ISAIAH 57: 14-21
PROMISED BLESSING
Here the Lord promises forgiveness and reviving and so much more to His humbled, repentant people. This section many be an elaboration upon the promise in the last part of verse 13. "But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and will possess My holy mountain." [The possession of the land is the historical symbol of the highest blessings God reserves for His obedient believers, here but especially hereafter.-Alexander] The passage reveals what God will do for those who take refuge in Him. God promises to revive, lead, heal and encourage His humbled people by doing for them what they cannot do for themselves. He enables us to be the righteous people He has called us to be. God is a trustworthy refuge for people who truthfully seek Him.
I. REVIVAL PREPARATION, 14-16.
II. PUMMELED FOR GREED, 17.
III. THE HUMBLED HEALED, 18-19.
IV. THE WICKED IN TURMOIL, 20-21.
Verse 14 is a promised straighten and clearing of the way to God. And it will be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people."
The exhortation to prepare a road for the people of faith recalls 40:3-5 which speaks of a road being prepared for the Lord. The preparation makes it possible for the people to return to God. Whatever prevents them from coming to Him and taking refuge in Him is to be taken out of the way. Now the journey to the Lord by the faithful is to be undertaken.
The familiar language of highway building describes a roadbed being raised up above the surrounding countryside. This solid foundation not only gives it greater permanence but also less severe hills and valleys. All the boulders and ravines will be removed from it so that nothing can stand in the people’s way.
Previously their were obstacles in the way to God . He wanted His people to accept the obstacles in their path and continue to trust their God (8:14). One day ever impediment on their path to the promised land of heaven will be removed. Nothing will be allowed to stand in the way.
The use of stumbling block is significant. Unless you get on the way to God He prepares the stumbling blocks will be agonizingly prolific in your life journey.
[Let me share with you 3 stumbling blocks to look for if you’re going to reach the Christian life while still on journey with God.
(1) An unforgiven offense. Jesus said, "If you do not forgive, neither will your Father...forgive your trespasses" (Mk 11:26). Forgiving others isn’t an option - it’s an order! When the mention of somebody creates resentment in you, pray for them immediately. Say, "Father, I forgive them as You’ve forgiven me. Whatever I ask for myself in blessing, I ask for them in double measure." Go ahead, do it! When you retaliate you deny God the right to show mercy and deal with the situation His way. Quit asking for revenge! You’ve received mercy - pass it on!
(2) An unwise relationship. Paul said, "Bad company ruins good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33). Whoever doesn’t increase you will eventually decrease you. You chose the level of spiritually you want to live on. If you give your time to those who’re not worthy of it, don’t complain. Start becoming more selective! Choose your friends from among those who share your spiritual values and understand your God-given purpose. .
(3) An uncommitted heart. Paul said, "I’m not saying that I have this all together . . . but I’ve got my eye on the goal" (Phil. 3: 13-14 TM). A committed heart is a decided heart; it’s the result of a made-up mind! That explains what sets certain people apart from the crowd. Get involved today in something great! Give yourself to something you really believe in! Make a commitment to God right now - and move forward!]
Verse 15 explains why one can find a prepared way to the Lord. It is one of the greatest one sentence summations of theology in the Bible. For thus says the high and exalted One, Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Repentant people can come to the Lord because of who He is and what He has done.
First, God is the High and Exalted One. Language staggers under the weight of the magnitude of the burden laid upon it to describe our great and mighty God. He is transcendent. He is not part of the space of this world or universe. Nor is He part of time; He lives forever. God dwelt in eternity in the aeons and ages before creation and will dwell in the great consummation of the aeons that are yet to come. He is ageless and unchanging. Nor is He part of our fallenness. He is holy.
The second point is an unexpected contrast to the first. Even through He is majestic (high and lofty; 6:1), eternal, and holy (6:3), He finds fellowship (lives) with those who are contrite (broken) and lowly (humble) in spirit (66:2). He dwells with people who realize they have no hope of coming to such a God on their own. They are those who are will to take the way of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. (Jn. 14:6).
The third point of the verse is the reason He dwells with us: in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. He dwells with these because they had sustained blows, sorrows and hurts in His service. He offers life and relationship to those whose life has all but been broken or crushed, to those whose spirit has been humbled.
Look to the Lord you broken by sin and the weariness of life. Look to God you humbled in heart because of the calamities and tragedies of life. God promises He will revive your hopes and dreams and show you the way to a new day as you walk with Him on His pilgrim pathway.
I’m distressed that so many sermons and books today are exclusively devoted to techniques on how to help people cope successfully with life’s temporary pains, problems, and struggles. There is a place, of course, for preaching on felt needs and for "how-to" books. But without teaching people the great biblical truths of God, His power, His sovereignty, His grace, and His salvation through Christ, they get no help in building a solid spiritual foundation for their lives.
When we learn and accept great theological truths, we have a sound basis for a godly life. Once we come to know and understand the Lord, whom Isaiah called "the High and Lofty One," we gain direction and stability in life which is essential for any difficulty we may encounter.
But what is usually suggested first when a marriage is falling apart? See a marriage counselor. Get into group therapy. Read a popular book on success in marriage. These approaches have some merit, but the first step in solving any problem is to make sure we have a right relationship with God, and then seek His wisdom. Many books can inform, but only the Bible can transform.
