Fellowshipmtz

To the Jews First and Also to the Gentiles

Isaiah 59:15b-21

What Isaiah describes is termed elsewhere as "the Day of the LORD" -- a time of Judgment and Deliverance, a time of Wrath and Mercy!

The Good News! (The LORD‘s Own Arm Worked Him Salvation)

Isaiah 59:15b-19

Two main points stand out:  (1) GOD is not indifferent to sin, injustice, and human suffering; and (2) We cannot save ourselves -- (no matter how much help God sends!)

First, the Bad News...

Isaiah 59:1-15a

Charles Spurgeon on this text: "You thought that God's hand was shortened, that it could not save; but it is your hand that is shortened, for you have not laid hold upon Christ.  You have not taken your sins to Him to be put away . . .  You said that God's ear was dull.  Nay, nay, nay, it is your ear that is dull; you have not heard what God the Lord has been saying to you, you have not been obedient to the heavenly message.  All the mischief lies with yourself, not with God; and at the last,  if you are not saved, the blame will not rest upon the Saviour, but upon yourself.  This is the doctrine that we preach; if a man be saved, all the honour is to be  given to Christ; but if a man be lost, all the blame is to be laid upon himself.   You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences:  salvation is all of the grace of God, damnation is all of the will of man."

When Fervent Religion Damns

Isaiah 58

John Piper summarizes pointedly, "The authenticity our worship on Sunday is shaped by our justice on Monday."

Grace! (And Can It Be?)

Isaiah 57:14-21

A truly amazing passage! In verse 15 the LORD declares, "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit".  He goes on to explain that He can dwell with the crushed and lowly because He "will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry" (vs 16).  That's good news, certainly!  BUT DOESN'T that just create a different sort of problem?
People haven't stopped sinning (verse 17!) -- so on what basis can the LORD make such an audacious promise without compromising His own holiness?

"Failed Leadership"

Isaiah 56:9 -- 57:13

In spite of all that the LORD has already done and promised still to do, Jerusalem's present day "watchman" are miserable failures -- "blind watchman, silent dogs, shepherds without understanding".  Sadly, the indictment is still true of governmental and church leaders!

Keep Justice & Do Righteousness

Isaiah 56:1-8

Some (more liberal) churches emphasize matters of (social) justice to the detriment of personal righteousness.  Other (more conservative) churches emphasize the Bible's teaching on sin, salvation, and righteousness to the neglect of keeping justice.  Both themes are stressed in Scripture.

Isaiah's (Fascinating) Structure...

Isaiah 56 
I don't know if you have noticed it or not, but every time Isaiah's text indicates Israel's sin and waywardness have resolved by GOD's intervention and covenant faithfulness, Isaiah turns dark and gloomy again.  Today's lesson is a "big picture" and explains what the reader should understand.

The LORD's Everlasting Covenant!

Isaiah 55:3-13

Verses 6-7: “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

A sinner's relationship with GOD will NEVER be realized so long he relies HIS way (efforts), HIS thinking.  A sinner's relationship with GOD will NEVER be realized so long as she relies on CULTURE's methods, CULTURE's thinking.  Seeking the LORD is an all-encompassing venture
the pearl of great price! the treasure hidden in the field!

Alas! (What your soul thirsts for has been provided by the LORD!)

Isaiah 55:1-3

Alas! -- Disappointingly, the very first (Hebrew) word of the LORD's own "Gospel sermon" has either been mistranslated or poorly translated in most English versions of the Bible.