Sermon #75 Series: Isaiah

Title: Lessons From Ariel

Text: Isaiah 29:1-24

Subject: Isaiah’s Prophecy Against Ariel

Date: Sunday Evening - May 12, 1991

Tape #

Introduction:

Ariel is Jerusalem, the city of God, the place of Divine worship. The temple of God was there. The ark of the covenant, the mercy-seat, the holy place was there. There the priests of God offered sacrifices according to the law of God at the appointed times. Ariel, Jerusalem, was the mountain of the Lord’s house. Ariel, Jerusalem, was the place of blessing. This was the city where David dwelt. But now Isaiah has a message from God to deliver to Ariel. And it is a message not of mercy, but of wrath - “Woe to Ariel!” “To Ariel!” The prophet himself seems to have been astonished by the message of woe he had to deliver. It is a message of wrath, not upon barbarians, but upon his own brethren; not to pagans, but to the people of God; not to Egypt, but to Israel; not to the Chaldeans, but to the church of God! “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel!” In this chapter the prophet of God

1. Warned Jerusalem of God’s wrath against the city (vv. 1-6).

The Assyrians were about to come upon them to destroy them. And this army of Godless pagans were but an instrument in the hands of God, used by him to accomplish his own purpose against Jerusalem. God says, “I will distress Ariel…I will camp against thee…I will raise forts against thee…Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts!”

“He that hath ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit saith!”

a. God almighty is absolutely sovereign, reigning even over the thoughts, intents and actions of ungodly men - “Shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it?” (Amos 3:6).

Illus: Shimei (II Sam 16:5-14).

b. Whatever comes to pass in our lives is by the hand of God.

2. The Lord would not allow the Assyrians to totally destroy Jerusalem for his elect’s sake (vv. 7-8).

In wrath God always remembers mercy! He will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Because there was an elect remnant among the people of Jerusalem God spared the city. The raging monster of Assyria could go no further than God allowed. He was turned away hungry, thirsty and faint.

“So shall the multitude of all nations be that fight against Zion.” God often uses wicked men and evil things to purge his church, to separate the precious from the vile. But he will allow none to harm his church. “He that toucheth thee toucheth the apple of mine eye,” God says.

Illus: Strife and Division - (I Cor. 11:19).

3. Because they would not hear his Word, repent of their sins and return to him, the Lord God sent spiritual blindness upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem (vv. 9-16).

The darkness increased as the years rolled by, so that when God’s own Son came into the world, preached in the streets of Jerusalem, and performed miracles before their eyes, they could not see - And this blindness remains upon them to this day - (Rom. 11:7-10; John 12:37-41).

Note: The blindness is the work of God against men and women who refused to walk in the light he had given them.

4. Yet, the Lord promises that he will preserve, save, keep and instruct his covenant people - (vv. 17-24).

There is more than a hint here of this gospel age and the gathering of God’s elect from among the Gentiles. Lebanon, the Gentile world, had been a forest and Jerusalem a fruitful field. But God made Jerusalem a dark forest and the Gentile world a fruitful field, a field “white unto harvest.”

What are we to learn from this prophecy concerning Ariel? What are the spiritual lessons contained in this chapter for us? 4 things.

I. WHEN RELIGION DEGENERATES INTO RITUALISM, IT PROVOKES GOD TO WRATH - (vv. 1-6).

Religion is the worship of God. But when religion degenerates into ritualism, a mere form of godliness, without the power of God or the Spirit of God, it is an abomination to God, which he will not tolerate.

The name here given to Jerusalem, “Ariel,” means “the lion of God!” That is what Jerusalem once was, a place of power, dominion, fearlessness and triumph. But now it only had the form of a lion, at which everyone laughed!

Jerusalem had been the city of David, rich, prosperous, powerful. How she was blessed of God! But now she only had David’s name!

The inhabitants of Jerusalem meticulously kept the ordinances of divine worship. Sabbaths, sacrifices and ceremonies were maintained. But there was no heart worship - No faith in Christ - Only hypocrisy and the traditions of men (See v. 13; Matt. 15:8-9).

