Rsbc 1/07/01
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah
Subject- “ What God Is To The Poor”
Text- Isaiah 25-4
Intro- The Bible has a lot to say about the poor, both in a literal sense, and in a spiritual sense. Three things in this text that tells us what the Lord is to the poor. These are the things I wish to speak to tonight in detail as time permits.
But I would like to look at a few things that the Bible does say about the poor both in a literal sense and a spiritual one...
One of the first laws God laid down with regard to the poor in Israel that belong to him, was that you cannot lend him moneya nd charge him interest also...Exodus 22:25 If thou lend money to [any of] my people [that is] poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
Another thing that the Bible says about poor people in a literal sense that it is God who makes them poor...1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
He also can raise them up ...1 Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
The Lord Jesus Christ had some things to say about the poor that is of great benefit to those who hear it...
1. The poor have the gospel...Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
2. A spiritual benefit in giving to the poor...Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
It was said of the Lord Jesus Christ...2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
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I must go on and deal with the text..
I.... “ THAT HE IS STRENGTH TO THE POOR & NEEDY ...VS 4
This tells me something of the watchfulness of the Lord in regard to his poor people..listen to what he says through David...Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
David said...Psalm 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.
We as the people of the Lord today need not fret that we have not the strength of the Lord in our duties and in our life for it is there...we must apply it to the very need of the hour I have seen this in my life so many times... Paul said to the Ephesians Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
We have both a duty to seek God and to seek his strength ...1 Chronicles 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
In gaining the help and strength that we need it is in Gods time and we must be patient if we are to feel his power and his strength...this is what Isaiah preached many year ago but it is powerful for us today....
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him.
Then that most famous verse...
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
The Lord takes great pleasure in our weaknesses for there is where he displays his strength...2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
It was in our spiritual weakness that Christ died for us..Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
II.... “THE LORD IS A REFUGE FROM THE STORM”...VS 5
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What a promise and what a text to encourage Gods people who have sagging spirits, the Lord knows where we are at..the word REFUGE means a strong hold, and defended area, an high tower from the enemy...this is what the Lord hath promised...
We have no idea how many time sin our life that the Lord has been this very thing in our lives and we were not aware of it till it was over and in some cases never aware of it, but be assured he was there all the time...
1st. I believe it to be my duty to pray for God to be my refuge...
When David was in the cave fleeing Saul this is exactly what he did...and this is what we need to do when we are in the dark places of our life.
Psalm 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast.
2nd. I believe that it is also our duty to praise him for when he has done it and made it known unto us...
Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
3rd. The greatest refuge a man can have is the Lord Jesus Christ...
Hebrews 6:18‑20 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
III... “THE LORD IS A SHADOW FOR HIS PEOPLE”
What a shadow is in the context of this verse is a protector, it is like the old chicken and her little chicks they feel greatly protected under her shadow of her wings..thus it is with Gods people that we trust him to be protected..
David prayed to the Lord this prayer...Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Isaiah 51:15-16