EDUCATION - THE LORD'S CONCERN
Repentance
The
first chapter of Isaiah reminds us of a courtroom scene in which the accused
hears the charges that are being brought against him or her.
In Isaiah, God is the Judge and is pleading His case against His people
Israel. They are His covenant
people, but they have broken that covenant by turning to idolatry.
3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Ex 20:3-4 (KJV)
But also in this setting, there is also a sense in which the comparison
between God and a human judge does not hold true.
Even while God is bringing charges against His people, He is showing them
how to return to Him and avoid punishment.
The way back to God can be summarized in one word … repentance. This is as true today as it was in the days of Isaiah. God is still calling humanity to turn from wickedness and turn to Him. And when we do, God will abundantly pardon. Then we will experience His joy and peace.
Now lets look at the plea.
1.
Do Not Forsake God
The
first part of God’s message to Israel through Isaiah was one of judgment.
Israel
had turned to idolatry.
As
a result, the Israelites faced the judgment of God.
Yet
God, in His mercy, was calling them to repentance.
SIDEBAR:
Repentance (met an oy-ah) (for guilty, reformation, reversal)
is a genuine, not superficial, change of mind about something, which is
followed, by some change (continue with this thought)
In
His rebuke, God compared Israel to children who rebelled against the father who
cared for them (Is. 1:1-2).
1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the
LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have
rebelled against me.
In
verse 3, God also contrasted the behavior of His own people with that of farm
animals.
3
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his
master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
The
animal recognized their owner, but Israel no longer recognized God and had
turned to idols.
God
followed these words with a devastating description of how far the people had
wandered from Him.
4
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD,
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away
backward.
God
saw Israel as a sinful nation loaded down with the weight of guilt.
Not
only were the Israelites corrupt, they were corrupting others (verse 4).
“…a seed of evildoers, children
that are corrupters:…”
In
verses 5 and 6, God said the Israelites were like a human body racked by disease
and covered with sores.
5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there
is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores:
they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
They
had been bruised and wounded, as a result of their sins, but their wounds had
not been treated.
From
time to time, God had allowed wicked foreigners to invade the land and wreck
havoc.
7
Your country is desolate, your cities are
burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is
desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8
And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in
a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
God
used these foreigners to punish His own people in an effort to bring them to
their senses (verses 7-8).
But
God always sets limits on how far the invaders could go.
“daughter of Zion” refers
to Jerusalem: and it says they were “left as a
cottage” (suk ka) and is a brush Arbor or a temporary shelter for
someone who guarded the vineyard.
That
is not much of anything left.
He
did not allow them to destroy the nation completely.
Except
for His restraint, Israel would have been wiped out like the wicked cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 9).
9
Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very
small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like
unto Gomorrah.
God’s words addressed to the nation of
Israel are based on unchanging principles.
Sin
always has its consequences.
No
one has ever been clever enough to escape the effects of breaking God’s laws.
The
great tragedy in our own day is seeing individuals who have been blessed by God;
yet live as though He does not exist.
And
like Israel, if they do not repent, they will face God’s judgment.
But
God is merciful and He continues to reach out in love to the unsaved and
backslidden people.
What could cause believers to sometimes wander from God?
Why does God chastise those who are away from Him?
2.
Return To God
Isaiah 1:10-20
SIDEBAR: I wonder
how many church services God could walk into today and it would look like the
worship was coming from true worshippers but really the people are just going
through the formality?
That
was what was going on with the people of Isaiah’s days.
One
of the shocking aspects of Isaiah’s prophecy is in God’s comparing the
Israelites with Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Israelites were well acquainted with the wickedness of these two cities and what had happened to them.
But
to awaken the Israelites to their true condition, God addressed them as though
He were speaking to the general public of Sodom and Gomorrah (Is. 1:10).
10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
This
is an indication of how low Israel had sunk morally.
Many
people use religion to cover up their true condition.
21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven.
22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 7:21-23 (KJV)
Their hearts may be far from God, but they go through forms and rituals, trying to soothe their consciences.
It’s
a make me feel good action.
This
was what the Israelites were doing.
They
had not discontinued offering their sacrifices and going to the temple for what
they called worship.
It
would have been better if the people had made not made a display of religion at
all.
