Rsbc 4/4/99
Sunday Night
Isaiah Sermon 11
Subject- "The Oppression of God’s People"
Text- Isaiah 3-12-15
Intro- We have studied the condition of Judah and the remnants of the tribes of Israel as they were led into the depths of sin...We seen that God promised to take away their staff.. (stability) and their stay. .(life) for their sins.. We also seen that in the midst of this unrecoverable situation the grace of God abounded for those who were living righteous...vs 10 and the judgment of God for the those who pursue a life of wickedness...vs 11. Tonight we see the continuing story of the awfulness of sin and those who are caught up in it without being actually a part of it....
I... "AS FOR MY PEOPLE"...VS 12
To be God’s people in the midst of a conflict such as this is a wonderful blessing. Over two hundred times in the bible will you find this statement my people...a lot is the claim of God upon his people...
1.) That when God’s people are in trouble he takes an interest in that...
Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
2.) That The interest that God has in his people is that he wants them to serve him and not another...
Exodus 10:3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
3.) That God desires to walk among his people..
Leviticus 26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Fellowship is important between God and his people, this just didn’t apply to the ancient people of God but it likewise applicable to you and I who lay hold tho this claim of God being our God. Paul made this clear when writing to the church of Corinth.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
II... "THEY ARE OPPRESSED"...VS 12
The word oppressors in this text means that they had people over them that was exacting and exerting demanding pressures upon them...we have seen this over and over even in our day. The example in the Ethnic war that our leaders have gotten us into we see the people of whom this oppression is demanding that they leave their land, run for their lives, and die in the hills and the way sides of their country... What brought this own? They were led by children who were led by women...vs 12 Two things that this leads too.
1.) Leads to err... God never attended a woman to rule over a man. I know that is not the popular move of our day, but this generation is not the only one to experience leadership under women that would lead a nation to ruin...
This is not to say that men have not caused God’s people to err, because in reality this is men that are led by children and women...kind a like our president who is in a place of leadership, but a certain woman mainly his wife runs the show, the women liberation the gay rights groups you get the picture. So I’m not just picking on women.
Err starts in the heart....
Hebrews 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.
2.) Destroys the way of their right paths...Job 6:18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. What are some of the paths that Gods people walked in and what they should not have strayed from?
a...Path of righteousness...Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
b...Paths of mercy and truth.. Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
c...Paths that are good.. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].
III... " THE LORD PROMISES JUDGEMENT".. VS 13-15
1.) The Lord standing up...vs 13
There is something about this statement that should cause us to think deeper concerning how God is watching what is going own...
a. The fact that God looks...
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
b. Where God looks... "looks on the heart" People think that God doesn’t see them...this is evident by what the Bible says about this..
Ezekiel 8:12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
Ezekiel 9:9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
2.) When God stands up he enters into judgment...vs 14
The poor of the city are always the ones that suffer the greatest in times of need and when leaders think of themselves only and not the good of the people...this angers God..
a. His judgment is the root of the problem... "the ancients"
b. His judgment is precise... "what they did"
Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.