Holy Nation (part 2) : Wait on the Lord
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A HOLY NATION (PART II) – Wait On the Lord
A HOLY NATION (PART II) – Wait On the Lord
I will wait on the Lord
I will wait on the Lord
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
Behold
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
Lovingly call out wisdom that opposes Godly counsel
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
“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
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…
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).