‘solid Rock Or Sinking Sand?’

SERMON OUTLINE:

Jerusalem's scoffers…

• drunken leadership

• derision of God’s prophet

• detachment from God

Isaiah’s hope…

• foundation stone

• God’s chastening

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• In life we are familiar with what we call an object lesson,

• An event or an individual by whose errors and misdemeanours we should learn.

• e.g., Remember the story of Pinocchio, he would not have had so much trouble with his nose, if only he told the truth.

• e.g., Popeye if he had eaten his spinach,

• Would not be weak and struggle in his battles with his enemy Brutus.

• e.g., TV is very good at object lessons,

• We all have probably quoted the line, “He should have gone to Spec Savers!”

• TRANSITION: Isaiah in this chapter has for us an object lesson.

• The lesson is simple, do not scoff at God!

Pause to remind you, remember the land is split, divided into two parts.

• Ten tribes in the north.

• Two tribes in the south.

• Ten tribes in the north were named after the main tribe, Ephraim.

• Two tribes in the south were named after the main tribe, Judah.

Now this chapter divides into two halves, two object lessons.

• PART 1: Is an object lesson from Ephraim to the North of Judea.

• Ephraim is another name for Samaria in Isaiah.

• (vs 1: N.I.V. uses the name ‘Ephraim’ but the T.L.B. uses the name ‘Samaria.’)

• The lesson is do not end up like Ephraim/Samaria!

• Question: What happened to them?

• Answer:

• In 722BC Samaria was swept away by Assyria,

• King Sennacherib invaded the northern kingdom of Israel and took the people captive.

Quote: Second Kings chapter 18 verse 12 says.

“This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey.”

• The object lesson is simple do not end up like Ephraim/Samaria!

• Instead listen and obey the Lord your God.

• PART 2: Is an appeal to the scoffers in Jerusalem.

• e.g., Verse 14:

• “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.”

• e.g., Verse 22:

• “Now stop your mocking,” or “Scoffing.”

Ill:

• This photo was taken recently at the end of our Holiday Club,

• For our Youth Group who helped we had a Pizza party.

• As you can see from the many empty boxes, they, “Scoffed” the lot!

• TRANSITION:

• Now the words, “Scoff” or “Scoffers” in the Bible,

• Have nothing to do with food!

• The words, “Scoff” or “Scoffers” in the Bible,

• Are words taken from the wisdom literature of the Bible.

• And it has to do with a wrong attitude to God and his word.

• “Scoffers” are people who mock or ridicule or are arrogant towards God,

• And there are plenty around from,

• Evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins,

• To English comedian, actor, writer, and director Ricky Gervais.

• Both take great delight in mocking God and his word.

• The scoffer is self-assured, self-arrogant, unteachable - cynical!

Note:

• According to verse 14 the scoffer is found in Jerusalem!

• That’s right, Jerusalem – the city of faith!

“Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers.

who rule this people in Jerusalem.”

• Isaiah expects his readers to be scandalised by that statement!

• Because the last thing you should expect in Jerusalem are scoffers.

Ill:

• But we see forms of this spiritual decay in our own society.

• e.g., People of all faiths are asked to participate in multi-faith services.

• e.g., Or Bishops like the famous one from Durham (Dr David Jenkin),

• He was dubbed the "unbelieving bishop" after saying,

• He did not believe God would have arranged a virgin birth and the resurrection.

• So, we see forms of this spiritual decay in our own society.

Note:

• Whenever you have an object lesson,

• There is a negative example, inevitably there is a positive counterpart.

• The negative is always don’t be like X or Y,

• The positive is instead by like A or B.

• So, by holding up Samaria or Ephraim in verses 1-13 as an object lesson.

• Remember they were swept away by Assyria in 722BC.

• Isaiah intends to teach the rulers of Judea and Jerusalem in verses 14 to 29.

• To trust in the living God and not to listen to the scoffers.

Note:

• I am not going into any great detail,

• But let me give you the skeleton and you can go home and put your own meat on!