›Isaiah 57:14-21
›Responding to God
14 And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19 creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
“and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
(Isaiah 57:9-14-21, ESV)
›Main Point
› These verses finish the thought at the beginning of the chapter
› There, the wicked are criticized for seeking satisfaction apart from God
› The righteous are mocked and disappearing
› Those who see their sin will not be destroyed
› Instead, will find true satisfaction in God Himself
Application Points
› Responding to God
– When one has an experience with God it will lead to something
– Regardless of the method…Isaiah reminds us there is a reaction to the experience
– When we find God has done something in the world
– The truth is it is possible for us to respond to God positively or negatively
– Perhaps…you respond negatively
– Perhaps it leads to you hating God because He is demanding something which only our Creator can demand…complete authority
Application Points
› Responding to God (2)
– Some might find this hard to believe…but we often encounter such individuals
– There’s a pretty good chance any one of us have been there
– Maybe we believed we could do better on or own
– These kind of responses to God are not uncommon
– We prefer the darkness rather than the light
– We believe it is better to be the master of the darkness, rather than in submission to the light
– We construct our own methods on how to live
– If each person declares what is right or wrong, then is there any way to know who is actually right and wrong?
– If by goodness I mean doing what I want (murder, torture etc.) and by evil I mean self sacrifice…who are you to say I am wrong?
Application Points
› Responding to God (3)
– The problem is this is the world around us
– Never having a firm foundation despite this being our most desperate desire…to have a firm foundation
– Some utilize reason, emotions, spirituality, others their physical bodies
– They have built a foundation of the sea
– No true peace, no place of rest, no permanence
– What can save us from this?
– God is the only eternal Being
– He is holy above all the created order
– Yet He is also within, around, sharing with us, His creation
Application Points
› Responding to God (4)
– Whereas the pagans worshipped the different natural elements as gods
– God is God, and through His created order He has given us knowledge of His invisible attributes
– “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20, ESV)
Application Points
› Responding to God (5)
– Who is without excuse?
– We all are
– When Isaiah says today, “For thus say the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:” it is the truth
– This realization of how great God is could cause us to respond as above (our own way)
– But if we e should respond in this way different way we find our foundation is not a foundation on the waves, but on solid ground
– That response is recognition of our own sin, God’s greatness, and repentance away from doing that which is evil
Application Points
› Responding to God (6)
– If we should respond this way, then we will find peace that will not last for a moment, or a breath, or the moment of bliss
– We will find an eternal peace because the source of our peace is the eternal person, God Himself
– This world is contingent upon other things
– That Creator, Sustainer, is God Himself
– We have the option to ignore this, and go our own way, but know the repercussions
– There is no rest apart from God, no peace
– Hopefully we would seek this God who is so near to us
– It may be painful at first
– Whenever we first look at the light when in darkness it always pains our eyes
– When we encounter what is truly good, it can hurt our eyes
– Do not respond by averting your gaze!
– Instead, respond by keeping your eyes open, becoming familiar with the Light, and slowly the pain will fade, and all that will be left is love
Application Points
› The Gospel of Christ
– Origins
– Fall
– Redemption
– Glorification
