God's Contract with Sinners

Tonight, we will be discussing a contract.

In simplest terms, a contract is simply a legally binding agreement. And they are very common in our world.

If you have a mortgage or an apartment lease, that is a form of contract. Depending on your line of work, you might have signed a nondisclosure contract of some kind. Many cell phone plans come in one or two-year contracts.

Another common area to hear about contracts is in professional sports.

At the end of last year, the Dallas Cowboys were in contract negotiations with Ezekiel Elliot, their star running back.

The DFW sports journalists were so excited about the potential deal, that they camped out at the airports in DFW and Mexico where Elliot was staying, hoping to get the first sighting of him returning to Dallas. They assumed that if Elliot was meeting with the Cowboys in person, then the deal must have been close to decided.

Tonight, we will not be talking about a cell phone contract or a football one, but rather a divine one. You see, God has placed you and I and every other sinner under contract, and He invites us to review the details and be aware of our obligations. But we cannot take this lightly, because this contract does not just concern guaranteed money, this concerns our souls.

Theme: God’s contract with mankind promises forgiveness and blessing to the obedient, and destruction to the rebellious.

TURN TO ISAIAH 1

The book of Isaiah was written in the latter half of the 700s BC, during the time that the northern kingdom of Israel was deteriorating and would ultimately fall to the Assyrians.

With that occurring in the North, Isaiah prophesies to Jerusalem and Judah that they must return to the Lord if they wished to avoid a similar fate. If they continued to reject God and rebel, then God would be their judge. But if they would repent and return, the Lord would be their salvation.

Here in chapter 1, through Isaiah, God lays out his case against Judah, recounting their sins, reading the list of charges, as it were, and then calling them to make a decision about how they will respond.

READ THE TEXT –

Isaiah 1:18–20 NASB95

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; “But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Four Features of the Divine Contract:

I. The Summary Purpose of the Contract (18)

A. God’s Extended Offer

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,

18 “Come now,

Invitation from God to the people.

and let us reason together,”

וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה conjuction from “ו” meaning “and, but”

- Nif yiqtol 1CP (cohortative) from “יכח” meaning “to argue, as in a lawsuit”

Micah 6:1–2 NASB95

Hear now what the Lord is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. “Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the Lord, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute.

This word appears in 83 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament and the word is most often translated as “reprove”, “reproof” or “rebuke.”

The second primary category of meaning besides “reproof” is for the word to mean “argue”, “dispute” or even “decide/render a decision.” These kinds of translations occur in legal contexts throughout the Old Testament. In Genesis 31:37, Jacob speaks to Laban and tells him to explain a matter to their kinsmen so that the group could “decide between us two.” Job often tells his friends that he desires to “contend” or “argue” with God (Job 13:3; 13:15; 15:3; 16:21; 19:5; 23:7; 40:2). In the prophets, God is said to be the one who arbitrates or resolves disputes between the people (Isa 2:4; 11:3–4; Mic 4:3).

It is clear from the context that the word is being used in a legal/trial setting. In Isaiah 1:2–15, God has laid out accusation after accusation, charge after charge, against His people. He says that they are weighed down with iniquity, have acted corruptly, and have abandoned Him (Isa 1:4). He says that their religious rituals and sacrifices mean nothing to Him and that their continual hypocritical offerings have become wearying to Him (Isa 1:10–14). Because of this, He says that He has judged them (Isa 1:15) and that they must repent and change their ways (Isa 1:16–17). It is then that the word in question is used.

The issue then is whether the understand the term in relation to the courtroom dialogue (“argue, reason”) or as the courtroom verdict (“decide, render decision”). The NASB and ESV translate it as “reason together” and the NRSV says “argue it out.” I prefer the understanding of “decide/render decision” for a number of reasons.

First, the closest use of this word comes in Isaiah 2:4 where it is translated (rightly, I believe) as, “render decisions” or as the NET Bible translates, “settle cases.” This sense is also seen in Isaiah 11:3–4 and Micah 4:3. It seems likely that the same understanding is applying here in Isaiah 1:18, where there is a decision that needs to be made.

Second, the context of 1:19–20 indicates this sense as well. God will place before the people two options and call them to choose. In fact, God has already previewed these choices earlier in the chapter: verse 5 says that they “continue in rebellion,” and in verse 16 God calls them to “cease doing evil.” It seems logical that God is saying, “let’s make a decision here” and then lays out their two choices to them.

Third, the rendering of “argue” or “reason” leaves something to be desired in what God is seeking to accomplish here. God is not asking for the people to simply argue with Him (they have rebelled plenty already), nor is He asking them for excuses. The intended result is not more talk (as implied by arguing, reasoning), it is action!

NOT God asking if we can “just talk about this.”

God desires them to take action in obedience (Isa 1:16, 19). It seems best then to translate the line, “Come now, let us come to a decision.”

Isaiah has “served you papers” if you will, and has made you aware of God’s contract. God invites you to come to the table and be well aware of the contract obligations you are held to. He is not far off, and He is not withholding necessary information. The invitation to review the contract is open to you.

Rebellious teenager stole money from father. Father can call the police? Or can call the son and ask them to come home and resolve the matter.

It doesn’t mean there are no consequences, and it doesn’t mean that the father is at the son’s mercy, but it shows great compassion and patience on the part of the father.

Application: Model the patience of God.

Exhibiting the patience of God – this passage highlights the patience of God in a profound way. Even to the people who have sinned against God for extended periods of time, He still offers reconciliation and resolution. Do we have the same patience with the people in our churches, with our wives and children? Do we give grace upon grace even when it is so undeserved?

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,

B. God’s Intended Purpose

It ought also to be observed, that the only rule of living well is to yield obedience to God and his word; for to will and to hear mean nothing else than to comply with the will of God. – John Calvin