Isaiah 46-47
I Will Carry You
I Can Bear Your Burdens vs. 1-7
I Can Make You Righteous vs. 8-13
I Lift Up the Humble vs. 1-15
Intro: Castaway
Tom Hanks character is shipwrecked
Learns how to survive on a deserted island
Makes a raft and is recovered in the ocean, in the process loses Wilson
Comes home with everyone moved on in their lives
The movie ends with him delivering a package to a lady way out in the middle of Texas
You almost leave the movie with the thought that is was a commercial for Fed Ex
We will take care of your package until it gets to its destination
Sometimes it seems like we lose everything that is important until we realize that God is carrying us
We lose all those things we felt were important, people who we thought were close dessert, and we’re not quite sure how we are making it through everyday
Then God shows us that he was not only with us but carrying us the whole time
That is the message to the Israelites today
They are in captivity, everything they held dear has been wiped away, and they feel helpless
Then God tells them that they have been borne by Christ but even when you have gray hairs I will carry you
What an encouragement that God never desserts us but also works for us thru our whole life
Read Isaiah 46:1-4
Transition:
Legend has it that when Cyrus invaded Babylon the powers that be put their two idols on a cart pulled by two ox and headed them out of town so that they wouldn’t be taken
They didn't get very far and Cyrus apprehended them
Bel was the Babylonian sun god, and Nebo was his son, the god of writing and learning.
But both of them together could not stop Cyrus!
As the Babylonians fled from the enemy, they had to carry their gods; but their gods went into captivity with the prisoners of war!
God assures His people that He will carry them from the womb to the tomb
How comforting it is to know that our God cares for us before we are born, when we get old, and each moment in between!
Ps 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
I Can Bear Your Burdens Vs. 1-7
Vs. 1 Who are Bel and Nebo?
The Bible has already introduced us to them indirectly through the Babylonian names Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar.
Bel was the god of wisdom and Nebo was the god of strength
But God starts right off the bat and says these gods you have to carry
In a way he is asking the Israelites when have they carried Him?
Quite the opposite He has carried them
These great god’s of Babylon had to be carried out of the palace and put on carts to be pulled by animals
When it is all said an done they could not save Babylon and went into captivity
Isaiah sees the obvious. What’s that?
If a god has to be carried, how can it carry you? If a god can’t help itself, how can it help you?
If a god needs your strength, how can it strengthen you?
God often asks us how long we will trust in our own strength and wisdom?
How long are you going to try to carry your life?
The world is pretty impressed with its strength and wisdom
Strength isn't just physical but emotional, spiritual, and financial
We cheer on those who can persevere and make something of themselves
On the other hand we look down with pity on those who are weak
We will often feel compassion but many of the times it is intended to make us feel better
We also admire those who are smart and rightfully so
Knowledge is power in its own way and can get us farther than the average masses
Harvard did a study of its graduates and followed them for 20 years
They asked one simple question: "Do you have any goals?"
Only 13% of its students had goals
That means that 87% of the finest students in the country didn't have goals
Those who had goals accomplished 50-100% more in their life than those who didn't
So often times those who have the smarts aren't able to convert it into wisdom
Vs. 3 God says “Listen, I have carried you since you were born and I will carry you until you die
I have carried you since you were born
This blows thru the theory of God is waiting in the wings for us to call
He's right there waiting for us to get out of the way
So give me your burdens
Matt 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Come to me and learn from me
Vs. 5 Who do I compare to?
Did you have to lavish gold or pour out silver to have me made?
God really hits hard the point of people trying to buy their own happiness
We will spend whatever it takes for us to achieve some kind of peace
In Babylon they would hire a goldsmith to make them an idol and then they would fall down and worship it
Sounds crazy today but we still do the same thing
Think of the things that you have spent your money on hoping it would make you happy
The think of how you have become a servant to it
Maybe it’s your house
You thought the ultimate goal was to get a house because that is the American Way
Now you have a house no one told you it was going to take so much time and money to keep up
If it isn’t landscaping, it’s interior design.
If it isn't new appliances, it's the belt on the dryer
We HAD a dog, that dog destroyed my backyard
She would jump up my six foot fence and chew on the lip of the fence
My whole family said get a dog, I don’t want a dog, but it will be so much fun, ehhh…
Monday night at urgent care getting stitches in my daughter face… not so much fun
Vs. 7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it…If one cries to it, it doesn’t answer
Goes to show you that often what we put our time and money into never reciprocates
We have to carry it and it never returns the favor
My moms prescription drug addiction
My mom died 19 years ago from a blood clot after knee replacement
But before that she had a 25 year addiction to prescription drugs
I remember as a teenager her popping Prozac like it was candy
One time I went to pick up her prescriptions and the pharmacist said he had never seen someone with more prescriptions than my mom
There were a lot of theories why she had this addiction
The best one I could uncover was that my dad came back from Vietnam a different man
He just never treated my mom the same after that time
Being in the Air Force and all over the world my mom turned to white people drugs
So being in the air force it was easy for my mom to find some doctor who would give her antidepressants
One of my last memories of my mom was at the hospital and her personal care physician acting very nervous as he talked to my dad
The guy lost his license to practice not long after that
My mom thought these drugs could carry her through life and she had the appearance of a strong christian lady
I Can Make You Right Vs. 8-13
Vs. 8 Remember this, stand firm, you transgressors
Three things here:
1. Remember this
We have to remember that this is intended for those ready to come out of captivity
God is reminding them to focus on what he has done for them over the years
Remember the exodus? Remember Goliath? Remember the Assyrians?
I have accomplished great things for you and I will do it again
Forget your past and move forward
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
2. Stand Firm
This literally means not lose heart or give up
When things get bleak we often want to throw in the towel
Don't! Hang in there and watch God work
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
3. You're a sinner
Don't forget one thing... You're a sinner
Forget all the past sins but don't forget that you're a sinner in need of grace
This is all being done by God's good grace
We can't lose our humble place and forget who God is
Vs. 10 says "My counsel will stand and I will accomplish my will."
That means this prophecy is going to come true and whether you are cooperative or not I am going to accomplish what needs to be done
It is so much better when we heed God's word and get in line with his will
When we are out of sync with God it is like we are trying to swim upstream
That may work for salmon but it doesn't for Christians
Vs. 12 You Stubborn of Heart
After his assurances that God will prove that he is God by bearing us faithfully along, why does God confront us now as “rebels,” “stubborn of heart,” and “far from righteousness”?
Because we are. God’s people resist God’s blessing.
John Piper: I am astonished at people who say they believe in God but live as if happiness is found by giving him 2% of their attention.
He bears with us not because of us but in spite of us.
We like his promises, but we don’t like his methods.
But God has His righteousness nearby
Last week we saw Isaiah 45:22 which said look to me and be saved
That Salvation comes from Jesus Christ
But there is so much more
1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
God is building you into a house of righteousness
I Lift Up the Humble Vs. 1-15
Vs. 1-4 Sit in the dust
In this Chapter God continues his onslaught of Babylon
The once proud country will end up sitting in the dust
This was the lowest position of humility at this time
To sit in the dust either meant you were extremely poor and begging or you were mourning the loss of something and were expressing your humility outward
God is declaring that Babylon will be so humbled that they will sit in the dust
He did this to Nebuchanezzar when he turned him into an animal and he chewed the curd
God would prefer much more that we enter humbly instead of having to be humbled
Belshazzar had to be humbled because of his improper use of the holy utensils
He brought Cyrus into do this
God will often use life’s circumstances to humble us so he can get our attention
James 4:6-10 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Closing:
