Sermon
# 125 Series: Isaiah
Title: The Israel of God and The God of Israel
Text: Isaiah 44:1-8
Subject: The Blessedness of God’s
Elect and the Greatness of our God
Date: Sunday Evening – August 9, 1992
Introduction:
Take
special notice to the first word in our text- “Yet.” This is both an ominous word and a cheering word, ominous as it
refers to the past, cheering as it refers to the future.
“Yet”- What black, black words preceded
it. (43:22-28). The closing verses of chapter 43 represent
the people of God in a very sad state.
They are described as a people who had lost the love of God’s worship
and service. The neglected his altar. They brought no than offering. They had fallen into such a horrible state
of sin and indifference that they wearied the Lord with their iniquities. Therefore God brought them into a condition
of great sorrow. God gave them over to
a providential curse and Israel became the object of great reproach.
Is
there one here like these men and women of old? Though you are truly God’s child, an heir of the covenant, you
have ceased to run with diligence in the path of obedience. You still follow the Lord, in a sense, but
it is with halting steps. You follow;
but you follow afar off! You are in a
state of lukewarmness. Here you set in
the house of God, but you have brought nothing to him. You make your God to serve with your
sins! You weary him with your
iniquities! There you sit, your soul
cleaving to the dust. The Lord has
hidden his face from you. You have
forsaken your God, as Peter once did; and you fear he has forsaken you.
“Yet”- says the prophet. O what a ray of hope! Though you have fallen, do not despair. God is merciful still! Though you have transgressed in the most
foul way, do not think for a moment that God will cast away his people. Though you have chosen the way of
folley. God has not forgotten you. Though he hides his face and afflicts you
for your sins he has not forgotten to be gracious. He has not forsaken you.
His mercy is not clear gone forever.
This
word- “Yet”- is a star arising in the morning dawn of a better day! It is a prophecy of brighter rays of
goodness and grace than you can imagine-
“Yet, now hear, O Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen!”
Proposition: As our God will never cease to be great, so he will
never cease to be gracious to the people he has chosen, redeemed, and saved!
Divisions: The title of my message tonight is The Israel of
God and the God of Israel. These
two great truths stand out with abundant clarity in our text:
1.
The
Blessedness of The Israel of God (vv. 1-5).
2.
The
Greatness of the God of Israel (vv. 6-8).
I.
The Blessedness of The Israel of God (vv. 1-5).
Without question, in their immediate context, these words are the words of promise which the Lord God spake to natural Israel regarding their long captivity in Babylon and his promise to deliver them, because of his covenant faithfulness, by the hand of Cyrus. However, in their wider scope, we cannot fail to see that these words speak of another Israel and another Deliver. They speak more of the Church, the Israel of God, than of Abraham’s physical seed; and they speak more of Christ our Savior than of Cyrus, the deliver.
The
Church of God, all true believers, are the Israel of God to whom belong all the
promises and blessings of God’s covenant grace in Christ- (Gal. 6:14-16; Phil.
3:3). The physical nation of Israel was
a type and figure of the Church, the gospel Israel.
In
these first five verses, we see that the Church, the people of God are a
blessed people because we are God’s covenant people. Our happiness and blessedness in this world consists of three
things: Covenant Relations, Covenant Blessings, and Covenant Consecration.
A.
Covenant Relations- (vv. 1-2).
Nothing
is more delightfully blessed to God’s elect than the knowledge of our covenant
relations with our God in Christ. In
chapter 43 Jacob and Israel had been set before us as an obnoxious, sinful
people. Such we are by nature and by
deed, altogether deserving of God’s wrath.
Here these same vile sinners are called by the name “Jeshurun”—
·
This
is the Covenant Name God gave to His People.
·
It
is only used Four Times in the Bible- Deut. 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isa. 44:2).
·
It
is always used in reference to Redemption and Grace.
·
It
means- “Upright One!”
Though by nature and by deed we are most vile, God always looks upon his covenant people in Christ, through the blood of Christ, robed in the righteousness of Christ as “Upright Ones”-- Our name in God’s family register is “Jeshurun!”
1.
This is God’s word to you, Jeshurun:
“Fear
Not!”
·
Fear
Not your sins- I have blotted them out!
·
Fear
Not your troubles- I will make them good!
·
Fear
Not your foes- I will defeat them!
2.
Do we have any encouragement to believe God’s promise and cease from
fear? Indeed we do! Our great God declares that we are…
These
are blessed covenant relations. Such a relationship with God is enough to make
the people of God a happy, blessed people; but there is much more.
B.
Covenant Blessings (vv. 3-4).
1.
To
the Thirsty – He pours out water to quench their thirst.
2.
To
the Barren – He floods the dry ground and makes it fruitful.
3.
The
Water he pours out is the Spirit of Grace (John 7:37-39; Gal. 3:13-16).
4.
When
God pours out his Spirit, he makes our barren hearts fruitful with grace (vv.
3-4).
·
The
seed and offspring are the children of Zion, those born within her walls- Converts!
·
The
seed and offspring are the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit brought forth
in the regenerate heart (John 15:16; Gal. 5:22-24).
Note: All who have been blessed of God in the covenant and
blessed of God in redemption, shall be blessed of God with grace (Eph. 1:3;
John 16:7). And those who are blessed
of God are blessed forever! (Rom.
11:29; Eccl. 3:14).
However,
no one will ever enjoy and participate in these covenant relations and covenant
blessings until he gives himself to the Lord God in…
C.
Covenant Consecration (v. 5).
How I
pray that everyone of you may know the blessedness of the Israel of God! That is the first thing revealed in our
text. The second thing I want to talk
about is…
II.
The Greatness of Israel’s God (vv. 6-8).
The promises of God and the blessings they contain are comfortable and satisfying because they come from our God who is great and who is God alone. Here are 5 things, the Lord our God tells us about himself to comfort us and encourage our faith and confidence in him.
A.
The Lord our God is a God of Incontestable Sovereignty and Irresistible
Power—
He is the Lord, Jehovah, The Lord of Hosts, self-existent, self-sufficient, and totally sovereign—(Dan. 4:35-39).
B.
The Lord God stands in a Peculiar Relation to and has a Peculiar Concern
for His Church.
C.
Our God is Eternal—“The first and the last”—“Alpha an Omega”—“The Beginning
and the End.” (Rom. 11:36).
D.
He is God Alone! “Beside me there is no God”—(vv.
6-8).
1.
These
words might be read as they stand—“Beside me there is no God!” Though many are called gods, there is no
God but our God. He alone-
·
Calls
with Effectual Power!
·
Declares
what Shall Be!
·
Orders
the Affairs of the World from Eternity!
·
Has
Appointed A People for Himself from Everlasting!
·
Has
Ordained “The Things that are coming” and has revealed them to his
people—(Cyrus 200 years in Advance- Christ- 400 years!
2.
An
the words might read, “Beside me is no Rock!” (v. 8 marg.).
·
No
Foundation Rock on which to Build!
·
No
Rock of Refuge to which to Fly for Shelter!
·
No
Rock of Salvation from which flows the Water of Life!
E.
Now the Lord Proves His Claims as God by the Experience of His People- “Ye are even my witness!” (v. 8).
·
I
have called you!
·
I
have appointed you to salvation!
·
I
am Your Redeemer!
·
I
am Your King!
·
I
am Your Rock!
·
I
am to you a God!
·
In
spite of everything you have been and done, I am your God! You have no other!
Application:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy name!”
·
Bless
him for Every Blessing of His Grace (Eph. 1:3; Ps. 34:1-6).
·
Bless
him for His Excellent Greatness. (Ps.
150:1, 2, 6).