WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.959 Turn to Isaiah chapter 6. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:09.839 Isaiah 6. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:15.119 Really grateful to Pastor Doug for choosing this book. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:22.239 Today is our last message in the book of Isaiah, and we'll be starting up in Titus in a couple of weeks. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:32.880 So we won't be only in chapter 6 today, but we want to use Isaiah 6 as a window into our review of the book this morning. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:39.759 Isaiah chapter 6. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:40.960 This is God's word. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:52.960 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.079 Seraphim were standing above him. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:58.320 They each had six wings. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:04.560 With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:15.280 And one called to another holy, holy, holy is the Lord of armies, his glory fills the whole earth. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:21.040 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:35.359 Then I said, Woe was me, for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips, and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of armies. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:43.840 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:52.640 He touched my mouth with it and said, Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:57.040 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking, Who will I send? 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.159 Who will go for us? 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.319 I said, Here I am, send me. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:05.519 And he replied, Go. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:11.599 Say to these people, Keep listening, but do not understand. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.319 Keep looking, but do not perceive. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:25.039 Make the minds of these people dull, deafen their ears and blind their eyes, otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back and be healed. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.240 Then I said, Until when, Lord? 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:34.080 And he replied, Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:37.439 Houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:41.439 And the Lord drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:53.919 Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again, like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.680 The holy seed is the stump. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:03.039 Lord, again, we just want to ask for your help. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:11.439 We're so conscious that our words don't profit anything if the Spirit is not giving life. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:14.000 So please, Spirit of God, we're weak. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:18.319 Help us, help me as I speak, help us as we all listen to this word. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:19.919 Thank you again for it. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:21.039 In Jesus' name. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:22.000 Amen. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:33.199 When Doug introduced this book of the Bible, Isaiah, to us just over a year ago, about a year and a half ago now, he said, I hope Isaiah becomes your friend. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.000 I think for many of us it has. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.439 I hope it's become a lifelong friend. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:45.759 And a year can seem like a long time to be in one book of the Bible. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:56.159 If you're new to our church, or perhaps you haven't been in a church before that preaches through books of the Bible, let me just briefly explain that practice. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.199 There's a lot of faithful ways to do a sermon series. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.400 The most important thing is preach the word. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.159 Don't add anything to it, don't take anything away from it. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:12.159 We do have in Acts 20 Paul's example of preaching the whole counsel of God. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:19.680 There are examples in the Old Testament of the priests reading sequentially from the law and explaining it for the people. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:23.120 And preaching through books of the Bible helps us in some ways. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:30.480 It helps us to make sure that we're staying on track and really getting the whole message of the book. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:43.920 It helps us make sure that we're carefully considering the context of each passage so that we're not just sort of imposing our ideas on the text, but drawing out the sermon from the text itself. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.800 And it does, it helps preachers. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:47.759 Today that's me. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.759 It helps us because we have to preach what the text says. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.839 I can't just preach on topics I like or verses I like. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:00.560 I've got to preach on whatever Scripture says so I can trust God in that. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:10.399 So as we look back over Isaiah, 66 chapters, over 50 sermons, how do we summarize the book of Isaiah? 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:13.120 Here's our summary for today. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:19.360 The Holy God brings salvation through his servant. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.120 That's what Isaiah is all about. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:29.120 The Holy God brings salvation through his servant. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.040 I'll say it one more time. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:35.360 The Holy God brings salvation through his servant. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:42.000 And when we think about it that way, we see this is a book that's very relevant for us. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.959 Has God's character changed since Isaiah was written? 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:47.680 Not at all. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.800 Has our need of salvation changed? 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:51.439 No. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.480 Has the glory of his servant diminished? 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:57.199 Not even a little bit. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:10.319 Yes, there's some challenges in this book, but when we keep that big idea in mind, we're going to have so much that's there and true and good and necessary for us. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:17.279 So I'm gonna break that main idea, that main theme, into three parts. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:20.720 First part, the holy God. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.839 Second part, the holy God who brings salvation. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:31.600 And then the third part, the holy God who brings salvation through his servant. 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:40.480 So hopefully breaking it up like that will help us better understand and reflect on all that we've encountered here in Isaiah. