Isaiah, Part 13
Woe to Those who Rely on the World!
Isaiah 31:1-9
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad you have chosen to be here today!
-- Last week, we looked at the setup of this chapter (Ch 30)
-- Saw God’s displeasure with humanity – bonus: the why was given to us
- Isaiah showed us God’s calling to the rebellious: (30:v15)
• To repent and rest – this is the result of salvation (comfort)
• If not, be called out for resisting – it’s why they are judged (cause/effect)
- Yet, we saw the most common response to God: (30:v16)
• They rejected God’s invitation (“have none of it”), and,
• They trusted the strength of mankind (“get our help from Egypt”)
- Consequence is simple: Complete defeat of all they love (hopeless) (30:v17)
- Today, Isaiah expounds on this for us to understand and apply
• Want you to know something: we must work to focus on God
• To choose Him while the world tells us their way are better / reliable
• Ch 31 is the amplification of what happens when we choose ourselves
- Read Isaiah 31:1-9 / PRAY
Point 1 – Our trust must be placed in God
- Placing our trust, in whatever we can do, is a dangerous path
-- Trust in religion, technology, a machine, or even people … can be disastrous
-- Consider: You need to get to a hospital but someone gives wrong directions
- The Psalmist knew the strength of choosing God: Psalm 20:7, “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”
-- Our lesson: We must consider what we trust in before we follow!
-- APP: If we want to succeed, the focus of our trust must be trustworthy!
- For our application, Egypt can be a representation of “the world” (v1)
-- Their strong government, money, traditions, and beliefs are all man-made
-- Which means: the ungodly, unwise, and unscriptural are in their thinking
- Can we trust in people? YES – if they are leading you to the Lord!
• To test this is very simple: Do they live up to God’s Word?
• Not how we ‘feel like’ it reads, but what it says and directs us to do!
• Test Example: God has never said that our sin is ‘ok’! Sin is still sin!
- BIG: This is why the Church must hold firm to the Word of God
-- OUR MISSION (picture): “Love God, Love People, Make Disciples”
• Loving God is our choosing Him first
• Loving People means love them enough to tell them the truth
• Making Disciples is our job, our ministry, and must be our focus!
• If we are not bringing people to Jesus, we would we do something?
- Believers must be certain that the only thing we can trust in IS God
-- However, often we have a gap between knowing and doing (execution is weak)
-- APP: This is precisely what Isaiah drives at in Chapter 31
- SEE: God issues a two-fold indictment against the people of Judah:
• First, they willingly chose to not trust in Him (“woe”)
• Second, they did not seek God’s help when they needed it
- Now, consider – how often do we turn to the Lord second, third, fourth … ?
-- When the challenges arise, why is He not our first call? To run to Him?
-- This is exactly what His people (Judah) have done … hence, Isaiah’s rebuke
- TR: So, take a look at the warning to the people … God is very clear here …
Point 2 – To choose the world is to deny God
- Note the words of verses 2 through 5 … very telling of how people behave
-- But note, God is very clear of the results of choosing our ways over His
-- It is so clear that we have 5 ways to be encouraged (even today)
1. The Lord will prove that His wisdom is better (v2a)
- God warns them that Egypt is not going to rescue them, but will enslave them
-- APP: He tells them exactly what the future looks like by depending on them!
2. The Lord promises to keep His word (v2b)
- Bible says evildoers will be judged; all those who oppose God will answer
-- This same warning was given to the people of Judah through Moses years earlier
-- Homework is: Deuteronomy 28:1-68 (FYI: ONLY first 14 verses are blessings)
3. The Lord will destroy the wicked and their partners (v3)
- RE: These armies are only men – they are human; temporary adversaries
4. The Lord will return to Mt Zion to fight His enemies (v4)
- SEE: This is a personal promise (threat): God will do battle with His enemies!
-- APP: All who have opposed the Lord will one day have to face His wrath
5. The Lord promises to protect Jerusalem (His people) (v5)
- He says He will save a remnant; acting like a shield over them
-- This remnant would bring about the Messiah – His promise of rescue!
-- This can only mean that there will be some who will survive (the faithful)
-- RE: Ch 11:1 – “out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot …”
- Consider: How many of us go about our day-to-day things and ignore God?
-- This is exactly what the people of Judah are doing:
• Cause: They are not turning to God, instead are seeking their own wisdom
• Effect: And in that choice, God promises they will not be victorious
- TR: God gives His people an invitation – the same one we have today:
Point 3 – ACTION: We must choose to depend on God!
- The invitation is simple: “repent from your sinful ways!” We’ve seen this before:
-- Acts 17:30, “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.”
- SEE: What is the evidence repentance has taken place? CHANGE!
-- It is a spiritual, physical, and mental choice to stop our sinful behaviors
- TALK: It’s actual change – not pretend change that we do for ‘public relations’
-- It is change that the sin you were living in no longer holds you hostage!
- APP: v7 is telling us that if we will do that, we have this promise:
-- When He returns we will be found following Him and not our fake idols!
-- This is the greatest mistake we can make: trusting in our things for HOPE!
- FACT: When we trust in God, we receive the assurance of God’s future: (v8)
• Enemies will be defeated; we won’t be conquered by those who oppose us
• Our enemies will panic and flee from terror; God’s authority will defend us
• Why? Because of God’s great authority – He is in charge of all things!
BIG IDEA
- God is calling everyone everywhere to repent – to turn to Him – to seek Him!
-- Another way: To be faithful to Him and not rest in our own devices
- Life is uncertain; no person is guaranteed another day on this Earth
-- But in order to receive His forgiveness you must surrender to Him!
- KNOW: We cannot always count on there being “time” to repent!
-- APP: God even told Noah there would only be a short time before the flood
-- Where? Think of Genesis 6:3: “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
-- If God would tell Noah that, how can we think He doesn’t have a timeline now?
- And today, all we have is one simple word to look forward to: “soon”
-- Revelation 22:20, “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (look at John’s words) Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
- CHALL: When He does return, how will you be found? Faithful or Rebellious?
-- If you are pretending then you are not His! Unfaithful? Not His.
-- Sin-ridden and trying to be in charge? Not His. Deceived? Not His!
- This is why these words can be and should be so timely for humanity today
-- None of us knows when He will return or when will be face to face with Him
-- YES – God loves you, so much His Son died for you … but are you His?
-- The end of v9 talks about the furnace, that is Gehenna (last week) – it is ready
-- Take this time right here and now to repent … it is what God calls us to do now!
- Pray