Nothing is more obnoxious and revolting to the thrice holy God than empty, vain religious ritualism - (Isa. 1:10-15; 66:1-4). Religion without the Spirit of God is deadly! Let us pray with David, “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11).

Let me speak plainly to you. We have the truth of God - The Gospel of Christ. And we have the ordinances of God - Baptism, the Lord’s Supper. We even have our lineage from the saints of God - The Reformers, the Puritans, etc. But we are in danger of losing the Spirit of God, we are in danger of our religion degenerating into empty ritualism whenever…

1. We begin to experience no blessing or benefit from the reading or preaching of the Word of God.

When the Word of God ceases to convict, rebuke, burn in my heart and cause me to rejoice in Christ, then God is not speaking to me. And I am in serious trouble.

2. We begin to feel satisfied with our spiritual progress and growth in the grace and knowledge of God.

3. We can absent ourselves from the fellowship of believers and the worship of God without feeling a great loss and an empty heart - a man who can be warmed by his own fire is either dead or dying spiritually.

4. We begin to be critics, finding fault with others.

The Spirit of God teaches men to think of themselves as “less than the least of all saints” and “the chief of sinners.” When the Spirit of God is not present, we become judges and fault-finders.

5. Our souls are not vexed with sin.

When the sin within us does not make us weep and the sin about us does not make us shudder, when we become comfortable in the company of those who never knew our God, when we conform to the ways of unregenerate men, living for gain, then the light of God is either dim or extinguished in us.

6. We become self-centered and the welfare, well-being and joy of others is of no great concern to us.

Selfishness is not of God. The heart filled with God’s love and grace dwells on others, finding happiness in their happiness.

When religion degenerates into ritualism, it provokes God to wrath. That is the first lesson we learn for Ariel.

II. SATAN, THE WORLD AND HELL MAY DISTURB AND EVEN DESTROY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS, BUT NOTHING CAN HARM THE CHURCH OF GOD (vv. 7-8).

The Assyrians destroyed Jerusalem, but not Zion! (Isa. 54:17). You will be wise not to fight against -

· God’s Truth.

· God’s Church.

· God’s Messenger.

To do so is to fight against God!

Illus: Gamaliel - Acts 5:38-39.

III. MEN AND WOMEN FORSAKEN BY GOD ARE UTTERLY WITHOUT HOPE, LOST IN THE VAIN DELUSIONS OF RELIGIOUS DARKNESS (vv. 9-16).

This is an astonishing thing in the eyes of men, but it is a fact - God gives men and women up to a reprobate mind who refuse to hear and obey the gospel - (Pro. 1:23-33).

Illus: Ephraim - (Hos. 4:17).

Jerusalem - (Matt. 23:37-38).

Note: You and I are living in the midst of an apostate, reprobate generation (II Tim. 3:1-13; II Thess. 2:1-12). But God has been gracious to us (II Thess. 2:13-14)!

If God has crossed your path, you will be wise to bow to him while you have the opportunity. “Today is the day of salvation.” Enter into the ark before God shuts the door in your face. He says, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.”

There is one thing that always characterizes reprobate men and women - They never imagine that they are reprobate!

IV. GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE SHALL NOT BE DEFEATED BY MAN’S UNBELIEF (vv. 17-24).

Some believe and some believe not. But God’s purpose is unaffected. “The foundation of God standeth sure. The Lord knoweth them that are his.” And he will save them everyone - Who are God’s elect?

· The Deaf who Hear.

· The Blind who See.

· The Meek who Rejoice.

· The Children of Abraham - of Covenant Mercy!

· The Work of God’s Hands (Eph. 2:10).

· Those who Sanctify God and Fear Him.

· Erring Ones who Come to Understanding.

· Ignorant, Murmuring Ones who are Taught of God.

These are the Lessons of Ariel. Let us learn them well.

1. When religion degenerates into ritualism, it provokes God to wrath.

2. Satan, the world and hell may destroy religious people, churches and denominations, but nothing can harm the church of God.

3. Men and women forsaken of God are utterly lost, without hope, in the vain delusions of religious darkness.

4. God’s purpose of grace cannot be defeated - He will save his own elect!