Their
hypocritical forms only worsened their condition and made their guilt deeper.
15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:15-16 (KJV)
God
told the people their religion literally made Him sick (verses 11-14).
11
To what purpose is the multitude of your
sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams,
and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of
lambs, or of he goats.
12
When ye come to appear before me, who hath
required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an
abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I
cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And
because of their sinful condition, God had turned His ear from their prayers
(verse 15).
15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide
mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands
are full of blood.
Worship
pleases God only when the worshiper’s heart is right with Him.
That
is why God called His people to repentance.
The
first thing God desired from Israel was washing their inner being.
Then
worship and acts of service would be acceptable to Him.
Even
in the midst of Israel’s sinful condition, God’s mercy is revealed.
16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of
your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
He
called His people to come and reason with Him (verses 18-20).
18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
He
was willing to offer them something that idolatry and sinful pleasure could not
provide.
The
people’s sin was so deliberate and unashamed that it was like deep crimson in
God’s eyes.
Yet
He offered them cleansing that would make them white and pure again.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall
be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Furthermore,
their obedience would bring blessing and prosperity to the land again.
However,
continued disobedience would bring more judgment.
The
choice was theirs.
Have
you ever known someone who was maybe sick or afflicted or perhaps had a personal
problem and they ignored it thinking it would go away if they shut their eyes to
it.
A
sick person will not accept treatment if he is convinced he is well.
God
used strong language in denouncing the people’s sin to show them how
spiritually sick they were.
As
long as they closed their eyes to their condition, there was no chance for God
to heal them.
But God does not want anyone to remain in that sinful condition.
He
offers His cleansing to all who will come to Him.
Even
the deepest stain of sin can be removed through the blood of Jesus.
Why can religious activity sometimes delude believers into thinking
they are right with God?
How can a person who does not believe he is a sinner be
convinced that he needs to be forgiven?
3.
Seek Reconciliation
Isaiah 55:6-12
Throughout Isaiah’s message to Israel, one theme is repeated
over and over.
God wanted His people to return to Him.
While God is waiting with open arms to receive us, there is a
response on our part before our relationship with Him is restored.
We still have the responsibility to seek God (Is. 55:6).
6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye
upon him while he is near:
Although God never holds himself aloof from humanity, there
are times when mans own spiritual response makes it a favorable time for seeking
God.
If we do not turn to the Lord when God’s Spirit convicts us,
it may make it harder for us to respond to that same conviction in the future.
When we sense the Spirit of God dealing with us, that is the
time for us to call on God and seek Him.
Persistent rejection of the Spirit’s dealings can harden our
spirits and make it more difficult for us to recognize God’s voice the next
time He speaks.
Being reconciled to God involves a complete turning around and
traveling in the opposite direction.
We cannot expect reconciliation if we continue in our wicked
practices and lifestyle.
We must turn our back on sin completely and turn ourselves
toward God.
Repentance is more than being sorry when we experience the
consequences of sin.
It is not mere reform or making resolutions to be better.
It is what you purpose in your heart.
Repentance is a complete change of attitude toward God, toward
sin, and toward one’s view of life.
This repentance is our part in salvation (verse 7).
7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
When we repent, we have the assurance that God will
“abundantly pardon.”
His forgiveness is total when the sinner repents and changes
the direction of his life.
Sin also separates us from being able to understand God’s
thinking.
While we were sinners we considered God’s ways foolish and
difficult to understand.
That is because God’s thoughts are as far above man’s
thoughts as the sky is above the earth (verse 8).
8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
One of the ways that God’s wisdom is above ours is found in
the ability of His Word to bring life.
God compared His word to rain (verses 9-11).
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from
heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The rain waters the seed planted in the ground and
accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent; to bring forth life and fruit.
So preaching the good news from God’s Word brings forth
spiritual fruit.
Even if not all accept it, many will.
When God’s Word is proclaimed, it will not come back empty.
God’s offer of reconciliation is not without results in our
lives.
When we are reconciled to God, we have joy and peace.
His blessing becomes our daily portion (verse 12).
12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth
with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into
singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Why is it important to turn to the Lord when we sense His
conviction?
Why can we confidently share God’s Word with others?
