SLIDE 1
Sanctuary
Isaiah 8:11-22
Pictures of God This Christmas Part 2
SLIDE 2
There are news accounts of illegal immigrants trying to use churches and/or cities as “sanctuaries.” They stay in these cities or churches in order to avoid deportation to their native country, or worse, jail. While it is a very hot topic in politics, there are places in the Old Testament where cities of refuge were available. Sanctuaries are sacred places of protection. Sanctuaries are holy places where God is honored.
SLIDE 3
When someone thinks of a sanctuary, it can generally have two meanings:
1. Protection from an enemy because one feels safe.
2. Place where one devotes their life to someone.
SLIDE 4
You are to regard only the LORD of Hosts as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe. He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, He will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 8:13-14 HCSB)
This is the main point in this passage for the people of Israel. They are at a crossroads. Isaiah was told by God that there would be a son born, and that the Assyrian army would invade Israel. But God promised protection to His people.
Either God will be a place of protection for those who place their trust in Him.
OR
God will be a stone over which people would stumble, falling into destruction.
So the picture we get here is a God who can protect you or destroy you. Either He is a refuge of protection, a sanctuary, or He is a stone over which you could hurt yourself. So there are two distinct images or pictures of Jesus in this passage. To those who trust Him, He will be a sanctuary. To those who do not trust Him, He is a stone over which you will fall and destroy yourself.
SLIDES 5 and 6
PLACE TWO SLIDES ABOUT SANCTUARIES AND STONES.
SLIDE 7
We know that the Lord of Hosts is Jesus, because this verse is quoted by Peter and Paul.
That is why Scripture says, "I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in him will never be ashamed." This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don't believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive." The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.
(1 Peter 2:6-8 GW)
SLIDE 8
As Scripture says, "I am placing a rock in Zion that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive. Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed."
(Romans 9:33 GW)
So both Peter and Paul, quoting part of Isaiah 8:14, say that Jesus is the person that people will either find offensive, stumble and fall to their destruction, or He will be a person in Whom they will put their trust.
SLIDE 9
Simeon the prophet says essentially the same thing to the parents of Jesus, just after His birth.
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, "This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...
(Luke 2:34-35 NLT)
So, Christmas can be a time in which we find sanctuary, or a time in which we will be stumbling all over ourselves trying to get through it all.
It is all about ATTITUDE:
The imagery in verse fourteen is a man fleeing the coming judgment. If the man is a believer and fleeing in time of trouble the altar will be a sanctuary, the place where he meets God in salvation and security. However, if he is an unbeliever who has no time for God, then the altar is only a heap of stones to strike and stumble over. Look how Isaiah reinforced the thought of salvation and judgment in verses 13-15.
It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.
However, for those who refuse to trust in Yahweh He will be a stone of stumbling that will crush them in judgment. Verse fifteen says God will set for the people not only a rock to crush them but a spring loaded bird trap to snare them. Because of the stone many will stumble, fall and be crushed. They will be completely destroyed.
The purpose of the "stone, a tried stone, a precious corner–stone" is a foundation that gives stability and security to the believer. How can the chief corner stone become the stumbling stone and rock of offense? "They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they are also appointed," writes Peter (1 Peter 2:8).
SLIDE 10 – Jesus will our sanctuary.
The admonition is clear, sanctify yourselves and the LORD will be to you a sanctuary. If you sanctify Him, He will be a sanctuary for you. He will be your salvation and security.
Christmas time will test whether Jesus is a sanctuary for you, or a stone that will cause you to fall. Christmas time can be such a stressful time. If we are not careful, we will start to look to other places for sanctuary – for refuge and protection.
Some will look for protection in various strange ways. This is what is described later in the chapter. The people in Isaiah's time were searching for protection in all the wrong places. Isaiah's answer to their search is a classic answer, even for today:
And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
(Isaiah 8:19 NKJV)
So why are you trying to find out the future by consulting mediums and psychics? Do not listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living find out the future from the dead? Why not ask your God?
(Isaiah 8:19 NLT)
I find this verse the most compelling reason to seek our safety and protection in Christ. People will go looking for other places to find the answers to many questions this Christmas:
1. Can I pay the bills this month?
2. Will I be able to handle the relatives that will be coming next week for a visit?
3. Can I find the time to spend with my family during this season?
4. Will I be able to have the strength to make it through the rest of the year?
5. Is my husband/wife, son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter going to come back from Iraq?
Where am I going to find the peace and contentment that I am looking for? Who can I trust to help me in times of difficulty?
Some people will want to look for answers in many different places.
They look for safety in a bottle of beer.
They look for answers on a psychic hotline.
They drown themselves in debt hoping that the “gifts” they buy for themselves will be enough protection against the pain that they feel.
But we are called to share with them the real Person who can help them with their difficulties. And it isn't going to be easy. Because as Christians, we tend to use the church as a sanctuary only for ourselves. But God calls the sanctuary a holy place. The sanctuary is not for our protection away from other people. The sanctuary is the place where we meet God. So, the sanctuary should be a place where we can invite people to find God.
And if we believe that Jesus is the one we trust, then we need to do our best to let Jesus make the message a sanctuary for those who are seeking Him. Many times, we spend so much time “throwing stones” at other people because of the way they behave, or the way we think they should behave and they are not doing – that we make the Cornerstone an offense.
ACTIVITY – Take a bucket of stones and get ready to throw them at someone.
Well, we don't make the Cornerstone an offense. We should make Him our sanctuary. He will be offensive enough for those who have bitter and hardened hearts. We just need to be looking for those who need a sanctuary.
SLIDE 11
So, when we look at this image again – the image of the sanctuary, we find that Christmas is about inviting. Our attitude should be as someone who wants to invite others to come to the sanctuary. We don't need to spend our time throwing stones this Christmas. We will see enough of that around us already.
While we know that other people will look for other places to find sanctuary, we can invite them to come to Jesus Christ. It will take an honesty with other people that says: Look, here I am and I am not perfect. However, I know someone who is and I find my answers in Him. Will you come join me?
OR
You will see someone who is looking for other places to find answers. You can invite them to seek answers by looking to the One who is Living.
We are a living sanctuary, not made of stones, but of precious lives. The building that God wants us to build is restored lives and repentant hearts. He wants us to invite others who need God to come and enter this sanctuary. The support of Jesus Christ, along with the church will be a testimony that will help people who need God to come to His Word. Our lives testify that God's Word is true and useful in helping everyone live the life that God wants.
