Sermon Tone Analysis

Sunday, June 8, 2008 – “Honor our Graduates” Sunday & Welcome Home to our Military Men

*The gift of the Sabbath*

Isaiah 58:1-14

/14 //then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

/Isaiah 58:14 NIV

-----------

We continue in our sermon* series* on the topic of *the* *Fourth Commandment*, “Remember the *Sabbath* to *keep it holy*.”

I believe there has never been a time *in our country’s history* when we *needed more* a renewal of commitment to *obey the fourth commandment*.

I recognize that to *preach on Sabbath observance* runs the risk of *creating some discomfort*.

It’s possible that some have *a Biblical opinion that *Sabbath observance *went out with the Old Testament laws* when Christ fulfilled the Law, thus *making observance of the Sabbath obsolete*.

It’s also possible that some are *quite satisfied with their present lifestyle* by treating the *Lord’s Day as just another day* and would prefer that I’d *leave a sleeping dog lie*.

Based on conversations that I’ve *participated in this past week*, it appears that *most of you are sincerely interested* in what the Sabbath principle is all about and *want to hear more before* making a response.

I do feel *a bit like Josiah*, the king of Judah.

After *serving as king for 18 years* the high priest Hilkiah *made an amazing discovery*.

He found *a copy of the Law in the temple*.

(2 Kings 22:8-19) Now, *isn’t that incredible*?

It *didn’t* even sound like *they were looking for it*.

It’s simply *amazing*.

It was like *a brand new discovery* for these people, like they *didn’t even knew it existed*.

But, Josiah had *a soft and tender heart towards the Lord* and when he *heard of the discovery*, gave his *full attention to it* and realized *how far his nation was *from obeying God’s Law.

So he *did the hard thing*.

He did *the courageous thing*.

He led his people to *humble themselves* and then to *diligently obey God’s instructions*.

You may wonder *in what sense to I relate *to Josiah.

Well, it is this: As a *nation* and as *Christians*, the *observance of the Christian Sabbath* has been so *completely obliterated* in our culture that *bring up the subject* is like *making a new discovery*, like, “Where did that *come from*?”

*My hope* is that our *response* will be *like Josiah’s*, that upon *hearing the truth* of God’s word we *respond in repentance and obedience*.

For the *story of Josiah* is about a *man who’s actions* were greatly influenced *by Scripture*, God’s Word.

As we look at *our text from Isaiah 58*, we will see that this *humble, repentant response of Josiah* is exactly what God was *looking for* as He directs His prophet Isaiah to *call His people to repentance and obedience*.

A *growing number of leaders* around this country are *recognizing the absolute necessity* for the Christian church to experience a *Spirit-led re-formation*.

In fact, some of us believe that the *moral slide taking place in our nation* has more to do with a *weak church* than it does with an *immoral, godless generation*.

I am *personally convinced* that a *proper observance of the Sabbath* may well be a *key to genuine spiritual awakening* and *revival*, as well as being a *deciding factor* in *salvaging family relationships* and *making the gospel known* to a whole lot more people who *take* *notice of our* *revived lifestyle*.

You see, *how we keep or how we dishonor the Lord's Day will have a profound effect on every other area of our lives*.

But, given *how far away we have moved from* the Sabbath Commandment, it will *take a willingness* to have *radical surgery done on our hearts* and on *our schedules* if we choose to *obey this fourth commandment*.

*Isaiah 58* addresses *two spiritual disciplines*: *fasting* and *keeping the Sabbath*.

As we look at our text, I am asking *what* these *two disciplines* or observances *have in common*.

Or, *why* is Isaiah *addressing these issues together*, back to back?

*Isaiah 58:1-14 (NIV)*

/1 //“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.

Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to My people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.

/

God is telling Isaiah to *speak to His people* and to do it *loudly and clearly*.

*What* is he to tell them?

He is to tell them *how they have sinned*, or how they have *rebelled*.

/2 //For day after day they seek Me out; they seem eager to know My ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.

They ask Me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

/

They had *perfected their outward appearance*, but it was just a *charade*.

It only *looked like they* were doing *the right thing*.

Instead, they had *forsaken the commands* of God.

Yet, notice, they *turn in a reimbursement request* for all their *expenses* related to *putting on their charade*.

Certainly, *God should be obligated to them* since it *cost them* so much.

So they *argue with God.*

/3 //‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen it?

Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?’

/

And *God is plenty willing to reply* to their complaint.

/3//. . .

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

/

/4 //Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.

/

/5 //Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?

Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

/

*There’s mocking* in God’s voice.

Surely these people *knew better*.

Surely *they were not surprised* by God’s rebuke.

*People who lack integrity* must at least *feel the dissonance* *CLANGING* within them.

For *a divided heart is not a heart at rest*.

A *hypocrite* is *not a happy person*.

So *God reminds them* what *kind of fast* does *please Him.*

/6 //“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

/

/7 //Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

/

You see, *God is not disconnected from* the oppressed and the poor.

In fact, *He is so connected to them* that when we *set the oppressed free* and *provide for the poor*, we are doing it unto Him.

And *God loves to reward those* who sacrifice in this manner.

Here is *how He rewards His humble*, repentant, and obedient *servants*:

/8 //Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

/

/9 //Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 //and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

/

/11 //The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

/

/12 //Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

/

Isn’t that *an incredible promise* from God?

Folks, if we *start with this promise*, if we *arrange our lives around* God’s desires for us, *would it not be worth it to humble ourselves*, to repent of our self-centeredness and to *walk in obedience to His commands*?

Would it not be *worth it*?

There is *no way* that living to *please ourselves* will bring us even *a fraction of the rewards* that God is *offering us* here.

He will make *our righteousness* be *like a light* for other people.

He will *attach His glory* to our path.

He will *respond to our cry* for help.

He will *guide us* and *satisfy us* and *strengthen us*.

He will *cause life and encouragement to pour out on others* wherever we go.

He will *make it possible* for us to assist in *rebuilding lives* *and communities* to again be an honor to Him.

What an *incredible promise*!

And God *extends this promise to a rebellious people* and says, “*This is yours* if you *humble* yourselves, *repent* and *follow* the desires of My heart.”

And *immediately* Isaiah introduces a *new subject* while continuing to *expand on God’s promises*.

/13 //“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 //then *you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob*.”

The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

/

It’s as though *God* were *on a role*.

He was *painting a picture* of the life of His *faithful followers*.

It all started with a *serious rebuke* of a *selfish*, rude, *inconsiderate* and oppressive *people*.

He was calling them to *repent* and He wanted them to *see what life could be like*.

He was giving them *good reason to turn their backs* on their rebellious ways.

So, *without skipping a beat*, He launches into *additional benefits* for those who *honor His commandment* to call the *Sabbath a delight*.

Now, *one thing we know about God* is that *He sees the whole picture*.

We might *compartmentalize* our lives, but *God doesn’t*, nor does He want us to.