Holy Nation (part 2) : Wait on the Lord

A HOLY NATION (PART II) – Wait On the Lord

I will wait on the Lord

Isaiah 8:17 ESV

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Is

Verse 17: “I will wait for the Lord”: Isaiah resolved to not be swayed or pressured by worldly problems but rather wait for the Lord.

· There is something very important about making this statement.

Many will say the words, but not make a statement.

· Why is this statement so important?

o It’s about planting a flag.

o In this world you will have plenty of flag to plant in the ground.

o I pray that you will resolve to plant your flag on God.

This statement is not based on what you see God doing.

o “… Who is hiding His from the house of Jacob, …”

o Think about the context of Isaiah’s world

§ Kingdom already divided

§ It’s a matter of time before both are in exile.

o You want a hint of Isaiah’s heart

§ “House of Jacob”

§ … many would argue – “There is no longer a house of Jacob”

· This is not a statement from someone unaware of the situation. This is a decision to truth God no matter what.

· Know where you stand in your faith and then be willing to make a statement.

Behold

Isaiah 8:18 ESV

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Verse 18: “Behold I and the children … are signs and portents”

Verse 18: “Behold I and the children … are signs and portents”

· Behold – let me tell you why I have this faith

· Signs – a sign that gives a message.

· Portents – Not just signs but miraculous signs!!!! We are a miracle of God!!!

o Can you say this about you and your family?

· “From the Lord of hosts.”

o Used in this context – A heavenly Army.

· What is Isaiah saying?

o God called me to be a sign to you.

§ To direct your life back to Him.

o Thinking about his son (verse 1-3) he direct evidence of God’s prophecy via Isaiah

· They were at a crossroads (of their own design)

o Do I follow the crowd, this Un-Godly king?

o Isaiah says to them, “I and the children God has given me are a sign from God.

§ You don’t have to look at the world.

Can you make this claim today?

o – Always be ready to give a reason for your faith.

§ Not always deep theological or philosophical explanations.

o (better question) How can I make this claim today?

This kind of witness comes from knowing your purpose. Knowing your purpose comes from truly knowing God.

§ Knowing your purpose comes from truly knowing God.

· What about the church. What would that look like>

· What if the church saw herself as a sign and pretense to the world?

Where we look and see war and hatred, the Church should be a miraculous sign of hope and peace.

Lovingly call out wisdom that opposes Godly counsel

Isaiah 8:19 ESV

And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?

Is 8:

· Mediums and necromancers – modern day psychic

Leviticus 20:27 ESV

“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”

· They obviously don’t care about that, so Isaiah appeals to their logic

Verse 19: “Should they inquire of the dead, on behalf of the living?”

· Does it make sense to listen to human wisdom instead of looking to God for answers?

· Why ask the dead, on behalf of the living?

· Why ask science, when you have access to the God of Science.

· Why is there sin in the world?

· How can countries really be at peace with one another?

· Where can we find hope for life’s problems?

o God is the answer to all of this.

They have no dawn

Verse 20: “… if they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn?” – If

· They have no tomorrow, there really is no future for them.

· This is also a warning for those who look to the world for answers instead of God.

o THEY HAVE NO DAWN

Character description really nails it!! (verse 21-22)

· They will have problems in this world

· When these problems are resolved they will be enraged with God

o Have you noticed how angry most atheists are with a God they don’t think is real?

o You would expect dismissive – but they are down-right angry at times.

Choose wisely were you go for answers.

o Where they are going it where they will take you also.

What if…

· Imagine of we (the church) were this faithful to God.

· What if we were willing to make this kind of statement to the world.

o What would that do to our churches?

o What about other things we are committed to (like our marriages).