing abundant fruit

Conclusion

God’s promise to His people isn’t destruction

He does warn us that when we stray from His ways, from what is good for us, He will chastise, judge

His purpose is always for holiness in us because that is where we find joy & satisfaction

Where was God driving Israel towards here? Mighty God - Jesus

Where is God driving you towards? Mighty God - Jesus

Believer, God’s work of chastisement is to drive you closer to Jesus

Unbeliever, please notice that there are 2 different ends noted here

Remnant of Israel is saved because they believe God, repent and turn to Him

Last verse of Isaiah 10 show Assyria comes to utter ruin

What makes the difference?

Assyria refused to hear God’s warning & repent

We all find ourselves in a place to make the same decision

Do we hear God’s warning, accept His chastisement and turn to follow Him?

If we do, the bondage & destruction of our sin is removed

Do we ignore God’s warning and pursue our own way?

If we do, consequences of our sin & rebellion will lead us to destruction & ruin