Lord, help us to look to You and Your Word as the 1st step in solving our problems.
Verse16 is a longed for promise for those experiencing the just dealings of God. "For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry. For the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath (of those whom) I have made.
Though the people under discipline challenged the fact, God’s contentions and anger do not last forever. Because of His grace and man’s weakness He holds back the justified punishment of His people. Though He is eternal, His anger is not. God becomes angry with sin and sinners but His eternal nature is love.
God exercises restrain because of the frailty of man’s spirit. Who could withstand the justice of God against our sins? Only Jesus. Bless His dear name.
II. PUMMELED FOR GREED, 17.
God describes why His anger was provoked. Divine anger always has a justified cause. Verse 17 states it was the covetousness and greed of His people. "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him. I hid My face and was angry, and he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.
It was necessary that Israel be disciplined and even punished because of their covetousness and backsliding. Greed is the out of controll desire to have more of everything (Jer. 6:13). Unbridled selfishness wants to draw all things self-ward. It is the attempt to find security in enough power, wealth, possessions and pleasures.
God hiding His face denotes obscuring His relationship and wisdom from them. This separation of God’s relationship from them didn’t even faze them. The NIV says "he kept on in his willful ways." Their heart continued getting further and further from the heart of God. To make matters worse, they didn’t even know it, because they didn’t even care.
III. THE HUMBLED HEALED, 18-19.
Verse 18 is all about the grace of God. "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
Despite their sinful ways God will open the way to Himself. They were living lost in thick darkness. They were helpless to heal themselves. In the past He had to be harsh with His people because of their greed and independence. But when they, or any one else, repent, God forgives them. The result of God’s forgiveness is experiencing His healing, guidance, and comfort.
The offer of unmerited favor is a greater motivation than the threat of deserved destruction to those who realize their situation. God makes just such an offer. Healing, guidance, restoration and comfort is offered to those who will mourn over the distance of their relationship to God. Bless God that He does not give up on me, and He will not give up on you.
God pronounces a blessing upon His humbled repentant people in verse19. Creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near," Says the Lord, "and I will heal him."
Our words and life should be like fruit. Fruit is the reason behind a tree’s growth and care. Is it not also to bear fruit that we have been redeemed and cultivated by God? Fruit reveals the nature of its parent tree; and is there anything that more quickly shows what we are than our talk? ["By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."] Fruit, when it is ripe, is nourishing and sweet to the taste. The ultimate design of the tree though is to secure its propagation through its seed. So the reason for our wit, or laughter, or common sense, or knowledge, or wisdom of our life and words, should be the aim of sowing in others the words of eternal life.
How often, when we get into conversation or activity with comparative strangers or our friends, we are at a loss to turn it to the right direction. Then, let us lift our thoughts to God and say, "Create in me now the right word, which will refresh and help those whom I meet."
Since we are here for prayer let’s apply it here also. In prayer we may ask that God create the petitions which our lips offer. You feel that you cannot pray as you would like. Now, put away the straining and striving which have robbed your quiet times of their full blessing. Kneel before God in the utter stillness of your spirit, and ask Him to create supplications, intercessions, and worship, on your lips. Dare to believe that He is doing this, and be assured that the most broken utterances, which He has created and given, are sweeter to Him than the most ornate ritual.
God’s answer to those who so seek Him will always be one of peace. "Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near." Peace is the glorious proclamation of reconciliation with God. Through Christ’s sacrifice God offers peace to the world.
IV. THE WICKED IN TURMOIL, 20-21.
God not only encourages the humble and repentant, He warns the wicked. Verse 20 states the personal results of a wicked lifestyle. But the wicked are like the tossing sea. For it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud.
Lives dominated by greed are in constant upheaval. Their lives are like the driven sea. They are constantly in motion even on the calmest day. Like the churning sea tosses up refuse and mud so the ungodly heart tosses out thoughts, words and works that are rubbish and filth.
God’s promise for the wicked is found in verse 21. "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Peace is not automatic. There is no peace for those who do not submit to God because their own sins hound them (Num. 32:23). It is the forgiven ones who enjoy peace . . . but the wicked have no rest (v. 20) and no peace (48:22). Even worse they are doomed for punishment because they refuse to turn to the Lord.
Peace is not in us and we cannot produce it no matter how hard we try. Peace is only to be found when we give ourselves away to the will and ways of the One who is constant. He is the Prince of Peace.
CONCLUSION / TIME OF RESPONSE
God wants all people to come to Him for refuge. They can only do so when they have made their peace with Him, when they acknowledge Him as the one true God and dedicated themselves to live life in His way and not in the selfish materialistic way of the world.
From an unknown source comes an article titled, "How To Be Miserable." It says, "Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use ’I’ as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others."
Seeing ourselves as the center of the universe leads to misery. We weren’t made to be the focus of our own attention. According to today’s Scripture reading, we were made to give our hearts to "the High and Lofty One," who lives with those who have a contrite and humble spirit. He brings comfort and peace to those who sense their need of Him.
Lord, help us to turn our thoughts away from ourselves and focus our attention on You, the only source of true and lasting peace. -Mark De Haan II
Self-centeredness brings misery,
A proud heart brings much pain;
But those with true humility
A lasting peace will gain. -Sper
A person is never so empty as when he is full of self.
