Sermon # 202          Series: Isaiah

 

Title:  “THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART.”

Text:  Isaiah 58:1-14

Subject:  God’s Contempt for Heartless, Religious Ritualism

Date: Sunday Evening – January 15, 1995

 

Introduction:

 

The title of my message tonight is “The Lord Looketh on the Heart.”  Our text will be Isaiah 58:1-14.  Let’s read it together…

 

The subject of these fourteen verses is God’s utter contempt for empty, heartless, religious ritualism.  The chapter has for its historical background the great day of atonement, the only time Israel was required to keep the fasts described in these verses.  As the trumps was to be sounded to announce that day, so God’s prophet is required to lift up his voice like a trumpet against the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of God’s elect, for which atonement must be made – (Heb. 9:22).  As the day of atonement was to be a day for the breaking of yokes of bondage, a day of bounteous provision for the poor and the oppressed, and a day of joyful worship in the celebration of God’s great deliverance, so the gospel announces freedom for the oppressed slaves of sin and satan, bountiful provision for poor and needy souls, and salvation for lost sinners by God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ.

 

Such a great and gracious God as our God is, and such works of grace and wonders of mercy as we have experienced at his hand and daily enjoy in his presence, demand joyful and solemn worship from us that is the theme of Isaiah 58 – Worship, real worship.  Specifically the text is talking about the public assemblies of God’s saints for worship in the house of God.

 

1.  It is absolutely essential in the worship of God that we worship him “after the due order.”

 

 

2.  But, the right doctrine, the right ordinances, and the right conduct will not secure God’s approval and blessing.  (I Chron. 15:13).

 

 

3.  God demands heart worship! – “The Lord looketh on the heart!”  “A form of godliness” without heart worship is contemptible in the sight of God!

 

Proposition:  The Lord God almighty, who “looketh on the heart,” despises empty, heartless, religious ritualism and ceremonialism.

 

I.  The Duty and Responsibility of God’s Prophet in Every Generation is To Stand in the Gap, Expose Sin, Warn of Judgment, and Call Sinners to Repentance – (v. 1).

 

The direction given in verse 1 is strong and clear.  Those who have received a commission to speak for God are men who must…

 

A.  Deliver God’s Message with Earnestness – “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet.”

 

 

B.  Proclaim God’s Word with Fidelity!  “Spare not!”  “Show my people.”

 

      Illus:  John the Baptist.

                 Peter – Acts 4

 

 

C.  Keep The Atonement Constantly Before Men!

 

Remember, as I told you in my introduction, this chapter has direct reference to the day of atonement.  Separate it from the day of atonement and it has no meaning!  So it is with all religious service and all preaching.  It is the business of preachers to preach up Christ and his blood atonement.

 

 

II.  Nothing on this earth is more abominable and contemptible in the sight of God than Hypocritical Religious Activity – (vv. 2-7).

 

     Illus:  “I’m so tired of religion!”

 

What a sad, sad picture this is of religion; but, oh, how true!

 

A.  These people were zealous (v. 2).

 

B.   They presumed that God would bless them because of their religious devotion, zeal, and activity (v. 3).

 

They were upset with God because he had not rewarded their devotion – “Thou takest no knowledge.”

 

C.  While they zealously devoted themselves to religious duties, they were cruel, oppressive, and mean (vv. 3-4).

 

1.  Their religious activity gave them great pleasure and satisfaction.

2.  But they oppressed their laborers.

3.  Their religion was not something that promoted the praise of God, but something that promoted:

     ….Strife!

     ….Debate!

     ….Persecution!

 

4.  They did what they did, not because of love, gratitude, and ambition for God’s glory, but to make their “voice heard on high” – To win God’s favor and blessing!  It was all an outward show!  (v. 5).

 

III.  True worship, True Godliness arises from a Heart of Faith, Gratitude, and Humility, and is Reflected Acts of Love, Mercy, and Kindness (vv. 6-7).

 

 

IV.  God Honors Those Who Honor Him (vv. 8-12).

 

 

If we honor our God with this true, heart worship, that shows itself in love, mercy, and kindness, God will honor us with…

 

A.  Spiritual Health (v. 9).

B.  Spiritual Communion (v. 9).

C.  Spiritual Usefulness (vv. 9-10).

D.  Spiritual Satisfaction (v. 11).

E.  Spiritual Posterity (v. 12).

 

“And thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

 

NOTE:  There is a direct correlation between our honoring God and his honoring us in all things.

 

 

V.  The Keeping of the Sabbath in The Old Testament Was a Beautiful Picture of Faith in Christ, who is Our Sabbath – (vv. 13-14).

 

We are strictly forbidden of God to keep a literal sabbath day in this gospel age (Col. 2:16).  But faith in Christ is the true sabbath rest (Heb. 4:1-10).  To keep the Sabbath involves 5 things:

 

A.  It is a matter of Rest.

B.  It is a matter of Delight – “Willing”

C.  It is a matter of Divine Honor – “Honor Him!”

D.  It is a matter of Surrender and Submission.

E.  It is a matter of Everlasting Salvation – (v. 14).

 

Application:  “The Lord looketh on the heart!”