Living in the Light
Isaiah 5:30
Introduction
- Last time discussed the vineyard and how we need to seek God in it
- We contrasted the show of ourselves against the focus on God
- Let’s unpack the remainder of Isaiah 5 to show three things …
- The state of the Nation, a calling to defend, what happens when God’s light is removed
- Stand and read verse 20-30 / Pray
State of the Nation (v1-7) (Recap)
- Remember that we need the spiritual rain of God in out lives … it is nourishment!
- The care of the Lord over the church is described by the mgmt of a vineyard
- The advantages of our situation will be brought into the account another day
- He planted it with the choicest vines; gave them a most excellent law, instituted proper ordinances. (APP: God expects fruit from those that enjoy privileges)
- There must be vineyard fruit; thoughts and affections, words and actions
- Without fruit there can be no signs of life; and without rain no life will grow
- APP: When God’s spirit departs, the removal of the Gospel shows in everything
- APP: Demonstrating that the “reign” we must submit to is God’s alone
Called to Defend
- Continuing with v20-30 – see how God’s word ties together OT and NT
- We are called to defend against the world, against the ways of the great deceiver
- God gives us these woes that we must be pay attention to as we fight
- 20: Compromise over living for God is to be avoided always
-- Rev 3:15-16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Church compromised w/ world)
- APP: There is never a good time to compromise what God says to us on living
- 21: Wise in their own sight
-- Prov 12:15, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
-- Prov 13:20, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
APP: An attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client …
Luke 6:46, “"Why do you call me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
James 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
- 22: Heroes at drinking (drunks) alcohol or playing drinking games
-- Eph 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
APP: Living right minded and sound for God produces a stable lifestyle
- 23: Acquit the guilty for a bribe (wheeling and dealing for self-preservation)
-- Rom 3:25, “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice …”
APP: This is perfect atonement for his justness – there is no other justice that we need to seek
- Something we must consider though in all of this – every sin that we commit requires another sin be done to cover it up (expound) Example: Lying …
- God requires us to be blameless (Psalm 101:2-3) … will we accept that calling
What Happens When God’s Light is Removed (v24-30)
- This is a hard word to hear and to preach, but it is necessary to see the mindset
- Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly (self deception is killing …)
- Sin weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the beauty, the blossoms of a people. It allows us to convince ourselves that “we’re ok” …
- When God’s word is despised, and his law cast away, what can men expect but that God should utterly abandon them?
- When God comes forth in wrath, the hills tremble, fear seizes even great men
- Challenge: As a church we must stand at all costs; never allowing ourselves to compromise
- When God designs the ruin of a provoking people, he can find instruments to be employed in it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, and the Romans, to destroy the Jews
- God is a merciful God, but He is a just God as well who will get His glory
- Challenge: People want to talk of the love of God, but do we live for that love?
- APP of verse 30: Those who would not hear the voice of God speaking by his prophets shall hear the voice of their enemies roaring against them.
- If God frowns upon us, how can any creature smile?
- If God removes his protection from our land and brings about darkness … EVERYTHING dies without sunlight
- Without light, there can be no flourishing and no life will grow – EVER!
- Note the application to last week and the need for rain to flourish life; now Isaiah is revealing that we may lose the light as well because of the “woes”
Conclusion
Here’s the tie into the New Testament and the importance of light:
1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
- We must live in the light at all costs – regardless of how we “feel” like living
- We must seek after the Father of Light and ensure He is guiding us
- Remember Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
- Are we living like it?
- Will we suffer the woes because we’ve not obeyed?
- Pray
