Isaiah, Part 3
God’s judgment against a Rebellious Nation
Isaiah 3:1-22 and Isaiah 4:1-6
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad that you’ve come to worship with us!
- Last week, we saw a very simple encouragement: God wanted us to:
• Avoid the things that would bring us to destruction, and instead,
• Choose/desire what He offers (re: He gave domain over His world; peace!)
-- CHALL: To realize the things we “treasure” are nothing compared to God
- Continuing this week, Isaiah shows us the condition of the nation of Israel
-- RE: Chapters 2 to 5 contain wisdom/instruction for the present (and our future)
-- APP: Judah’s residents were being forsaken by God because of their rebellion
-- Pray
- TR: When a nation God blesses decides to rebel, He will not allow it to continue
-- This is the message Isaiah gives to the world he knows; and it’s valid for us also
Point 1 – God will remove His protection from a rebellious nation
- Know this: God will not allow His creation to rebel forever – this is a tough truth
- Read Isaiah 3:1-15
- Summary: God will remove a rebellious nation’s provisions & protection!
• Everything they need to survive will be taken away (v1)
• Even everything they depend on for protection and security (v2-3)
• APP: Leading to foolish decisions (ex: ‘boys’ called as leaders) (v5)
-- As sinful choices run rampant - SEE this: God will not come to their rescue
-- Ask: Is He a loving God? Absolutely, but He’s not going to applaud your sin!
- Why is this happening? Judah practiced/enjoyed total wickedness, daily!
• Even (v8): “they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey Him”
• APP: They are proud of their sin; displaying it for all the world to see
• SEE: They forced people to accept sin; to give it credibility; to welcome it
-- BIG: When God speaks, we cannot miss His words: talking about Sodom (v9)
- (homework) Gen 18 & 19 gives us the clearer picture of God’s comparison
• Even Abraham pleaded with God to have mercy; to seek out the righteous
• RE: Lot (his nephew) and his family lived there; knew they lived for God
• Yet, God’s decision was clear: He was going to correct this behavior
• BIG: Never forget that this is the same God today – his direction is the same
- Ezekiel 16:50 adds that their sinful choices were loathsome before the Lord: “They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.”
-- Other text uses the word abomination (Lev 18:22); reprehensible to God
-- Hebrew: toebah (to-ay-baw); abomination; a detestable thing
-- Don’t miss: What they are doing is a full-on assault of God’s intent for creation
- Now … Let me be very clear here:
• I did not write this, which means I cannot absolve it OR soften it for us
• Yes, sin can be forgiven, but only through the redemption we have in Jesus
• God’s word is very clear – we’ve seen the result of these sins against Him
- FREE: However, this is not the only sins we commit that are detestable (pride)
-- Consider: We can use grace to sin: by justifying our behavior to be judgmental
-- EX: We cannot use God’s grace as an excuse to be sinful towards others
-- So, before we go getting high and mighty – must consider the entire text
- APP: (warning) These things bring destruction – woe to a nation that allows it
• Hope: But the righteous will be cared for – they will be rewarded (10-11)
• The godly will be provided for – they will earn a rich reward (Heaven)
• The wicked are doomed – they will get what they deserve (punishment)
-- BIG: It means our actions, even our prideful spite, come be under His authority
- They will not be allowed to live like they want – they will have to make a choice
-- This is what Isaiah is pleading with Judah over, and I am pleading with you now
-- TR: Consider how we live, we love, we minister … it DOES matter!! Why?
Point 2 – God’s judgment will ruin a nation’s survivability
- God’s judgement will not be spared; even for those who think they are “good”
-- Remember last week’s homework (Mark 10)? “Who is good?” Only God!
- Read Isaiah 3:16 – 4:1
- Don’t miss the description (v16) of how they live before God: Prideful (haughty)
• Craning her neck; flirting with her eyes, lovely jewelry adorns her outwardly
• A representation of the spiritual health of a nation trapped in sinful behavior
- God’s response? They will lose everything that they hold near and dear
• The ornaments, the appearance of wealth, the designer name brands
• Shame will replace what was once a beautiful and respected nation
• God’s lovely nation will be stripped of its worth before the world (v18…)
- Even its women will struggle (4:1) for survival in this new world
-- Why? The men have been killed in battle (v3:1-3), they’ve lost their providers
- Now, before you come for me: marriage was highly regarded here
-- To be old and unmarried (diff. from widowed) was a sign of societal outcast
-- However, we must see the parallel …if a nation loses all its value, what’s left?
- Lesson for Seasons: How can we think we might escape this judgment also?
• FACT: America isn’t even listed in the end times (see Revelation study)
• But … somehow we just glaze over this and not allow it to change us?
• Or worse: we read / study it and choose to ignore what God says?
- Hard truth: Our sin is a stench in the nostrils of God; its why we need Jesus!
-- We needed Jesus, who died for these sins, to avoid the judgment of God!
-- To avoid the punishment that will bring us to ruin and shame us before the world
- TR: Believe we have to ask ourselves … is it ALL bad news? Absolutely not!
Point 3 – God provides mercy and rescue for those He loves
- Please don’t leave here today with anger in your heart - see what God offers us
-- Must realize what God allows us to experience if we will choose His Son
- Read Isaiah 4:2-6
- Don’t miss: God’s for of rescue is called the Branch of the Lord (v2)
-- He will be ‘beautiful and glorious’; a welcome sight; the rescuer we need
-- Picture (rescue): See it like rescuing a drowning person from raging waters
• This comes on the day of His return: a day promised to all who believe
• It is a day of rescue and redemption for those whose sins are forgiven
- Note for you to consider: God’s Messiah is often depicted as a branch; stability
-- Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Jesse is father of King David in lineage of Christ (Matt 1)
-- Jeremiah 23:5, “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
Big Idea
- There will be blessings for the rescued – which brings hope to those who are His
• Those who survive will prosper; they will see rescue & will dwell with Him
• They will live in a place of peace; comfort; safe from God’s judgment (v3)
• Even the land (the Earth) will once again be appealing and pleasant (v4)
• Why? Because once judgment has come, the remnant will be holy and pure
-- We will be provided for: shade (comfort) by day and fire (warmth) by night (v5)
- FACT: The comfort and provision we need comes in the promised Messiah
-- RE: Jesus said to us: John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
- Why can Jesus say this? Because He has told them/us that He IS our rescuer!
-- John 14:6-7, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
- What you do with this instruction is very clear about how you choose to live
-- What you do with the offer/rescue Jesus provides is also telling (esp. to God!)
- CH: Jesus is either your Lord or your convenience & we must settle this now
-- Judah did not have Jesus (only a promise); now, He has become our only way!
-- What will you do with the warning Isaiah gives of what is coming for rebellion?
- Pray
