Rsbc
Sunday Night
August 18, 2002
The Book of Isaiah
Subject: “ The GOOD Tidings”
Text- Isaiah 52:7-12
Intro: We ended last Sunday evening speaking of the restoration of this great nations, God’s chosen of Israel. They were told by the prophet to awake and put on their strength...to rob themselves in their beautiful garments of righteousness and salvation.
They were told to shake themselves from the dust they had been laying in it was time to go back to the homeland. They were reminded that they had sold themselves into slavery for nothing, but that they would be redeemed without money...
Then the messenger sounds his trumped of hope, he became the herald of truth and justices to the people of GOD... Nothing will bring glad news to the heart like that of hope, nothing will revive the drooping spirit like hope will. I contend that if you take hope away from a man he is miserable..
There is no question in my heart that this news was for the imdediate use of the remnant of Judah...but likewise there is the deep truth hidden in this text of the glorious gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I.. “THE GOOD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS IS IN THE MESSAGE HE BRINGS”..VS 7
To the LORD that sends men with the message of good tidings they are beautiful, not in a physical sense, but spiritual sense. It was said of the LORD Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53: 2 “ no beauty in him...
Paul quoted this verse when declaring the gospel...Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Cyrus had put out the news and the messengers were bringing it to their people we are going home..what news of joy filled the hearts of the people of GOD after nearly 70 years in Babylon...
Page # 2
The heart of this message to the people is found in the phrase “ thy God reigneth “...this is still true..he reigns to rule over the kingdoms of men and does whatsoever he pleases in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of men.
Psalm 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, [even] thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
1st. He reigns to save his people:
Luke 1:31‑33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
2nd. He reigns to rule over us his people:
Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
3rd.. He reigns in order that he may dispense grace to us and fallen sinners:
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
In reality that is what the promise of the whole bible is that Christ would come, die, ascend, and be seated in the glory of his father, and reign from on high. His heaven is his throne, and the earth is his footstool...
Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest?
II... “ THE DUTY AND THE JOY OF THE WATCHMAN”...VS 8-10
Just keep in mind that this is about Judah and about the elect of GOD in salvation that was to come in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
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The watchmen were men that guarded in the towers they were the first to hear and in turn were to shout it back to the inhabitants. Let us talk about the reign of the LORD for a few moments..
1st. They were to shout it: vs 8
In preaching we should never be timid about it, we should open our mouth and shout the wonderful news of the saviour. This is why when I am preaching I cannot contain myself, when GOD gets a hold of my heart and my mouth I must do it with passion and conviction..
Isaiah 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
2nd. They were to sing it: vs 8-9
Singing is a projection of the emotion the heart, do it with feeling and it will bless you as well as those that hear it. Paul said Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
3rd. Their message was clear: vs 9-10
a. That GOD had comforted his people: vs 9
b. That he hath redeemed Jerusalem ..vs 9
c. That GOD had laid open where the whole world could see the salvation of our GOD...
Psalm 98:1‑3 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
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This was fully known when the LORD JESUS CHRIST came: John the Baptist came declaring this wonderful truth...
Luke 3:5‑6 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
1st. The angel announces it: Luke 2:10-11
2nd. Simeon declares it: Luke 2: 26-32
III... “ THE MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THEIR RETURN” “ VS 11-12
1st. They were to go clean: vs 11
That is they were not to take anything with them from their past, what a picture of salvation of sinners. When the LORD delivers us from this sin cursed world, and from our own hog pen of sinfulness we are not to take anything with us..
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
2nd. They were to go in faith the LORD with them...vs 12
The LORD was with them in front of them, and he was in the rear likewise..what another picture of salvation of the LORD’S people. He is in us, with us, in front of us, and he is behind us..