The
first chapter of Isaiah reminds us of a courtroom scene in which the accused
hears the charges that are being brought against him or her.
In Isaiah, God is the Judge and is pleading His case against His people
Israel. They are His covenant
people, but they have broken that covenant by turning to idolatry.
3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Ex 20:3-4 (KJV)
But also in this setting, there is also a sense in which the comparison
between God and a human judge does not hold true.
Even while God is bringing charges against His people, He is showing them
how to return to Him and avoid punishment.
The way back to God can be summarized in one word …
repentance. This is as true
today as it was in the days of Isaiah. God
is still calling humanity to turn from wickedness and turn to Him.
And when we do, God will abundantly pardon.
Then we will experience His joy and peace.
Now lets look at the plea.
1.
Do Not Forsake God
The
first part of God’s message to Israel through Isaiah was one of judgment.
Israel
had turned to idolatry.
As
a result, the Israelites faced the judgment of God.
Yet
God, in His mercy, was calling them to repentance.
SIDEBAR:
Repentance (met an oy-ah) (for guilty, reformation, reversal)
is a genuine, not superficial, change of mind about something, which is
followed, by some change (continue with this thought)
In
His rebuke, God compared Israel to children who rebelled against the father who
cared for them (Is. 1:1-2).
1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the
LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have
rebelled against me.
In
verse 3, God also contrasted the behavior of His own people with that of farm
animals.
3
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his
master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
The
animal recognized their owner, but Israel no longer recognized God and had
turned to idols.
God followed these words with a devastating description of how far the people had wandered from Him.
4
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD,
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away
backward.
God
saw Israel as a sinful nation loaded down with the weight of guilt.
Not
only were the Israelites corrupt, they were corrupting others (verse 4).
“…a seed of evildoers, children
that are corrupters:…”
In
verses 5 and 6, God said the Israelites were like a human body racked by disease
and covered with sores.
5
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will
revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there
is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores:
they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
They
had been bruised and wounded, as a result of their sins, but their wounds had
not been treated.
From
time to time, God had allowed wicked foreigners to invade the land and wreck
havoc.
7
Your country is desolate, your cities are
burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is
desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8
And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in
a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
God
used these foreigners to punish His own people in an effort to bring them to
their senses (verses 7-8).
But
God always sets limits on how far the invaders could go.
“daughter of Zion” refers
to Jerusalem: and it says they were “left as a
cottage” (suk ka) and is a brush Arbor or a temporary shelter for
someone who guarded the vineyard.
That
is not much of anything left.
He
did not allow them to destroy the nation completely.
Except
for His restraint, Israel would have been wiped out like the wicked cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 9).
9
Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very
small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like
unto Gomorrah.
God’s words addressed to the nation of Israel are
based on unchanging principles.
Sin
always has its consequences.
No
one has ever been clever enough to escape the effects of breaking God’s laws.
The
great tragedy in our own day is seeing individuals who have been blessed by God;
yet live as though He does not exist.
And
like Israel, if they do not repent, they will face God’s judgment.
But
God is merciful and He continues to reach out in love to the unsaved and
backslidden people.
What could cause believers to sometimes wander from God?
Why does God chastise those who are away from Him?
2.
Return To God
Isaiah 1:10-20
SIDEBAR: I wonder
how many church services God could walk into today and it would look like the
worship was coming from true worshippers but really the people are just going
through the formality?
That
was what was going on with the people of Isaiah’s days.
One
of the shocking aspects of Isaiah’s prophecy is in God’s comparing the
Israelites with Sodom and Gomorrah.
The
Israelites were well acquainted with the wickedness of these two cities and what
had happened to them.
But
to awaken the Israelites to their true condition, God addressed them as though
He were speaking to the general public of Sodom and Gomorrah (Is. 1:10).
10
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom;
give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
This
is an indication of how low Israel had sunk morally.
Many
people use religion to cover up their true condition.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 7:21-23 (KJV)
Their hearts may be far from God, but they go through forms and rituals, trying to soothe their consciences.
It’s
a make me feel good action.
This
was what the Israelites were doing.
They
had not discontinued offering their sacrifices and going to the temple for what
they called worship.
It
would have been better if the people had made not made a display of religion at
all.
