Rsbc 8/20/00
Sunday Night
Series- The Book of Isaiah
Subject- The Burden of The Valley
Text- Isaiah 22-1-7
Intro- A valley is a very lonely and in most cases a very depressing place. The Bible often pictures the struggles of life to that of a valley. It is in this valley that the Prophet Isaiah is looking at what is coming upon these wicked cities...
The Prophet Joel stated this...Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.
We seen him as he bravely by the Holy Spirit foretold of the destruction of all those allies of Babylon, such as Assyria, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, and then he tells of the great city of Babylon has fallen...
All this was a tremendous burden to the Prophet Isaiah to see all this as it was going to happen all the death, the destruction and result of disobeying the Lord and holding captive his people Judah and Israel.
I.... THE CAPTURE OF THE LEADERS OF THESE CITIES...VS 1-3
The once tremendous leaders now capture together and no where to run, no where to hide the judgment of God has overtaken the wicked leaders.
2 Chronicles 32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
The leaders are the ones who caused these people to err...Isaiah 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed.
The Lord Jesus Christ said...Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
If there is reason to believe that your leader or leaders is leading down the wrong way and you don’t stop them, and you follow them you will fall when they fall. Over and over the Bible warns about what happens to wicked leaders, wicked people...
Proverbs 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
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Proverbs 3:25‑26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
II.... “ THE REFUSAL OF ISAIAH TO BE COMFORTED”..VS 4
If you recall from one of the previous studies, Isaiah was told by God to strip down and walk for 3 yrs in the desert barefooted and naked to illustrate what was going to happen. Can you imagine how this grief was upon him, the hurt the pain, of seeing this mass destruction.
Jeremiah the prophet had similar experiences..Jeremiah 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
1st. He speaks of weeping bitterly..
This speaks of the taste he feels in his heart for what is going to happen. Often preachers weep over their flocks because they don’t listen will not heed the word that God has given him, and because of his knowledge of Gods word he knows what will happen if they refuse...
Jeremiah 13:17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.
2nd. Weeping for the true prophet of God and the people of God is but for a season...
The great man Job...Job 16:16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death;
Psalm 30:5 For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.
At the end of this great book....note what he says Isaiah 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
III.... “THIS THE DAY OF TROUBLE AND IT IS GODS DOINGS”...VS 5-7
When God sends a day of trouble in most cases it is severe, especially if it deals with judgement and the punishment of sins committed by his people, or a wicked nation.
Zephaniah said...Zephaniah 1:14‑15 The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15 That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
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Lessons we can learn...
1st. That often the Lord will cause us to see certain things in life that will place a burden in our souls that he only can move....
A. When we view the condition of our nation it burdens us.
B. When we look at the life of our families sometimes it is burden.
C. When we see how the Baptist have turned their back on the word of God it is burden.
D. When we see how our city is crime stricken it is a burden to us.
E. When we see the youth of this country given over to the sins of the flesh it is a burden to us.
2nd. That sharing this burden with those who care often will help us during that time.Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3rd. That there is strength in unity during times of burdens...
Psalm 133:1‑2 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 [It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
4th. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest help in time of need or burden.1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Matthew 11:28‑30 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.