Isaiah

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

C.I.: Wanted: A People for God

Today we will begin a new series of lessons on the book of Isaiah.
He is the “Messianic Prophet” (birth, John’s ministry, passion, etc.) & the Apostle Paul quotes him over 80X.

I. The Current Situation: A Place to Begin, (Isaiah 1:1 – 2:4)

A. Prelude:

1. The book context of Isaiah is God speaking to His people (Israel) and to the nations around them.
a. Israel = a theocracy, ruled by God (through His laws as given through Moses)
1) A frequent mistake - is to make the O.T. prophets speaking to nation of Israel & U.S. today.
2) Example (wrong): to point to the sins of Israel and compare them to situation in America.

2. If we are to make comparisons that are valid – then we must compare apples to apples.
a. Many of the physical things of the O.T. – find their spiritual fulfillment in Jesus & N.T.
b. Thus, Jerusalem/Israel/Mt. Zion (physically) = the church (spiritually).
1) (Heb. 12:22-23), “But you have come to Mt. Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, & to myriads of angels, to the general assembly & church of the 1st…”
c. The temple (physical) = the life of the individual Christian – (I Cor. 3:16), “Do you not know..”
d. The “Nations” (physical) = all of the people who are not in a saved relationship with God
(spiritual)! – (Matt. 28:19), “Go and make disciples of all the nations….”

3. So, while speaking to people 600 years B.C. – Isaiah’s message still speaks to us today (Rom. 15:4).

B. Looking through the Eyes of God, (Isaiah Chapter 1)

1. Four charges God brings against His people, (vs. 1-15)
a. Rebellious Children (vs. 2-4), “Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the Lord speaks, ‘Sons I have reared & brought up, but they have revolted against Me … Sons who act corruptly! - They have abandoned the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel.”
1) Only those who have been “born again” are sons of God, (Jn. 3:3, 5; Gal. 3:26-27)!
2) While yet His “children” – sinful rebellion against God is deadly, (Heb. 10:26-27).
b. Wretched Victim (vs. 5-6), “Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion?
The whole head is sick; the whole heart is faint. – From the sole of the foot even to the head,
there is nothing sound in it – only bruises, welts, and raw wounds.”
1) Their sins had beaten them bloody – yet continued in them (Rom. 6:23)!
2) Their great material wealth - had blinded them to their poor spiritual condition (Rev. 3:17).
c. Ravaged Land (vs. 7-9), “Your land is desolate, your cities burned with fire … unless the Lord of
hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah.”
1) How horrible for God’s people to be compared to S. & G. – yet spiritually they were.
2) God speaks frequently of a righteous remnant – (Matt. 7:13-14; Rev. 3:2, 4).
d. Religious People (vs. 10-15), “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me? … I hate your new
moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me. … When you spread
your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, I will not listen.”
1) Its not that the people weren’t religious, or that they were worshiping wrong!
2) Problem = Their lives were not in conformity with their worship1
3) “Is God the focus of your religion – or has your religion become the focus as your god?!”
4) The worship God desires: Obedience (I Sam. 15:22), Broken Hearts (Psa. 51:17), – Worship that God desires – will change our very lives, (Rom. 12:1), “I urge you, brethren, by the….”

2. But instead of pronouncing “Judgment,” God offers them pardon [on His terms], (vs. 16-31)
a. Our responsibility to God – (vs. 16-17), “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; - remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil. – Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
1) There were things they needed to STOP doing – things they needed to START doing - (Jms.
1:27), “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God; - that you visit the widow..

b. God’s response to those who accept His terms – (vs. 18-19), “Come now, & let us reason together. –
Though your sins are a scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they be red like
crimson, they will be like wool. – If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land.”
1) God truly wants to bless us & forgive us – and He will do so – but only on His terms!

C. Looking through the Heart of God, (Isaiah 2:1-4)

1. These transformed people of God – now become His means for blessing the world!
a. (v. 2), “Now it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations…
1) The “last days” are NOW! – (Heb. 1:1-2a), “God, after He spoke to the fathers in the
prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son!”

b. (v. 3), “And many people will come and will say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may
walk in His paths.’ – For the Law will go forth from Zion. And the word of the Lord from Jerus.”
1) Remember, God’s people TODAY are not only “the mountain,” but also “the house of the
Lord” – (I Pt. 2:5), “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house.”
2) If people are to learn the ways of God – that they may walk in His paths – ITS UP TO US!!!
3) (Quote Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16).
4) If we are going to be the people God has called us to be – then our worship and our lives – must have an impact OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING!

c. (v. 4), “And He will judge between the nations, and render decision for many peoples. - And they
will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.”
1) The judgment of God is rendered through His word – (Jn. 12:48)!
2) Those who truly learn the ways of God – will no longer learn to war upon each other.
5) God has called us to live in peace with each other – and to take the message of peace to the world – (Eph. 2:17; Matt. 5:9)!!!