© Living Hope Church 24 February 2008

Sin and Grace 3-5

Introduction

A. In this sermon we will seek to understand Isaiah chapters 3-5. To do that we will need to keep the overall structure of Isaiah in mind (big picture).

1. Next week in we will see Isaiah=s vision of the Lord and Isaiah=s commission to ministry. It will be one of the high points in this series.

2. -5 is an introduction where God is serving His people a summons to appear in court (like Isaiah=s contemporaries Hosea and Micah). I=m grateful for the gospel (family)!

Isaiah 3:13-14a (ESV) The LORD has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples. The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people.

B. God is presenting the evidence for His case regarding the sins of His people. is in trouble in every way. They are broken down spiritually and morally. Bob Dylan:

Broken lines, broken strings, broken threads, broken springs Broken idols, broken heads, people sleeping in broken beds Ain=t no use jiving, ain=t no use joking, everything is broken

1. Some of you probably don=t get Dylan (no one always does) but let me explain the idea of this song (three more verses). Everything is broken (but they don=t know it).

C. To understand Isaiah 3-5 (or the rest of Isaiah and prophets) we need to remember three keys:

1. Time is not important to prophets (prophetic foreshortening). For example:

$ Isaiah 3:18: In that day the Lord will takeaway the finery, etc. $ :2: In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious.

2. Prophets like Isaiah exist primarily to call the people to keep the covenant God has made with His people (not primarily foretelling the future). It is first a now word.

3. There is a continuous and constant interplay between what I=ll call the natural realm and the spiritual realm. Israel is an example for our time:

1 Corinthians 10:11-14 (ESV) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. [12] Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. [14] Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

D. My title is Sin and Grace. God will, by grace, purify a people for Himself despite their sin.

I. Isaiah 3 (Read Isaiah 3:1-3).

A. Why is the Lord taking away their very life? There are three reasons in Isaiah 3:

1. The LORD explains that their actions are against God (see Isaiah 3:8):

1 © Living Hope Church 24 February 2008

Isaiah 3:8 (ESV) For has stumbled, and has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.

2. Their guides mislead them (see Isaiah 3:12).

Isaiah 3:12 (ESV) My peopleC infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

3. Arrogance in men and women (see Isaiah 3:14b-16).

Isaiah 3:14b-17a (ESV) "It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. [15] What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord God of hosts. [16] The Lord said: Because the daughters of are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, [17] therefore the Lord will strike.

B. Remarkably, in the midst of this calamity, we see grace (see Isaiah 3:10).

Isaiah 3:10 (ESV) Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

1. When Lord? Understand this. It will go well for the righteous in eternity. The righteous will be swept into captivity with the unrighteous. Some will perish.

Ex: If an atomic bomb is set off in Harrisburg the righteous and the unrighteous will perish together. It will go well for the righteous one in eternity.

2. It is true the covenant God made with Israel provided for material prosperity and blessing. Now that blessing is eternal life.

II. Isaiah 4 (read Isaiah 4:2-6).

A. To the nation of Israel a promise is made the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious. Yes He is! The branch is Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus saves everyone (the cross) who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem. These folks do not yet know about Jesus Christ (in fact a veil remains to this day).

2. God will by grace purify people for Himself despite their sin. The activity of God is seen in these splashes of grace:

$ Verse 4: The Lord shall have washed away the filth. $ Verse 4: The Lord has cleaned the bloodstains of Jerusalem $ Verse 5: The Lord will create a cloud and fire (His presence). $ Verse 5-6: Over the glory there will be a canopy, a booth, a refuge.

Revelation 21:22-27 (ESV) And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. [23] And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, [25] and its gates will never be shut by dayCand there will be no night there. [26] They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. [27] But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

3. That is what we wait for and long for.

III. features three sections (read Isaiah 5:1-4).

A. Verses 1-7 are a love song that Isaiah composes for the Lord.

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1. To the original audience the song pulls you in but you discover that God is calling you to give an account. Why have you rejected my love and my favor?

2. Verses 5-7 declare that God=s judgment is coming because God looked for justice and righteousness and could only find bloodshed and outcry. God has had enough.

B. In verses 8-23 we find six woes pronounced upon this people. Woe is the opposite of blessed and is very similar to saying alas.

1. Verse 8: Woe to those who join house to house and field to field. There is no more room so you live alone.

Problem: God said (see Leviticus 25) that the land was His. It was to be passed down family lines. The rich are oppressing the poor by taking their land. It is practical atheism.

2. Verse 11: Woe to those who rise early and party.

Problem: God was not their passion. Entertainment was their passion. They do not regard the deeds of the Lord so they will be humbled (God will be exalted in justice).

3. Verse 18: Woe to those who draw sin along in a cart.

Problem: They actually taunt God believing He does not hear, see or act. They believe they can live any way they want. They become God (rule-makers).

4. Verse 20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.

Problem: Is anything worse? Now sin is gone completely. God has been fired. Now you will have anarchy and chaos.

5. Verse 21: Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes.

Problem: Arrogance (they have a lack of knowledge). 6. Verse 22: Woe to those who are heros at drinking wine and valiant in mixing strong drink; who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right.

Problem: Personal excess doesn=t make for heros. Personal excess does have consequences because reality means it cannot remain a private matter. It spills out.

C. Isaiah 5:26-30 simply lets the nation of Israel know some serious warriors are coming. They have been summoned by God to execute justice.

1. Judgment is coming as it comes to everyone who rejects the grace of Jesus Christ.

Ex: Francis Schaeffer: 60 minutes to share the gospel, the first 50 minutes will be spent discussing the judgment of God. There is a storm coming.

Close

A. What can we learn from Isaiah 3-5? Isaiah at parts is a heavy book because we see the holy judgment of God. What truths apply to us?

1. God is still God and when God decides to act no one can thwart His hand or His purpose. One

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day God will act with finality. There will be a New Jerusalem (heaven).

$ The curtain drops on time (the day of salvation).

2. God cares how His people live. Grace is extended to us and is designed to make a difference in our lives. Grace applied changes our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:21-6:1 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [6:1] Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

$ We face the same test they faced which is the test of prosperity. We will each give an account of our stewardship.

3. Leaders matter. We saw in Ephesians 4 that God gives leaders in the church as a demonstration of His grace. AYour guides mislead you.@ We all have guides. Can you identify yours?

$ However, leaders are not God (:22 ... stop regarding man). $ Leaders are fallible (hopefully exemplary in character). $ Therefore, do not worship leaders (pastoral or otherwise). $ Nevertheless, respect leaders because constant criticism is no sign of godliness.

4. Grace comes to the humble but God resists the proud.

Grace thrives when we feel how urgently we need to be saved from ourselves. Ray Ortlund Jr. in Isaiah Preaching the Word Commentary, p 71

Before we can learn the sufficiency of God=s grace, we must learn the insufficiency of ourselves. Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace, p 144

5. A word in season to young people. became king at age 16 (Zechariah trained). Wealthy, did what was right, but only as long as he sought the Lord. Pride did him in.

6. There is no substitute for humility.

B. Though God one day rewards us even then our shouts of worship we be grace, grace.

1. We earn nothing yet we have the indescribable privilege to live for the glory of God. This little light of mine, I=m going to let it shine.

C. We live life now in the grip of God=s relentless grace. He is a jealous God and when we will find joy as we seek Him and enjoy Him and rest in Him.

Discussion questions:

1. Why does God judge and punish? 2. How do guides (leaders) mislead people? 3. Do you anticipate heaven? Explain why. 4. Why does care about how His people live their lives? 5. How have you benefitted from leaders?

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