The King of Righteousness

God will bring righteousness into the world through the transforming work of his Spirit.

Introduction

In 1516 Sir Thomas More published a book called Utopia in which he described the perfect society based on rational thought, with communal property, no class distinction, no poverty, little crime, and tolerance of religion. It was his vision of an ideal society. One modern example of this vision of a perfect society is found in the TV series Star Trek.

The reality is that no such society exists. Mankind, in their fallen state, in rebellion against God will never be able to live in such perfect harmony. However, this does not mean that we will never experience such a place, not the shortsighted community envisioned by Thomas More, but the perfect vision of society in the revelation of God.

We get a glimpse of God’s plan here in Isaiah 31 where we will see that God will bring righteousness into the world through the transforming work of his Spirit.

I. God’s Will - 1-8

Behold - get our attention - cause us to pause - look

a king - messianic - no leader has ever ruled in perfect righteousness - Christ

Who are the princes? Men who rule according to God’s laws, justice, holiness and righteousness as we await the coming of the King - already/not yet

V. 2 - Comfort/protection/safety/provision

V. 3 - Ruling in Righteousness has positive effects

Eyes will see, Ears will hear

Opposite of God’s judgement - Isa 29:9-10; 6:9-10

Fulfillment of God’s grace - Isa 29:18

Righteousness bring clarity of thought & speech - V. 4

VV. 6-7 - Clarity brings discernment

Fool - lacking a sense of moral and spiritual obligation (Motyer)

Scoundrel - unscrupulous, seeking self-advantage to the hurt of others (Motyer)

Righteous leadership brings clarity in that which is righteous and will result in discernment in leaders who are fools and scoundrels

V. 8 - Noble - righteous heart, mind, character

Plans noble things -

Stands on noble things - righteous convictions

God’s will is for righteousness to reign. Christ, the righteous King, is sitting at his right hand until all his enemies are made his footstool (brought into submission). Until then he raises up righteous leaders to rule in righteousness until he returns.

His will for righteousness causes God to give a word of warning

II. God’s Warning - 9-14

Beware of complacency and a life of ease (their trust was in their wealth, they were self-satisfied in their prosperity).

Prosperity will turn to poverty

Harvests will turn to famine

Futile soil will only produce thorns and briers

Joy will turn to sorrow

Cities will deserted

Palace will be forsaken

Death, destruction, and deportation will come upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem. First they will suffer under the brutal seige of the Assyrians, but still their hearts will not fully turn to the Lord, so they will fall into the hands of the Babylonians who will exile them from their homes, will destroy the city and bring the temple to utter ruin.

Complacency and ease

Jesus parable of the Rich Fool - Lk 12:13-21

Dictionary - self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

A.W. Tozer - complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth

Have you become complacent in your spiritual growth? The moment you have come to a point of feeling satisfied and there is no room for improvement, you will find that God will pull back his hand of grace and let you see the depth of the sin that still remains in your heart.

Paul urged the Philippian church to not fall into complacency

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Phil 3:12-16)

Corporate Complacency

The church, this church, cannot be complacent either. We must continue to see and pray for God’s sanctifying work to at work in us as a body, as a church. We are called to stand up for the truth of God’s Word, to proclaim the gospel, and live according to his holy law and call everyone everywhere to live accordingly as well.

God’s judgment against his people for their complacency will not be the end of his people, he will restore them by the work of his Spirit.

III. God’s Work - 15-20

V. 15 - until…Their desolation, destruction and deportation continues…UNTIL

V. 15 - Spirit poured

Joel prophesied - And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28)

Peter, in his sermon, on the day of Pentecost said that Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled that day as the Spirit of God fell on all in that upper room and brought into existence the Bride of Christ, the Church.

Already and Not Yet

This passage is mainly eschatological - what does that mean - it’s just a big word for saying “the study of last things” - those events that will come at the end of history.

These verses represent God’s ideal kingdom, not a manmade utopia, but a Spirit realized completion of his work in this world.

What will that look like?

Abundance - wilderness/fruitful field - fruitful filed/forest

Justice - all claims of injustice will be resolved perfectly. In this sinful world we will never obtain the kind of justice, as much as we strive for it, because we live in a fallen world. But under the authority and rule of the righteous King, justice will prevail.

Righteousness - God’s laws, precepts, commandments, and ordinances will be the desire of all

Peace - the end of all war, divisions, contentions

Quietness & trust -

Safety - v. 18

None of this exists right now - this is why we say the already and the not yet - The pouring out of the Spirit of God is a reality, but the full effects have not reached their culmination at this time.

As we look forward to that day, we are not to be complacent, but to live lives of righteousness and seek God’s justice (not the idea of worldly justice) but according to God’s law.

We are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (describe the gospel) and as people come to faith in Christ, their lives will be transformed, and each person is transformed we will see our society and culture change in obedience to God’s Word.

But even if people do not come to faith, we are commanded to call people to repentance and to remind all people, all nations, everywhere that they are accountable to God, and his standards. We are to call out laws that are unjust. We are to call out ungodly officials (city, county, state, federal). We are to call out godless ideologies which are unbiblical and oppose human flourishing according to God’s standards.

Conclusion

Look to the perfect righteous King

Andrew Davis - Jesus is the perfect shelter from the storm, the only refuge from the coming wrath of God. He also is the final provision for our souls, the river of the water of life and the bread from heaven that supplies our deepest needs.

Until he returns, encourage godliness from our government officials

Fight complacency in your life and in the church

forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead...press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.