21 August 2005
by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Busan, Korea (Ulchi Focus Lens Exercise)
Isaiah 57:14-21 (NIV)
Big Idea: God lives with those who are humble and have a contrite heart.
REFERENCES: Isaiah 57:1-21; Hebrew 12:1-10; Lamentation:33-34;
Psalms 51:17 (The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise); ; Isaiah 66:2; Psalms 34:18 (The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit); 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (The account of David being addressed by Nathan the prophet).
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: ISAIAH 57:14-21
II. READ THE PERICOPE: ISAIAH 57: 14-21
III. READ THE TEXT: ISAIAH 57:15b (I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God dwells with those who are humble and have a contrite heart.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “What is a Contrite Spirit?”
INTRODUCTION: It’s really great seeing you here. I’m quite aware of the sacrifice that you have been made to be in attendance so early, as soldiers on deployment to Busan – away from your friends and families in Waegan and Daegu, South Korea - in order to be here this morning. God bless you all.
This morning, I feel led to address something that is different. Different in the sense that we don’t often address it from the pulpit. But, I believe its needed. For you see, there are incidents of it occurring in the Bible, and I would like to – for a brief period of time – address the subject matter. More specifically, what is a contrite spirit? What does God’s Word say about it?
For who can ever forget the story of David and Bathsheba? Most of us can readily recall the account of David looking from his balcony to see a beautiful married woman bathing in the nude. I don’t have to go in details because I’m sure you recall what happened next.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 1: What you probably don’t recall is the accounts that followed their acts of
lust.
a. Such as how David tired to cover-down on his tracts.
b. For you don’t you remember, David (the O-6 Commander) tried to convince PFC Uriah to leave his Command Post and go spend time with his wife – and when that didn’t work; David request Uriah to return to the field where his platoon was located.
c. I’m sure he embellished Uriah’s return a little by perhaps saying how much the troopers were beginning to miss Uriah’s presence in the midst of the war.
d. Afterwards, he called his Command Sergeant Major into his Command Post, and instructed him to place Uriah on the front-line of the war.
e. No doubt, the Command Sergeant Major reminded the commander that PFC Uriah was fresh out of A.I.T. (Advance Individual Training); and he couldn’t possibly be ready for the front line. Nevertheless, Colonel David insisted.
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 2: Shortly after ordering PFC Uriah to the front-line of the battle – the obvious happened – Uriah was killed.
a. In David’s mind he could now relax because the only person who could possibly find out about his indiscretion was dead.
b. Bathsheba wouldn’t dare tell of this indiscretion – no doubt - because of the judical punishment that she would be subjecting to herself to; and Uriah was dead. David was a happy man and momentarily it looked as though he covered all of his tracts.
c. One of the following scenes we fall upon is the scene when the unit chaplain is making his rounds and distributing Carebars (chocolate candy bars) to the soldiers in the unit, when he ran into Colonel David.
d. In their brief small talk of a conversation, Colonel David asked his chaplain, if he had a “Word for Today”.
e. He shared with his commander a “Word for Today”.
*****TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 3: Don’t you recall?
a. Chaplain Nathan shared the story of a rich and wealthy man taking a poor man only lamb.
b. It was such a powerful story that Colonel David was outraged and demanded to know if this was an actual account.
c. Nathan told him that it was an actual account; And, his commander ordered him to tell him the man’s name; and he did.
d. Later, we find David was devastated by the gospel according to Nathan. He saw himself like he had never seen himself before.
e. All of the issues that he thought was dead and buried had surfaced, and God had seen it all. David was heart-broken.
f. For David, the thought that God (himself) had witnessed his indiscretion was a bit too much; and if that wasn’t enough, he would later learned that the baby he and Bathsheba had made was dieing.
********TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 4: David’s heart was broken and his spirit was apparently crushed!
a. The rest of the story is history. David, wasn’t perpetrating.
b. He was hurt, and he wanted to repent, and he did.
c. In David’s mind, he had sinned. He had committed murder. His child had died shortly afterwards; and now God had shared his sin with the Man of God.
d. No doubt, David thought who else has God told?
e. Tears were running uncontrollably, and the chaplain’s words weren’t comforting him.
f. David had a contrite spirit!
*****TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 5: Now, in our text today, we find God saying to the people of Israel that He not only dwell in the heavens and the synagogues; but He also lives with those that HAVE a CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT.
a. What is a Contrite Spirit? A contrite spirit is a penitent, broken spirit.
b. When one has a Contrite Spirit - it may appear as if he’s alone and by himself because of the sinful acts that has been committed.
c. It may appear that there isn’t a God on his side.
d. But, the fact of the matter is If we’ve sinned, and sincerely repent, God forgives us.
e. And at the same time, He forgive us, He is on a mission to revive our broken hearts and spirits.
******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 6: No, this doesn’t mean that God approves of our indiscretions and actions.
a. No, this doesn’t mean that He’s not going to discipline us for being disobedient.
b. But, what it does mean is that if we are sincere about repenting of our transgressions and ungodly actions; NO MATTER WHAT!
c. God will not only strengthen us, but He will also revive our hearts and spirit.
d. My brothers and sisters, I’m a firm believer that our attitude determines our altitude in God.
******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
CELEBBRATION: For who can ever forget that it was David – himself – after showing God that He was sincere about repenting said:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
