Remembering Your Maker

Introduce the primary point generally:

Have you ever had something bad happen that triggered a reminder? The reminder that was triggered was something that would have been circumstance changing.

The issue here is not merely of a mental kind. When the scripture speaks of forgetting God, the word is speaking of forgetting in the sense of not trusting Him.

As Isaiah is presenting these oracles, he is giving Judah and the Northern Tribes to come back to trust in the LORD instead of trusting in the works of their own hands.

This is not at all uncommon for us to apply or understand. While many today are aware of, or at least give mental assent to God they do not really trust in the Lord but rather they do trust in the work of their own hands. We would do well to make note, that the LORD is not just commanding men to consider Him as a passing thought but to believe Who He is, and see Who He is by what He has done.

What is Isaiah saying? (give breakdown):

The Judgments of the Northern Nations (v. 1 - 6)

(v. 1 - 3) The opening verses reveal the ruin that will come to Syria, in particular Damascus. This was a strategic location for nations coming from the north and into the land of Israel. This destruction presumably took place around 732 B.C. at the hands of the King of Assyria.

(v. 4 - 6) These verses show a transition to judgment upon the Northern Kingdom. It is important to remember that the Northern Kingdom was in alliance with Syria. Both of these would be judged. Isaiah uses similes to express the extent of the judgment.

The Indictments of the Northern Nations (v. 7 - 11)

(v. 7 - 11) Why the judgments came to the northern nations is clearly understood in these verses. Israel (Northern Kingdom) had forgotten her God. The judgments will be a means to call them to remember their Maker.

Of interest, the writer uses the word “Adam” here or “mankind”. This shows that it was not merely an indictment against the Jewish people, but God, as Creator, demands that all mankind remember Him. His desire is that all mankind would remember Him. Is this not consistent with the rest of the scripture which corroborates God’s self-revelation in creation.

The Judgments for all Oppressive Nations (v. 12 - 14)

(v. 12 - 14) Judah, who is hearing this oracle, is once again assured that God would bring justice to these oppressing nations. For Judah, it was a promise of temporary protection when they would see justice taking place on these two northern nations, but it is also a general reminder that God will make right all wrongs.

What is the point? (proposition):

Remember your Maker!

(1) Remember that God is the Creator, and He has Creator ownership-rights

Romans 1:20–21 KJV 1900

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

He rightly demands that trust and faith be in Him alone. There is justice to those who reject the Lord. His wrath is revealed, and He will exact vengeance on all those who refuse Him.

(2) Remember that God is your Ultimate Source [of salvation, of strength]

To the Jewish people, they were to remember God’s deliverance and sustenance to them - , .

Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV 1900

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV 1900

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

For the Christian, continually remembering that God is the Creator who has acted to save us and to sustain is is important!

What particularly prohibits us from obeying this command? (v. 8)

The allure of self-made idols makes this command especially difficult. The contrast is not hard to see. The LORD desires Israel to trust in the One who made them and not in the things they have made.

This passage makes reference to a couple of particulars: “groves” - Asherah or Ahserah poles. This is a reference to the partner of Baal, and typically had to do with a fertility goddess. These poles were erected, and some believed that they were erected for the purpose of being a sexual symbol.

The images is quite clear. These alters were often incense altars. The point is quite clear that these were altars that they had made. What do we take away from this?

Trusting in a self-made idol is ultimately faith in ourselves

While there are many comparable applications that we can make of this kind of worship today (i.e. self-made career/money, material investments like our houses, our children…etc) I want to specifically address the allure of personal, physical pleasure that we work so hard to acquire.

Physical pleasure is not a sin. God created us in such a way that we can experience and enjoy life through our bodies. We enjoy the pleasure of visual beauty. We enjoy the pleasure caused by physical food. We enjoy the pleasure of sexual intimacy in marriage, but something went wrong.

The pursuit of pleasure became a sin when Adam and Eve saw the fruit that it was good for food, in direct defiance of God’s command. You see, to trust God brings Him glory. Adam and Eve dishonored God when they chose to not trust God and His Word.

This led to an offspring whose sinful, natural bent was to trust in the pursuit of pleasure as the ultimate source of meaning & significance. Within just a chapter you see polygamy in the scriptures. You see an increase in sinful activity, including homosexuality. God has been rejected as the ultimate One who is the source of meaning and significance. Now, again, I am only dealing with pleasure here for application, but there are several applications that can be made.

Today, we have the money and power to bring pleasure to ourselves. Again, this is not an issue, but we must take note that the pursuit of happiness is not that in which we find ultimate meaning and significance.

* Some are willing to sacrifice their bodies for pleasure: drugs & fornication

* Some will sacrifice their marriages for pleasure

* Some will sacrifice important spiritual disciplines for pleasure.

When an individual gives himself or herself to unhindered pursuit of pleasure for meaning and significance, it leads to emptiness and pursuit of more pleasure. In that pursuit, men and women continue to reject God and it is ultimately self-destructive because it ultimately consumes and controls us. See It is a life of slavery to the pursuit.

The good news is that God has dealt definitively with this sinful human nature.

What has Christ done to fulfill this command and make this command possible?

Jesus Christ is the salvation of the Maker manifested -

The God of Israel’s salvation did respond in a greater way. He sent the ultimate fulfillment of this salvation: Jesus Christ. The deliverances of the Old Testament serve to point us to the ultimate deliverance in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Maker manifested (new creation) -

The God who created light how now given the light of the gospel to make us new creations in Christ.

Jesus Christ has saved us and given to us His Spirit - ,

The scriptures make it clear that we were individuals ruled by our lusts; but now, through God’s mercy out of His love, we have been saved. With this glorious salvation, He has given us the eternal Spirit of God. The battle for supremacy ensues.

Thus, even though we are prone to wander and be allured away from thinking of and placing faith in our Maker, the LORD has clearly made a way.

What applications are there in our contemporary world?

How can we proactively remember our Maker, in the midst of the allure to continually pursue idolatry of pleasure?

Unbelievers:

Consider that your ability to self-pacify is temporary which leaves you with two alternatives: (1) eat, drink, and party because you’re going to die or (2) consider that there is an end and you will meet your Maker.

If you have chosen the latter option, listen to how your Maker calls you to repent and look to Him now.

Parents of young children:

If God is the Creator of your children, be sure that you show them a Creator around whom their lives are to be revolving rather than teaching them that the Creator exists for their own pleasure.

Give them truths about the Creator and His Rights

Manage your schedules so that they learn what the Creator is worthy of

As early as possible help them understand their desperate need and how their loving Creator has provided

Do not underestimate the importance of a community of other individuals who are trusting in their Maker. (where you live, what you do…etc)

Christian Sr. Saints:

You all do this so well already, but one area that I would encourage you in: God may not want you to be completely and physically healthy. Be careful that your pursuit of quality of life does not become what defines you.

Christian Employee: