Sermon #1554 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: “Trust Ye In The Lord
Forever”
Text: Isaiah 26:1-21
Subject: A Call for Confident Faith in our God
Date: Sunday
Morning—
Tape # X-94a
Introduction:
As we begin a new year together is the grace of our God and in the service of his kingdom, his gospel and his glory, as we reflect upon the past and anticipate that which the Lord has for us in time to come, I have a message for you. How I pray that God the Holy Spirit will give me grace and power to deliver it. How I pray he will make it effectual to your hearts and my own. You will find my message in Isaiah 26. ― We will begin at verse 4.
Here’s my message ― “Trust
ye in the Lord forever.”
Some of you carry heavy burdens. Some of you are going through great trials.
Some of you, no doubt, will be called to pass through deep waters of trouble,
the fiery furnace of affliction, and the dark valley of bereavement before
long.
When such times come, my
heart hurts for you, I try to pray for you and bear your burdens with you. I
try to show my love and care for you in every way I can. But I know that the
best thing I can do for you at such times, and in anticipation of such times is
to preach the gospel to you, point you to Christ, and urge you to believe God.
That is my aim today. Your pastor can give you no better counsel than this. ― “Trust ye in the Lord
forever.”
Some of you are yet without
Christ. You are yet under the wrath of God. I pray for you. I weep for you. How
I pray that the Lord God will graciously speak to you this very hour and grant
you life and faith in my Savior. I can be of no greater service to your soul
than I am when I say to you, “Trust ye in the Lord forever.”
Now, watch this. ― The
prophet of God tells us why we can and should trust in the Lord our God
forever. ― “For in the Lord Jehovah
is everlasting strength!”
“Trust ye in the Lord forever.” ―
Trust him at all times, in every state and condition, in times of affliction,
temptation, and darkness, as well as in times of happiness, peace and light. He
will support you in every circumstance, and will in his own time deliver you
out of every trouble. He will cause all things to work together for your good.
Trust in him always, for
everything, for all temporal blessings, and for all spiritual ones, and for
eternal life and happiness. These are his gifts of grace. He has them in his
hand for you. He has promised them. And he will give them at the appointed
time.
“For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength!”
― Christ is the Lord JEHOVAH, which is, and was, and is to come,
self-existent, eternal, and immutable. In him is strength, as well as wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. In him is strength for you, his
people, ― strength for everything you need, ― strength to bear you
up under the weight of temptation, trouble, and affliction, ― strength to
withstand every enemy, ― strength to work his grace in you, ― and
strength discharge every duty.
His strength is everlasting
strength. It is always in him. It is always to be had from him. He is the
eternal God, who is our refuge. His arms of power and might underneath you.
They are everlasting arms.
These words might be
translated, "for in Jah" is "Jehovah, the Rock of ages."
Jehovah the Son is in Jehovah the Father, according to John 10:38 and
They could be translated,
"Jah Jehovah" is "the Rock of ages." Christ
is the Rock on which the church and every believer is
built, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. He has been the Rock of
his people in ages past, and will be in ages to come. He that trusts in the
Lord has a refuge in this world, and in the world to come.
Isaiah 26 is a song of praise to God for all
that he had done for
·
The first part of this song is a declaration of security and peace (vv. 1-4).
(Isa 26:1-4)
"In that day shall this song be sung in the
·
The second part is an encouragement to faith and confidence (vv. 5-11).
(Isa 26:5-11)
"For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he
layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even
to the dust. {6} The foot shall tread it
down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
{7} The way of the just is uprightness:
thou, most upright, dost weigh (observe, consider, and approve of)
the path of the just. {8} Yea, in the way of thy
judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is
to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. {9} With my soul have I desired thee in the
night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy
judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness. {10} Let favour be
showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land
of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the
LORD. {11} LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but
they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea,
the fire of thine enemies shall devour them."
·
The last part is a celebration of God’s wonderful works (vv. 12-21).
