Glimpses of the Gospel

Isaiah • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago • Presented 4 years ago

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The book of Isaiah is the most quoted book of the prophets by the New Testament writers. Jesus also began his ministry by quoting from Isaiah. This book contains themes and messages that emphasize God's actions toward his covenant people, Israel, and it prepares us to see how Jesus Christ would fulfill the old covenant and establish the new covenant in himself.

Notes

Transcript

History and Location of Isaiah

Isaiah spoke his message to the Southern Kingdom approximately in the years 740 - 680 BC. His messages were directed to the kings of Judah, but also to the surrounding nations that God used to discipline Judah.

Christian Relevance

Covenants

The Old Testament (Covenant) contains covenants (agreements) that God has established with individuals and people. In God's covenant, He is the stronger participant that invites the weaker participant into a merciful and blessed situation. God's covenants were His commitments toward His creation that continued even after the sinful rebellion of Adam and Eve. God remained faithful.

Covenant after flood Noah - God would not destroy the earth with a flood

Covenant with Abraham - God make Abraham and his descendants the conduit of blessing all peoples

Covenant through Moses - God delivered Abraham's descendants from slavery in Egypt and called them to be His people. They agreed to call Him their only God. God established his holy standards of living (Law) as their response to Him. God agreed to bless his people for their faithfulness and curse them for their unfaithfulness.

Covenant with David - God promised King David that there would be a descendant of his upon the throne as a King of God's people.

Covenant in Christ - Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law of God, be enthroned as the King, and become the precise conduit for all humanity's redemption through His death, burial, and resurrection. All who come to God must come by grace through faith in Jesus Christ to enter a covenant relationship with God.

Isaiah 1:1–20 ESV

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. 5 Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. 7 Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. 9 If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. 18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Rebellious People

God compares his covenant people as more rebellious in comparison to farm animals. The issue is that Israel does not identify God as their Father, Owner, or Master. This is not simply ignorance of their relationship but the result of a rebellious disposition. They have a "new normal", which is to live close to but separated from their God.

The comparison probably drew a smile on people's faces, because almost everyone in his audience could tell stories about being unable to handle a stubborn ox, or how stupid their idiot donkey was.23 Yet everyone also knew that these dumb animals were smart enough to realize that they needed to come home at night if they wanted to eat. Although these animals were sometimes unwilling to submit to authority (just like Israel), they maintained their relationship with their owner.

Smith, Gary V. Isaiah 1–39. Ed. E. Ray Clendenen. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007. Print. The New American Commentary.

Isaiah spoke this message to whom? Was it just the leaders, the rich, or the "important" ones? We can see that this message extended to all those within the covenant relationship. Every individual holds a personal responsibility to walk in faithfulness and obedience with God. Our private actions and responses affect more than our own lives; we affect the community. How often have you this way? "This action will only ever affect me." A Rebellious community is made up of rebellious individuals.

Effects of Rebellion

The people's rebellion did not occur suddenly but was a natural byproduct of a heritage of sinful rebellion. The "offspring of evil doers" continue the path of corruption. The community has also become infected with iniquity so that the chances of witnessing evil in action is more plausible than not. The nation is characterized by iniquity and corruption.

Iniquity - the affirmation of committing an offense before God - no doubt of guilt

Corruption - lacking integrity in their actions and plainly immoral

The community is infected with an inner illness, but there is also a covenant effect. They have grown distant from God. At the heart level, God is not present. This is the result of their purposeful and unintentional rebellion.

The following description of the people should cause us to pity them and, at the same time, reprimand them. It is common for individuals to know that something is not right with their bodies, yet continue to ignore addressing the issue by seeing a doctor or tending to it. It seems the older we become in our ways; we are more willing to accept the pain and problems associated with our sin. "That's just the way it is." Their sinful state and wounds remain untreated and unchecked.