Their
hypocritical forms only worsened their condition and made their guilt deeper.
15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:15-16 (KJV)
God
told the people their religion literally made Him sick (verses 11-14).
11
To what purpose is the multitude of your
sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams,
and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of
lambs, or of he goats.
12
When ye come to appear before me, who hath
required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an
abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I
cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And
because of their sinful condition, God had turned His ear from their prayers
(verse 15).
15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide
mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands
are full of blood.
Worship
pleases God only when the worshiper’s heart is right with Him.
That
is why God called His people to repentance.
The
first thing God desired from Israel was washing their inner being.
Then
worship and acts of service would be acceptable to Him.
Even
in the midst of Israel’s sinful condition, God’s mercy is revealed.
16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of
your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
He
called His people to come and reason with Him (verses 18-20).
18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
He
was willing to offer them something that idolatry and sinful pleasure could not
provide.
The
people’s sin was so deliberate and unashamed that it was like deep crimson in
God’s eyes.
Yet
He offered them cleansing that would make them white and pure again.
19
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the
good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall
be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Furthermore,
their obedience would bring blessing and prosperity to the land again.
However,
continued disobedience would bring more judgment.
The
choice was theirs.
Have
you ever known someone who was maybe sick or afflicted or perhaps had a personal
problem and they ignored it thinking it would go away if they shut their eyes to
it.
A
sick person will not accept treatment if he is convinced he is well.
God
used strong language in denouncing the people’s sin to show them how
spiritually sick they were.
As
long as they closed their eyes to their condition, there was no chance for God
to heal them.
But
God does not want anyone to remain in that sinful condition.
He
offers His cleansing to all who will come to Him.
Even
the deepest stain of sin can be removed through the blood of Jesus.
Why can religious activity sometimes delude believers into thinking
they are right with God?
How can a person who does not believe he is a sinner be convinced
that he needs to be forgiven?
3.
Seek Reconciliation
Isaiah 55:6-12
Throughout Isaiah’s message to Israel, one theme is repeated
over and over.
God wanted His people to return to Him.
While God is waiting with open arms to receive us, there is a
response on our part before our relationship with Him is restored.
We still have the responsibility to seek God (Is. 55:6).
6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye
upon him while he is near:
Although God never holds himself aloof from humanity, there
are times when mans own spiritual response makes it a favorable time for seeking
God.
If we do not turn to the Lord when God’s Spirit convicts us,
it may make it harder for us to respond to that same conviction in the future.
When we sense the Spirit of God dealing with us, that is the
time for us to call on God and seek Him.
Persistent rejection of the Spirit’s dealings can harden our
spirits and make it more difficult for us to recognize God’s voice the next
time He speaks.
Being reconciled to God involves a complete turning around and
traveling in the opposite direction.
We cannot expect reconciliation if we continue in our wicked
practices and lifestyle.
We must turn our back on sin completely and turn ourselves
toward God.
Repentance is more than being sorry when we experience the
consequences of sin.
It is not mere reform or making resolutions to be better.
It is what you purpose in your heart.
Repentance is a complete change of attitude toward God, toward
sin, and toward one’s view of life.
This repentance is our part in salvation (verse 7).
7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
When we repent, we have the assurance that God will
“abundantly pardon.”
His forgiveness is total when the sinner repents and changes
the direction of his life.
Sin also separates us from being able to understand God’s
thinking.
While we were sinners we considered God’s ways foolish and
difficult to understand.
That is because God’s thoughts are as far above man’s
thoughts as the sky is above the earth (verse 8).
8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
One of the ways that God’s wisdom is above ours is found in
the ability of His Word to bring life.
God compared His word to rain (verses 9-11).
9
For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from
heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The rain waters the seed planted in the ground and
accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent; to bring forth life and fruit.
So preaching the good news from God’s Word brings forth
spiritual fruit.
Even if not all accept it, many will.
When God’s Word is proclaimed, it will not come back empty.
God’s offer of reconciliation is not without results in our
lives.
When we are reconciled to God, we have joy and peace.
His blessing becomes our daily portion (verse 12).
12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth
with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into
singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Why is it important to turn to the Lord when we sense His
conviction?
Why can we confidently share God’s Word with others?
