The Book of Isaiah, Part 13: Woes and Crises (Isaiah 30-31)
Survey of the Old Testament Prophetic Books • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Series - The Book of Isaiah, Part 13
This Part - Woes and Crises, Part C
Subject -
Main Idea
Main Idea
The book continues on exposing Israel’s sinful behaviors against their God - their rebellious attitude.
like a disease, it has infected all aspects of Israel’s life - Isaiah 1.5-6
5 Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The entire head is sick And the entire heart is faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing healthy in it, Only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; Not pressed out nor bandaged, Nor softened with oil.
it is a disease that would not heal, because it is a disease of the inner man, that only the blood of Christ can heal!
But, as Paul said it in Romans 5.20
20 The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
there is also a recurring theme that speaks of God - his lovingkindness toward His people!
Key Points
Rebellion is a horrible crime against God’s righteousness
God’s grace is much more abundant than our sins
Our deliverance does not come through our merit but through God’s mercies
The horrible sin that is rebellion
The horrible sin that is rebellion
A term “rebel” is used synonymously with “sinner”.
all sinners are rebels
But the term ‘rebel’ implies defiance
Rebellion is abominable to God
“For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry.
Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.”
reprehensible - worthy of reprehension or denouncement
Reprehend - to denounce, declare something as morally wrong or evil
Israel’s rebellious attitude is exposed in Isaiah 30
Israel’s rebellious attitude is exposed in Isaiah 30
1.) They did not consult God in their sinister plan - Isaiah 30.1-2
1.) They did not consult God in their sinister plan - Isaiah 30.1-2
1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;
2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh, And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
The rebellious act
Israel’s leaders sought an alliance with Egypt, believing that Egypt can help them against Assyria’s military might.
This was restated in Isaiah 31.1
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!
God’s response
Egypt will be their shame instead - Isaiah 30.3-5
3 “Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame, And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.
4 “For their officials are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.
5 “Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who do not benefit them, Who are not a help or benefit, but a source of shame and also disgrace.”
If Israel thought it was a wise move, God is also wise! Isaiah 31.2-3
2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of the workers of injustice.
3 Now the Egyptians are human and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the Lord will stretch out His hand, And any helper will stumble, And one who is helped will fall. And all of them will come to an end together.
2.) They tried to silence the prophets of God
2.) They tried to silence the prophets of God
9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the Lord;
10 Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy the truth to us. Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.
11 “Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Stop speaking before us about the Holy One of Israel!”
God’s response
God considered this rebellious act a “breach on the high wall” - Isaiah 30.12-14
12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and crookedness, and have relied on them,
13 Therefore this wrongdoing will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,
14 Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, So ruthlessly shattered That a shard will not be found among its pieces To take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.”
3.) They refused God’s plan and instruction
3.) They refused God’s plan and instruction
15 For this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses!” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses!” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left like a signal post on a mountain top, And like a flag on a hill.
The rebellious act
they refused God’s means of deliverance for them
repentance and rest
quietness and trust
God’s response
you will flee but you will be overtaken by enemies
you will be so afraid that one enemy is enough to make thousands of you to flee
Rebellion against God can manifest in subtle ways today.
Rebellion against God can manifest in subtle ways today.
In Israel, rebellion was addressed on the national level.
In the church, rebellion is accounted in the individual level
The words with similar connotation in the NT are unfaithfulness , unbelief, and and apostasy.
Paul warned the church against “falling away” from God!
Paul warned the church against “falling away” from God!
12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Falling away from God is caused by a hardening of the heart - stubborness!
we become stubborn when we are deceived by sin’s temptations
Paul also warned us against refusing Him who speaks!
Paul also warned us against refusing Him who speaks!
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.
there are Christians who become “complacent” in their faith and rely on such ideas as “once saved always saved”
The longing of God to be gracious!
The longing of God to be gracious!
Despite Israel’s rebellion, God longs to be gracious to His people!
Despite Israel’s rebellion, God longs to be gracious to His people!
18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
19 For, you people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will certainly be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.
long - wait, look forward
God is “waiting” for the moment He will be gracious to His people
the moment God was waiting for was when His people will begin to “cry out” to Him!
Isaiah lists down the ways God will be gracious to His people
Isaiah lists down the ways God will be gracious to His people
He will hear your cry - Isaiah 30.19
19 For, you people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will certainly be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.
He will Teach you and will not hide anymore! Isaiah 30.20
20 Although the Lord has given you bread of deprivation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher, will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will see your Teacher.