As we look at verses 12-21,
I want us to remind ourselves once more of God’s great goodness to us.
·
Individually
·
Domestically
·
Nationally
·
Ecclesiastically
·
Providentially
·
Savingly
·
Manifestly
·
Secretly
In verses 12-18 Isaiah
speaks for us about us, and we have verified his words in our
experience. In verses 19-20 the
church is encouraging herself with the words of Christ. And in verse
21 the church again speaks to the praise of God and for the encouragement of
faith.
Peace
Look at verse 12 ― “Lord,
thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.”
“Lord, thou wilt
ordain peace for us.” ― Whatever
trouble we may experience on this earth, believers may comfort themselves with
this fact, God will ordain peace
for us in the end. Every
creature and every event, every experience and every thing that comes to pass
in the lives of God’s elect he will make to work for our peace. Even those
things that seem to be altogether against us, he will cause to work for us, for
our everlasting peace.
(Isa
26:3-4) "Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee. {4} Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD
JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"
Debtors
“Thou hast wrought
all our works in us.” ― We are all debtors to the grace of God. We are not what we should be. We are
not what we want to be. We are not what we shall be. But, blessed be God, we
are not what we once were. And we are what we are by the grace of God. Whatever good work may be wrought by us, it
is the result of God’s good work of grace wrought in us. Being acted upon, we act. ― “For it is God which worketh in (us) both to will
and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil.
(Gal
5:22-24) "But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23}
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. {24} And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts."
Divisions: The remaining verses of this
song are an exposition, or explanation, of verse 12. These remaining verses
contain three things:
1. A Review Of
Our Past (vv. 13-18).
2. A Promise Of
Grace (v. 19).
3. A Call Of
Mercy (vv. 20-21).
(Isa 26:13-18)
"O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion
over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. {14} They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased,
they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made
all their memory to perish. {15} Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD,
thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far
unto all the ends of the earth. {16} LORD, in trouble have they
visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon
them. {17} Like as a woman with child, that draweth
near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her
pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. {18} We
have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth
wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the
inhabitants of the world fallen."
I.
Here is a review of our past
(vv. 13-18).
Whenever we think about the
history of God’s church, or the history of our individual lives there are some
things we should always bear in mind.
A. Remember where the Lord found us (v.
13).
(Isa 26:13)
"O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion
over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name."
This is a confession of sin. As
Let us
remember where the Lord found us (Isa. 51:1).
(Isa 51:1)
"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek
the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the
pit whence ye are digged."
Illustration: The Remembrance Room
When God found us, we were serving other lords,
under the dominion of the world, the flesh and the devil, walking after the
course of this world, under the rule of our hearts’ lusts, and taken captive by
Satan at his will ― Remembering where we were when God found us, let us
resolve henceforth to praise his name forever and serve him.
Illustration: Baptism ― To Walk In The Newness Of Life
B.
Remember, too, what the Lord
has done for us by his grace (v.
14).
(Isa 26:14) "They
are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not
rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory
to perish."
As he
destroyed
1. Satan has been cast out, and
shall never rise again with power to hurt us.
Illustration: Bunyan’s Pilgrim and the
Roaring Lion
2. Our sins have been punished,
slain, removed and shall never again be remembered against us.
C.
Always remember that
salvation is of the Lord (v.
15).
(Isa 26:15)
"Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the
nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all
the ends of the earth."
“Thou hast increased
the nation.” ― From one man,
Abraham, God made a great nation. And from one man, Christ Jesus, God has
raised up a far greater nation. It is his work altogether (Matt.
Note: As
D. Ever remember that the object of God in all his
works for us and in us is the glory of his own great name ― “Thou art glorified” (v. 15).
It is the glory of God to
save his people. And it is the glory of his people to glorify him.
E.
And remember that though we
are often unfaithful to him, the Lord our God is always faithful to his own (vv. 15-18).
1.
As he scattered
(Isa 26:15-16)
"Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the
nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all
the ends of the earth. {16} LORD, in trouble have they visited thee,
they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them."
2.
When trouble, particularly, when spiritual trouble comes upon us, we
cannot deliver ourselves (vv. 17-18).
(Isa 26:17-18)
"Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of
her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been
in thy sight, O LORD. {18} We have been with
child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not
wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world
fallen."
·
We cannot revive ourselves.
·
We cannot overcome our enemies.
·
We are helpless until God helps us ― “Turn us!” ― “Call
us!” ― “Draw me!” ― “Wilt thou not revive thy work?”
― Indeed, he will!
The history of God’s church and the history of our souls is a history of grace, pure, free, sovereign, immutable grace. Let us never forget it (Mal. 3:6).
(Isa 26:19)
"Thy dead men shall live, together
with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust:
for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the
dead."
II. As
we review the past we see nothing but grace. And as we look to the future our
only hope is grace ― So
here is a promise of grace (v. 19). ― The promise here is
threefold:
·
This speaks of the spiritual
resurrection of God’s elect.
“Thy dead men”
― Though we were dead in trespasses and in sin,
we were still his! And though many of his elect are still dead in trespasses
and in sin, they, too, are still his! But it is written, “Thy dead men shall
live, together with my dead body shall they arise.”
This passage is clearly
explained for us in John 5:25-29.
(John 5:25-29)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour
is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:
and they that hear shall live. {26} For as the
Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in
himself; {27} And hath given him authority to execute judgment also,
because he is the Son of man. {28} Marvel not at this: for the hour is
coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {29} And
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and
they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
·
All God’s elect, once they were redeemed by Christ, were raised
together with Christ representatively (Rom.
·
We were glorified with the glorified Son of God in eternity.
(Rom 8:29-30)
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
{30} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified."
·
And we were raised up with Christ our Substitute when he arose and took
possession of heaven as our Surety.
(Eph
2:4-6) "But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, {5} Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
{6} And hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
·
The text also speaks of the
sure revival of God’s saints by Christ (Ps.
138:7; Isa. 57:15; Hos. 6:2; 14:7).
(Psa 138:7)
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou
shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right
hand shall save me."
(Isa 57:15)
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
(Hosea 6:2)
"After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise
us up, and we shall live in his sight."
(Hosea 14:7)
"They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as
the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the
wine of
·
And Isaiah’s promise extends
to the glorious resurrection of our bodies
when Christ comes again (1 Thess.
(1
Th 4:13-18) "But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope. {14} For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. {15} For this we say unto you
by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. {16} For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
{17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one
another with these words."
(Isa 26:20-21)
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors
about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation
be overpast. {21} For, behold, the LORD cometh
out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the
earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
III. Here is a call of mercy (vv. 20-21).
As we live in this world, often in the midst of trouble, looking forward to that great day of our resurrection and glory, the Lord calls us to take refuge in him.
A. He calls us to come into our chambers.
·
Our Chamber Of Distinction ― “Come out from
among them and be ye separate.”
·
Our Chamber Of Defense ― His Name.
(Prov
18:10) "The name of the LORD is a
strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
Illustrations: Noah ―
·
Our Chamber Of Devotion ― “Enter into thy
closet and shut the door.”
B. The Lord assures us that our trouble will be over
soon. ― “Hide thyself as it were
for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.”
Illustration: When Athanasius was banished
from
C.
In the end our God will
reckon with our enemies (v.
21).
(Isa
26:21) "For, behold,
the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for
their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more
cover her slain."
1.
He will come out of his place from the mercy seat to the judgment seat.
2.
He will punish the inhabitants of the earth.
3.
The Lord will reveal all things in that day.
·
The Righteousness of His People
·
The Wickedness of His Enemies
·
I am happy to wait for that day.
Truly, O Lord our God, “Thou
wilt ordain peace for us: for thou hast wrought all our works in us…Thou art
glorified.”
Amen.