Rsbc 10/3/99
Sunday Evening
Isaiah
Subject- “ The Rod of God’s Anger”
Text- Isaiah 10-5-19
Intro- It is very difficult for a natural man to understand that God does use wickedness to accomplish his purpose, that God uses evil nations, yea even pagan nations to do as he wills and none can stay his hand.
In some cases it is even difficult for those who profess to know the Lord to see and admit that he uses wickedness and pagan nations, unsaved people to accomplish his purpose... But that is precisley what is before us this evening.
I.... “ THE INSTRUMENT”...VS 5
This is not a friendly using of this nation, it here stated in this text that it Gods rod of anger. The nations, the man, the event that God chooses to discharge his will can be cruelty and evil in the heart of a sinful nation and yet God is just in doing so.
We have seen the Assyrians under other names, the Roman empire, the German power of WWII and in our day the insanity of wickedness is prevalent ever where. Be assured that God uses all of this to accomplish his purpose.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.
Can the Eternal and Holy God use such to accomplish his purpose? Yes he can and he does. The raises up men for just this purpose....
Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
The Lord Jesus Christ said of Judas who betrayed him...
Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Jude said....
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
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II.... “ THE CAUSE OF GODS ROD OF ANGER AND STAFF OF INDIGNATION..VS 6-11
Isaiah 19:17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
The Lord works by design, he never acts out of his will of purpose or will of command. What ever has happened, whatever will happen he hath determined it so. But also he hath determined the punished for such acts of wickedness. These next verses tell us why God determined this judgement on Judah.
1. Because they were a hypocritical nation...vs 6
Which meant that they had become hypocritical, godless, profane,, irreligious and this once great nations was about to feel such anger from the Lord and such woe beyond anything they had previously known.
A. That God allows no hypocrite in his presence...Job 13:16 He also [shall be] my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
B. The Hypocrite has no hope..Job 27:8 For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
It is a terrible thing, it is a dangerous thing to be a hypocrite as an individual, or as a nation, as a church because God will bring his rod and staff of judgement upon such.
2. Jesus had plenty to say about Hypocrites
Matt 23
a. All their works they do to be seen of men...vs 5
b. They love to be greeted publicly..vs 6-7
c. They devour widows houses..vs 14
d. They are fools and blind..vs 17
e. They desire legalism..vs 25
f. They are really dead sinners...vs 27-28
g. They make to do of the prophets and do not believe them...vs 29-32
I. They are serpents..vs 33
III.... “ THE PUNISHMENT OF GOD UPON THE INSTRUMENT HE USES...VS 12-19
It is a dangerous thing for men to be used of God and then take the credit for what is accomplished. The Lord hath alreay declared that he will not share his glory with no one.
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Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
1. His promise... “ I will punish the stout hearted King...vs 12
We all know this to be the pride that entered in to his heart. What pride men have it is difficult to overcome it and if we don’t God will deal with us also. In the Acts of the Apostles there was a King who made great orations and look what happened to him...
Acts 12:21‑23 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
2. What he did...
a. He declared by his own strength he did it...vs 13
b. He declared it was by his wisdom...vs 13
c. He declared he did because of his prudence and being a valiant man..vs 13
3. The question of the Lord..vs 15
It is unreasonable to think that we can do anything of our self. Over and over in the bible we are told that God uses us, that God uses men and nations that nothing happens by accident nothing happens by chance...we had better take care of our words and not try to take any credit for anything that we have are that we have accomplished in life for it is all of the Lord.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
4. The promise of the Lord..vs 16-19
The promise of the fall of the Assyrian empire, we have seen it in the nations of history and we shall see it again and again. Judgement and revenge belong tot he Lord.
Lessons...
1. Learn that God does use us and others.
2. Learn that we had not take any glory for it.
3. Learn that this establishes that God is in complete control.
Psalm 115:3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.