He will direct you with His words - Isaiah 30.21
21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
He will provide for you needs - Isaiah 30.23-25
23 Then He will give you rain for your seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful; on that day your livestock will graze in a wide pasture.
24 Also the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned feed, which has been winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.
25 And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
He will restore you as a people - Isaiah 30.26-29
26 And the light of the full moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up the fracture of His people and heals the wound He has inflicted.
27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from a remote place; His anger is burning and dense with smoke; His lips are filled with indignation, And His tongue is like a consuming fire;
28 His breath is like an overflowing river, Which reaches to the neck, To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve, And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads astray.
29 You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, To go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.
He will destroy your enemies - Isa 30.30-33
30 And the Lord will cause His voice of authority to be heard, And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger, And in the flame of a consuming fire In cloudburst, downpour, and hailstones.
31 For at the voice of the Lord Assyria will be terrified, When He strikes with the rod.
32 And every blow of the rod of punishment, Which the Lord will lay on him, Will be with the music of tambourines and lyres; And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them.
33 For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed, it has been prepared for the king. He has made it deep and large, A pyre of fire with plenty of wood; The breath of the Lord, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.
Notice - Isaiah listed 3 instances of Israel’s rebellious attitude, but he listed 6 instances of God’s gracious acts towards Israel!
God’s grace is ultimately greater than our sins!
God’s grace is ultimately greater than our sins!
20 The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
God’s mercy and grace, by all intents and purposes, MUST BE abundant.
otherwise it is not grace or mercy at all!
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
18 Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again take pity on us; He will trample on our wrongdoings. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.
Mercy and grace, by its definition, MUST come from the offended party. Otherwise, it is no more grace nor mercy!
Hence, it is God who offers forgiveness and restoration - Isaiah 55.6-8
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked abandon his way, And the unrighteous person his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
The undeserved kindness of God that is deliverance!
The undeserved kindness of God that is deliverance!
Isaiah shows Israel how their God will deliver them from their enemy
Isaiah shows Israel how their God will deliver them from their enemy
First - the LORD will stretch out His hand over Egypt - Isaiah 31.3
3 Now the Egyptians are human and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the Lord will stretch out His hand, And any helper will stumble, And one who is helped will fall. And all of them will come to an end together.
Second - the LORD will come down and wage war on Mt Zion - Isaiah 31.4
4 For this is what the Lord says to me: “As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the Lord of armies come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.”
Third - the LORD will protect Jerusalem like a hovering bird - Isaiah 31.5
5 Like flying birds so the Lord of armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and save it; He will pass over and rescue it.
The outcome - Assyria is defeated Isaiah 31.8-9
but not without repentance
6 Return to Him against whom you have been profoundly obstinate, you sons of Israel.
7 For on that day every person will reject his silver idols and his gold idols, which your hands have made for you as a sin.
8 And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not wielded by a man, And a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, And his young men will become forced laborers.
9 “His rock will pass away because of panic, And his officers will be terrified by the flag,” Declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
NOTE - This prophecy was fulfilled in Isaiah 36-37
in the 14th year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh to Jerusalem with a large army
king Hezekiah presented the letter of the king of Assyria before the LORD, and prayed for help
God answered through Isaiah
God destroyed Assyria’s army - Isaiah 37.36-38
36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when the rest got up early in the morning, behold, all of the 185,000 were dead.
37 So Sennacherib the king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived in Nineveh.
38 Then it came about, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon became king in his place.
Deliverance is attained, but not by virtue of human wisdom.
Deliverance is attained, but not by virtue of human wisdom.
It is attained by the outstretched arm of God!
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies.
Deliverance is experienced in a three-fold way
Deliverance is experienced in a three-fold way
Israel’s experience -
Israel is delivered from his own error, which was trusting Egypt
Israel is delivered from his enemy, which was Assyria
Israel is brought safely in the care of God!
Our experienced -
God delivers us from our own errors and mistakes
God delivers us from the power of Satan
God delivers us safely into His own hands for safekeeping!
NOTICE - ALL THESE ARE THE WORKS OF GOD IN CHRIST
Jesus was God’s stretched out arm
Jesus was God’s ransom from sin
Jesus was God’s presenter of the saints to Himself
Conclusion
Conclusion
God’s mercy and grace shows up in the worst time of our life, and rightly so!
not because it was not there from the start
but because we are so blinded by our sins that we cannot see nor feel them.
Now - We don’t have to go back to sinning in order to experience God’s abundant grace.
In Christ we can experience God’s unfathomable grace - minus the work of sin!
14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Songs
His Mercy is More
I Stand Redeemed
