"The Foundation of Your Times"
Isa 33:5-6 … Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. NLT
INTRODUCTION
1. In the days of Isaiah (700 B.C.), the kingdom of Judah was
facing perilous times. Assyria was advancing from the north, conquering kingdom after kingdom. Even the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity
As Assyria drew near to Jerusalem, the people were undecided as to where to turn. Some advocated they give themselves up to the Assyrians. Others looked to the south, believing an alliance with Egypt would save them
God sent Isaiah to warn the people to do neither. The key to their salvation was to trust in the Lord, not man. The Lord would provide the stability they needed, when all seemed lost
In Isa 33:5-6 we find one such exhortation to put their trust in the Lord. Scripture speaks of wisdom and knowledge of the Lord as "the foundation of your times"
Though we are removed from the days of Isaiah by thousands of years. The counsel given by him still rings true! In troubled times, the Lord provides "The Foundation Of Your Times"!
To illustrate how this is true even today, let’s begin by noticing the
unstable condition of our times and the effect such instability can
have on people.
I. THE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS OF TODAY
A. WE FACE MANY DISTURBING THINGS IN LIFE...
1. Many are common in every age
Job 14:1 "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble
Sickness, Death, Natural disasters
2. Some may be peculiar to our day and age
Threat of biological war, environmental pollution, inflation, recession, unemployment, AIDS, cancer, heart disease, terrorism
B. THE AFFECT SUCH THINGS CAN HAVE...
For some, there is anxiety and fear. Others react with depression.
Even Christians can be affected as we murmur and complain or simply exist in a state of "joylessness"
C. YET SOME ARE NOT DISTURBED …
Even though they experience the same things which devastate others The same financial crises, diseases, uncertainties…
Somehow they still find cause for great joy and stability in their lives!
It is the LORD who provides our foundation for troubled times!
II. The foundation provided by the lord comes through wisdom and knowledge... "Wisdom and knowledge will be the foundation of your times"
Joke….How many Bricks = Search for Knowledge
While people were visiting a military school, they noticed several students on
their hands and knees assessing the courtyard with pencils and clipboards in
hand.
What are they doing?
A senior of the school said "Each year the upperclassmen ask the freshmen how
many bricks it took to finish this courtyard."
"So what is the answer?
The senior replied simply, "One."
Wisdom and knowledge of God can help us face Life:
Wisdom of the Bridge Builder
A story is told of two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into
conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by
side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a
hitch. Then the relationship fell apart.
It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference,
and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks
of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man
with a carpenter’s toolbox. "I’m looking for a few days work," he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here.
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the
creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor, in fact, it’s my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between, he took his bulldozer to the river
levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to
spite me, but I’ll go him one better. See that pile of lumber over by the
barn? I want you to build me a fence --an 8-foot fence -- so I won’t need
to see his place anymore.
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails
and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter
get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter
worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the
farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes
opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence at all. It was a
bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A
fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger
brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow
to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done."
The two brothers met at the middle of the bridge, taking each other’s hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No,
wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you," said the
older brother.
"I’d love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have so many more bridges
to build."
Wisdom will also guide and protect you from the pitfalls of life.
Prov 2:1-7… My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
b. Wisdom will provide comfort and confidence in times of turmoil
Prov 3:21-26… Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence,
God is willing to provide such wisdom to those willing to look to Him! –
James 1:5-8… If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
B. Our stability of the times also comes through salvation...
Salvation is a clear issue frond in scripture but we tend to be like the "Frank and Ernest" cartoon in which:
A lawyer and his client are sitting in the law office and the client says to him, "The question of right and wrong is very clear. I want you to cloud it up for me."
2. The salvation of the Lord can help us face DEATH
a. If we know the Lord will save us in eternity, we can better
face the adverse circumstances of this life
b. Consider the example of Paul:
1) He had a strong hope - 2 Co 5:1,5-8
2) His attitude because of that hope
2 Cor 4:16-5:1… Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Rom 8:31-39… What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Yes, the wisdom, knowledge, and salvation found only in the Lord
provides the foundation we need for our times!
III. THE KEY TO THIS FOUNDATION IS "THE FEAR OF THE LORD"...
Prov 1:7… The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction. NKJV
Prov 9:10…"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
Why is the fear of the lord so necessary...
1. "...by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil"
Prov 16:6… By loving kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
The fear of the Lord is a reverence for God and His righteous judgments This fear becomes an effective motivation to depart from evil and turn to God!
"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence...a place of refuge" Prov 14:26… He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
When we turn to God, the fear of the Lord becomes a source of great blessings!
Ps 33:18-34:1…But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
b. Such as wisdom, knowledge, salvation, confidence, refuge;
indeed "the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life"!
Prov 14:27…
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
CONCLUSION
Those who lack a foundation in troubled times do so because they lack the wisdom, knowledge, and salvation of the Lord. They lack these things because they do not have the fear of the Lord!
A proper fear of the Lord would prompt them to turn from evil and turn to God...
a. Where they would find His knowledge, wisdom, and salvation
b. Which in turn would provide "The Foundation Of Your Times"!
3. With such stability, we can rightly say along with the writer to the
Hebrews:
"The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
(He 13:6)
Why not let the Lord provide you with the foundation necessary for troubled times?
