Wonders and Warnings
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
TS: Isaiah prophesies of God’s reign over a restored Israel and of His sith woe— this one against the Assyrians. Isaiah compares and contrasts 2 time periods:
one in the future
One in his day
I. Israel’s Future: the Wonders
I. Israel’s Future: the Wonders
Here the prophet speaks concerning the Millennium
When Isaiah gave this prophesy, he and his listeners thought only of Judah. However, the NT makes it clear that God has grafted all believers into the promises.
If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
When we are saved, we are grafted in and become joint heirs with Jesus.
A. The ministry of the Son of God
A. The ministry of the Son of God
The Messiah Himself will appear in all His glory and beauty to accomplish 5 things.
1 The reign as Earth’s righteous King
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
Honest princes will rule under him.
Gone will be the day of corrupt leaders!
Princes- Apostles and saints
Jesus said to his apostles;
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Saints:
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?
2 To restore and regenerate Israel
Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.
Wounds will be healed and restored
The princes will provide protection like a shelter.
Israel will be receptive to God’s message, unlike Isaiah’s generation who rejected God.
Everyone will look to God and obey Him
They will speak clearly and follow Him
3 To right all wrongs
The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.
For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.
But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.
The ungodly will be exposed, but generous people will be blessed for all they do.
The foolish leaders busied themselves with sin and failed to care for those in their charge
That condition will be reversed!
All will see clearly, there will be no falling for conniving and lying leaders.
4 To meet the needs of all people
he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
They will have a fortress, food, and water.
God will supply all of their needs
He does now, but often, we don’t recognize it
In the Kingdom, we will clearly know God is meeting all our needs
5 To usher in universal peace
Your heart will muse on the terror: “Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?”
You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.
Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.
For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.
Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey.
And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.
The Lord will reign and be the judge and King. He will care for His people and save them
He will ensure peace on Earth
We long for it and work for it, but only Christ will deliver it!
Isaiah pronounced blessing upon those in the Kingdom v. 20
B. The ministry of the Spirit of God
B. The ministry of the Spirit of God
1 To anoint the people of God
until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
The Spirit will be poured down from Heaven.
When God’s Spirit was poured out, all would be fruitful
“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.
Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
Partially fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.
Ultimately to be fulfilled in the Kingdom.
2 To bring about worldwide justice
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
The righteousness of GOD will bring peace
In the Kingdom, all will live in righteousness and justice will prevail
3 To guarantee abundant crops
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
And it will hail when the forest falls down, and the city will be utterly laid low.
Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.
Wherever the people plant seed, they will have bountiful crops
II. Israel’s Present: The Warnings
II. Israel’s Present: The Warnings
Here the prophet speaks concerning his own day.
This gives a stark contrast to the glory and peace of the Kingdom
A. He warns the women of Israel.
A. He warns the women of Israel.
1 Hear God’s word
Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the grape harvest fails, the fruit harvest will not come.
The harvest will not take place because of their laziness
God Warned them to listen, yet they failed.
2 Heed God’s Word
Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and tie sackcloth around your waist.
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers, yes, for all the joyous houses in the exultant city.
For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks;
Their land will be overgrown, and their homes will be gone.
They failed to obey God and ultimately judgment fell upon them.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
B. He warns the warriors of Assyria
B. He warns the warriors of Assyria
Judah will be threatened and terrified by the advancing Assyrian troops
1 The prayer for deliverance
O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.
At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered,
and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.
Judah wants to be rescued from Assyrian domination
Judah finally called on God for deliverance.
2 The promise of deliverance
Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.
a. The Assyrian destroyers will be destroyed themselves
b The Assyrian armies will be cut down like thorns and burned
The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.
Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man.
The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
“Now I will arise,” says the Lord, “now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.
You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you.
And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.”
Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might.
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
God will show His power and might against the Assyrians.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Hear God’s word
Heed God’s word