Illustration of Poison Oak

In the same section, depending upon the message's date, Isaiah delivers either a description or foretelling of the covenant consequences, Deuteronomy 28. Foreign invasion is a reversal of the blessing so that the people would awaken to realize their departure from God. Even though the people would act unfaithfully, God would be faithful to his covenant promise and bring about a disciplinary action to call back His people. The picture of this consequence is devastating. The covenant people are left with a devastated land that resembles the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Empty Worship and Ritual

What makes this rebellious state an egregious state is that the people still approach God in worship and ritual that ignores the call to be holy and obedient. In modern language, we may call it "playing church". They continue the covenant actions of worship, sacrifice, celebration of the covenant, and holy convocations. God informs them that He is not pleased with any of their acts or worship or prayers because they act one way in worship and another way in day to day living.

Their sin is centered around the mistreatment of others in the community.

Hands full of blood - the presence of murder in the community

Injustice - overlooking the mistreatment of others in the community

Oppression to the lesser ones - neglecting or passing over the lesser widows and orphans' rights and status.

At the center of this community is a self-centered, self-righteous, and hypocritical lifestyle. On the outside, the community would appear pious, but a closer look would reveal a depraved community that was disconnected from God and the covenant relationship.

Call to Cleansing

The only solution for this situation is a return to the One True God. The words of Isaiah are the typical response that God consistently calls to all sinful hearts. Wash/clean - the term here points to the ritual washing required in the Mosaic covenant. But the clear sense here is a change of the heart's direction.

Removal of evil deeds - this term "deeds" refers to "pagan" practices that were foreign to the worship of God

Cease evil/do good - justice/oppression to widow/orphan - these were the "lesser ones" that typically experienced the greater brunt of the self-centered community.

All these actions are reversals of their sinful rebellion. Repentance implies moving in the opposite direction, 180 degrees back toward God. One can not continue in a rebellious direction and reason that they are moving toward God. God invites the rebellious people to hear his case and evidence. Any reasonable assessment would concur with God; the rebellious hearts are sinful. But God offers a covenant promise. The humble, repentant people will experience God's mercy and receive a washing that is incomparable. The curses of the covenant would be reversed into blessings.

Glimpses of the Gospel

If you are familiar with the Gospel, you should be able to hear the fundamental elements of the new covenant in Christ. The gospel writers include these elements.

Repentance

Consider the story of John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and baptism (washing) as the way to prepare one's self for the coming kingdom. When some asked how to repent, John responded Luke 3:10-17.

Luke 3:10–17 ESV

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

We should note the deeds that reversed oppression and injustice. John also declared that someone was coming who would be greater and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire was for purifying and judging sinfulness.

Reversal of sinful actions

Zacchaeus watched and heard Jesus from the heights of a tree. Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus' house. Luke 19:5-10.

Luke 19:5–10 ESV

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Look at the reversal of oppressive and sinful actions. Zacchaeus turned his heart to practice God's exaltation and love for the "lesser ones" of the community. Jesus affirmed that Zacchaeus was right in acting in the appropriate covenant manner.

Empty Pious Ritual Religion

Jesus often spoke out against the day's spiritual leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, etc. They did a good job of keeping up the covenant rituals but often overlooked the obedience of the heart. Luke 20:45-47, Matthew 23:23-24.

Luke 20:45–47 ESV

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Matthew 23:23–24 ESV

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Notice that Jesus affirms that one's actions of worship include the treatment of others in the community. 1 John 4:20.

1 John 4:20 ESV

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

God's Invitation

The Gospel is not for sinners but the believer. It constantly reminds us that we are in a covenant relationship with God. He has invited us into this magnificent relationship. We are not invited because of our innate goodness, instead because we are innately rebellious and distant from God. God graciously invites through faith to receive Christ's removal of sin and invitation to the presence of God.

When we have distanced ourselves from God through disobedience, neglect, and rebellion, may we remember that God will love us enough to invite us back to forgiveness and repentance. He may even discipline us as a loving Father.

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