Isaiah 29 (2)

A Perspective for our Journey through Isaiah

Going through the journey of Isaiah

Things are starting to look familiar.

The end is desired soon

Possible solutions

Give the summary of the book and some lessons to learn

Cover every detail even if it is repeated

To just give summary would be like telling you about the hike. We would however miss all the memories, beauty, and unity built in working through the challenges of the hike.

What is going on in the journey

God will use a jar of clay to show His strength

There is more shaping going on than you realize as you absorb the reality that God is painting in Isaiah.

What can we do to make the journey profitable

My goal is to point to some of the summaries but hone in on some of the uniqueness that is found in each chapter (switchback)

Mark the switchbacks that God really uses in your life. They won’t all hold the same significance in your life.

Ariel- a representation of distress and favor

Emphasize Israel’s security in their being the city of David and in having the feasts

Emphasize God’s distressing and attacking work against Jerusalem in verses 2-3.

Their festivity will turn into the a low condition where barely a whisper is heard.

In verses 1-4, we see that favor is treated lightly and distress is the result. Now in verse 5-8 we will see the favor shown toward God’s people and the distress to her enemies

There is an emphasis on the grandness of the opposition- multitude

The multitude is reduced to something finer than dust and insignificant and worthless as chaff

The deliverance is sudden

It is accompanied with greatness. All of nature is bowing to God’s purposes

The resistance is like a dream

Ariel- a city that God distresses and delivers. How then do we live in this favor rather than distress.

Favor - the safety net while pursuing my own way. Distress- the result of pursuing my own way.

Goodness of God should lead to repentance

True Jew- relationship is “secret, from the heart” by the Spirit, praised by God.

Favor- the remedy for my poverty. Distress- the opportunity for the display of favor.

Matthew 5:3 NKJV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So how then do I live in God’s favor?- Daily confess my poverty.

What do you feel adequate to do?- job, looks, speaking, talking.

What do you feel inadequate for?

Young people, when you are in the midst of an argument, are you going to insist on being right, or confess your need before God?

So how then do I live in God’s favor?- Daily look at and imagine your riches in Christ. It will always be far beyond what you can imagine

For this cause, I bow my knee unto the Father that He would grant you… power, knowledge, fullness, fruitfulness...

So how then do I live in God’s favor in distressing situations?

Don’t make final evaluations in distress. It not the end, its just a dream.

Need is a gift to help me find out more of God’s riches.

Illustration of broken down car leading to learning how to work on cars

* Both good and evil, when they are full grown, become retrospective...That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporary suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say 'Let me but have this and I'll take the consequences': little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin." C.S. Lewis

* * To return to our sailboat image, a storm, though terrifying, can propel you further and faster along than you ever imagined. You were totally disoriented and felt like you were going to die, but you woke up and discovered you had moved hundreds of miles in the night, far swifter than sunny days and smooth sailing could have ever propelled you. In the same way, the storms of life can lead you where you want to go, as long as communion with God is your horizon. Suffering can be a shortcut toward this destination. It’s a shortcut no one would ever choose, but looking back, few would trade it for where it has brought them."- Union with Christ

There indecision in verse 9

There is a choice of blindness and a result of blindness (v. 9-10)

There is understanding of the words but not the message due to lack of care or insight

This darkness grows under the supposed light of religion- outward service

God does wonders which make the plans of man look foolish.

They think their plans are hidden from God.

* Things have been totally turned upside down

* Man is the determiner of what is good, and right

* God does not have a creative and purposeful role

* God is seen as lacking wisdom in His creation.

Blindness can be lifted through God’s miraculous power and the responding meekness of men.

Further light is given to those whose hearts are sensitive

Further insensitivity is given to those who don’t respond to light

Matthew 5:5 NKJV

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

I. Enactment of meekness

a. Toward God

i. Accepting God’s dealings with us as good

ii. Be still and patiently wait for God to act. ()

1. This is a triumphant waiting. This is not superior aloofness. We know that God is using the situation to purify and will deliver

b. Toward others

i. Toward oppressors they don’t retaliate ()

ii. Toward peers or subjects they don’t condescend (; - Paul does not entreat with exasperation. His confidence as an apostle is not self-sufficient)

iii. Toward instructors- they receive instruction ()

c. Within themselves

i. Not impressed with one’s importance. (-inward value; ;13)