Rsbc
April 14, 2002
Sunday Evening
The Book of Isaiah
Text: Isaiah 46-1-13
Intro: False gods and false worship troubled the nation of Israel and Judah. It will trouble any nation to be swayed by false prophets and false gods. The ten commandments says “ thou shalt no have no other gods before me”.
A. Not only were they not to have other gods they were not even to mention their names:
Exodus 23:13 And in all [things] that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
B. They were not to follow after them....
Deuteronomy 6:14‑15 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which [are] round about you; 15 (For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
In our text we some value information not only for Judah but for the church of Jesus Christ today...
I... “THE UTTER USELESSNESS OF FALSE GODS: VS 1-2
1. They burden the beast that carry them: vs 1
2. They could not deliver them..vs 2
3. They are carried into captivity themselves...vs 2
Jeremiah 48:7 For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and *Chemosh shall go forth into captivity [with] his priests and his princes together.
* Chemosh = "subduer" the national deity of the Moabites and a god of the Ammonites also identified with 'Baal‑peor', 'Baal‑zebub', 'Mars' and 'Saturn' worship of this god was introduced into Jerusalem by Solomon and abolished by king Josiah of Judah..
Page # 2
II... “THE COMMAND OF THE LORD”..VS 3-4
The word hearken means to listen with the intent to obey... All of the commandments of the Lord are to be obeyed by his people.
1. The house of Jacob and the remnant of Israel...
In this passage we can safely say that the LORD is speaking specifically to his people and no one else. He singles them out and gives them his word that he wanted them to hear and obey.
2. The promise he makes them...vs 4
When you are old and grey headed will I carry you...then he tells them why, I made you and I have borne you.. And I will carry you. What a promise. This promise not only is sufficient for them whom no longer exist, but for today that GOD will carry us likewise...
Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
III... “THE INCOMPAREBLNESS OF GOD”..VS 5-13
1. The great question God proposes..vs 5-7
When you compare the utter uselessness of other gods who cannot speak, hear, answer prayer, deliver, save... it would seem useless to even consider other gods, but not so with human nature...
Isaiah 40:18-21
2. The Lord calls upon his people to remember...vs 8-10
This is to cause them to call to remembrance about themselves and about their GOD...Act like men that is take courage.. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and said the same thing to them..
a. Act like men..
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Page # 3
B. Remember the Lord... vs 10
1st... “ Remember the former things of Old...vs. 9
What a challenge to them and to us. We are to reflect of the greatness of the LORD by viewing his past works and dealings..
Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
This was a statement made by the Lord through Isaiah to get them to remember that the GOD of their fathers was one GOD. They had been taught that..but had forgotten it because of their dealings with the pagans they were held captive by.
2nd. “Remember that GOD declared the end from the beginning”..vs 10
What we have here is
a. The purpose of GOD.. “he worketh all things after the council of his own will”
b. The omniscience of GOD.. “He knoweth all things”
c. The omnipotence of GOD.. “My council shall stand”... do his pleasure.
3rd... “Remember the action of the LORD”...vs 11
Calling a “ravenous bird from the east”... I believe this to be Cyrus Look back at Isa 41:2.
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
IV... “ THE WORD OF THE LORD TO SINNERS”..VS 12-13
1. Those whom he spoke to... was Israel
2. They were far from righteousness..
3. The promise he makes them...vs 13
Page # 4
1st. Righteousness is coming..
Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
2nd. Where it is coming to... Sion
Isaiah 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
There is no deliverance no salvation in Zion outside the LORD JESUS CHRIST... Close with
Heb 12:22-24