God’s People’s Response To His Judgment Series

Isaiah, Part 10

God’s People’s Response to His Judgment

Isaiah 24:1-23, Isaiah 25:1-12, and Isaiah 26:1-6

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad that you’ve chosen to worship with us

- Last week, we saw the future punishment of Satan, and the hope it does bring

-- REALIZE: If God would do this to one of His most beautiful, rebellious angels

-- How can we (also created by God) think that we won’t answer for our sin too?

- BIG APP: The punishment for ALL who go against God will be the same!

-- Our challenge is to get out of our own way; trust/follow only God

-- This is a lesson even the Israelites had to learn (the hard way)!

- Today, we look at Isaiah’s vision of God’s judgment and His people’s response

-- Note: Will read in pieces today to better understand & unpack the text / Pray

- TR: If you have read, we can summarize last 12 chapters in one simple phrase…

Point 1 – God’s Judgment on the Earth

- Read Isaiah 24:1-23

- Need us to understand the magnitude, and see the real burden, of Isaiah (heart of an evangelist)

-- What he has seen, is a coming day of which there will be no escape

-- But notice his acknowledgment of where all of this comes from …

- It will be administered by the Lord (vv24:1-3)

• God will bring this judgment on all who have rebelled against Him

• Note: This is personal: “LORD” (v1) signifies “YHVH”; His given name

• There will be none who are exempt from it (see the list in v2)

- It’s directed at pride-filled people because of their disobedience (vv4-6)

• APP: Sin will not be tolerated in the face of a righteous God forever

• This has burdened Isaiah’s heart since Chapter 6 (man of unclean lips…)

• Therefore, those who have rebelled against God will answer for it

• Pay close attention, again, covered in v2 … you can find yourself there!

- God’s judgment removes even song and drink (simple pleasures) (vv7-12)

• APP: Understand, God’s judgment (ending in hell) will not be a “party”

• Isaiah is seeing a destruction of everything, including creature comforts

• Each of us enjoy fellowship, but in this time even it will be no more

• Why? Mobs will take over the street & total chaos will reign! (vv11-12)

- Yet the remnant will be able to glorify the Lord in song (vv13-16a)

• God removes the ability to celebrate in song for the wicked

• However, the faithful to Him are still able to worship and to praise Him

• The reference of v13 is a perfect example for the aftermath of this

• Think: Harvest: there is always something left (fruit, etc.) on the vine

- Observation: Jesus told us later in John 15 that He is the vine:

• John 15:1-4, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

• APP: If we remain in Him we will bear much fruit – Isaiah exemplifies this

• Those who remain, are not harvested (cut off), will continue to produce!

• This means those faithful who remain are still able to do the things of God!

Cause:

- Isaiah speaks about being afflicted by God’s judgment (his burden) (vv16b-20)

• Tells them (clearly) the judgment will be inescapable and complete

• Uses the analogy of rain falling … when it rains, everything gets wet

• Even things under shelter eventually become damp and affected by it

Effect:

- See: Hope: Following the judgment of His rivals, the Lord will reign (vv21-23)

• God will punish those on the Earth and in the Heavens (Satan expelled)

• Even the proud (haughty) rulers of the Earth will not escape this (v22)

• They will be rounded up, put in prison, and punished for their evil deeds

• Even the sun will stop shining, the moon will grow dim during this

• But God will reign and rule in His Jerusalem (new city; promise; Rev 21)

• APP: In full view of all, He will be proclaimed Sovereign over everything!

- TR: Might ask, how will the faithful who remain (the remnant) respond?

Point 2 – They will sing songs of praise for God’s judgment!

- Read Isaiah 25:1-12