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:44.959 We can't actually encounter and reflect on all of it, but we'll hit some of the highlights. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:47.360 So part number one, the holy God. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.079 Isaiah's a prophet. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:56.879 Prophets are given this task to speak on behalf of God. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.199 They deliver his message. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.800 And the God who speaks through Isaiah is the God. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.680 Look again at verse number one here of chapter six. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:15.199 In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah says, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.920 Isaiah doesn't see one God among many. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:24.319 He doesn't see a Greek or Roman pantheon of gods. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.600 He sees the one true and living God. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:38.160 Repeatedly throughout Isaiah, God contrasts his unique authority with all the so-called fake and phony gods. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.800 Isaiah 44, verse 6. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:49.120 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, the Lord of armies, says, I am the first and I am the last. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:51.600 There is no God but me. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:54.879 Isaiah 40, verses 18 and 19. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.639 With whom will you compare God? 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.040 What likeness will you set up for comparison with him? 00:07:59.279 --> 00:07:59.680 An idol? 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.680 Something a smelter cast and a metalworker plates with gold? 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.639 Isaiah 44, 8 through 11. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.480 Don't be startled or afraid. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:11.199 Have I not told you and declared it long ago? 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.319 You are my witnesses. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:14.639 Is there any God but me? 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:17.439 There is no other rock. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.480 I do not know any. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:22.720 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure benefits no one. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.439 Their witnesses do not see or know anything. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:26.959 They will be put to shame. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:40.080 Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, and the book of Isaiah calls us to reckon with the one living God, the supreme over all things. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.320 You might say, well, yes and amen. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:45.440 Okay, I believe that. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:46.720 There's only one God. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.320 Don't own any idols. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.080 Not so fast. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:09:00.559 An idol can really be anything that might functionally step in at times and take the place of God in our lives. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:10.240 So Martin Lloyd-Jones says, an idol is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:14.639 Anything that seems to me essential. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:22.399 An idol is anything by which I live and on which I depend. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:25.919 What do you hope most about? 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:28.320 What do you trust in? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.840 Where do you go for comfort and refuge? 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:36.720 Those things can reveal the idols of our hearts. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:44.879 And when we stop and think about it, the idols of our hearts are just as foolish as the idols of Isaiah's day. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.759 You're working. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:49.039 Work is difficult. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:50.799 There are challenges at work. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.159 And your mind is fixed on one thing. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:10:00.480 If I can just make it to the weekend and binge watch my favorite TV show, things will be looking up. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.480 Now, what is your favorite TV show? 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.399 How is that going to help you at work? 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:08.639 It's not going to help you a lick. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:12.480 Say, well, yeah, but it kind of makes me feel a little better. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.320 It makes me feel like things are looking up. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.679 Yeah, alright. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:21.279 And for other people, having a block of wood on the mantle makes them feel like, okay, things are in place, it's filling up. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.440 It's a similar kind of idea. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:30.399 God is the only one who can ultimately fill our tank with meaning. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.879 There's only one God, and He is the holy God. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:49.679 So here in chapter 6, when Isaiah encounters God, verse 3 says there are angels surrounding the throne, calling to one another, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of armies. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:11:02.639 This encounter must have impacted Isaiah deeply because throughout Isaiah, this book, he, the author, refers to God as the holy one of Israel. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.639 Over 20 times. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:08.720 The rest of the Old Testament uses that phrase less than 10 times. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:13.600 But Isaiah encountered a God who was holy, holy, holy. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.480 What does it mean that God is holy? 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.399 We sing about it. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:25.600 We just sang today a song very biblical, drawn right from the pages of Scripture here, holy, holy, holy. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.200 What does that mean? 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:36.000 Holiness has the idea of devotion, consecration. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:41.600 Someone or something is set apart for a particular purpose. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:46.399 So the objects in the tabernacle and the temple were holy. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.159 They were set apart for that particular service of worship. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:54.559 The priests as well were devoted to God and to his service. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:12:00.480 Remember when God came to Moses and said, The place you're standing is holy ground? 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:07.120 And then he goes on to say, I'm going to take my people and bring them out to worship me on this mountain. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:12.159 Like, Moses, you thought this was your father's father-in-law's shepherding mountain. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.759 I've got another purpose for it. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.399 It's going to be devoted to me and to my people. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:25.200 So for God Himself to be holy means that he is devoted to his own name and his own glory above everything else. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:27.600 R. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:27.919 C. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:38.080 Sproull said that the failure of modern evangelicalism is the failure to understand the holiness of God. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:47.759 Here in Isaiah 6, Isaiah runs into a problem, and it reflects the problem of Israel throughout the entire book. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.960 God is holy, holy, holy, high, and lifted up. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.320 How can he be the holy one of Israel? 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.759 How can the holy God dwell with unholy people? 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.360 Verse number five expresses this problem powerfully. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:13.679 Listen to Isaiah's words as he's inspired by God and truly confessing from his own soul. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:29.600 Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I'm a man of unclean lips, and live among a people of unclean lips, because my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of armies. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.240 It's a problem. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:38.480 And that very problem leads us to the next big part of the message. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:42.480 The holy God brings salvation. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.879 Look at verses 6 and 7. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:50.000 God graciously responds to Isaiah's predicament. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:57.600 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:07.440 He touched my mouth and said, Now this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed, and your sin is atoned for. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:40.319 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love, saved us by his grace. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:55.599 And when Isaiah shows us that this holy God brings salvation, Isaiah unveils to us the heart of God, the compassionate and merciful heart of God. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.319 Isaiah 30, 18. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:03.920 Therefore, the Lord is waiting to show you mercy. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:23.599 Indeed, your husband is your Maker. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:29.759 His name is the Lord of armies, and the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:38.079 He is called the God of the whole earth, for the Lord is called you like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:51.359 A wife of one's youth when she is rejected, says your God, I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back with abundant compassion. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:59.119 God doesn't save grudgingly or sparingly. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:12.400 God brings salvation not just for Israel, he brings it for the world. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.519 Isaiah 12, 4 and 5. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:28.240 And on that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name, make his works known among the peoples, declare that his name is exalted, sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.599 Let this be known throughout the earth. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.759 God is saving people from every place. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:42.400 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, New Hyde Park, Richmond Hill. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:46.480 This is a glorious God of mercy who brings salvation far and wide. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.359 All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:10.319 Now, when Isaiah speaks of salvation over and over and over in this book, he speaks about salvation in different ways. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:21.599 Let's try to keep in mind something that Pastor Dud brought out as a tool for us when we read through the book of Isaiah and we listen to it, and that's this idea of three horizons. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:26.480 Or you could think of it as sort of successive mountain ranges. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:32.880 The first horizon is the horizon or the mountain range of Isaiah's own day. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:41.440 The people are going to be uh in trouble with Assyria, Babylon, they will come back from exile. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.400 God will save them from exile. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.000 That's that first horizon. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:55.359 The second horizon from Isaiah's vantage point is looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:01.839 That's the spiritual salvation that Israel and the world most need. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.680 Salvation and restored communion with God. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:20.559 And then the third horizon that's looking forward, even from our perspective, to a future where God's going to make all things new and finish his grand work of salvation once and for all. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:41.440 So it can be difficult because when Isaiah speaks of this glorious salvation and hope, it's not always easy to see if he's speaking about that first horizon of his own day or that second horizon, that second mountain range of the coming of Jesus Christ, or the consummation of all things. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:48.240 Or whether he's speaking about two of them or three of them compressed together. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:52.559 But that is the way the Bible works at times. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:59.759 Things that happened in Israel's history become a kind of picture prophecy of later history. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.279 Events. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.480 Types is a word that we would use. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.240 But that just means a picture prophecy. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.920 Something happens in Israel's life. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:10.960 Think of all the lambs that were slaughtered year after year. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:13.519 And then behold, the Lamb of God. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:17.200 Ah, that was pointing me forward to something greater. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:23.839 So keep that in mind when we think about Isaiah and his proclamation of God's saving mercies. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:32.480 God's salvation doesn't come to the exclusion of his judgment. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.359 Again, we find that throughout the book of Isaiah. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:47.839 And even his smaller judgments throughout history, like his smaller acts of salvation, point to a great and final judgment to come for all who reject and refuse him. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:57.839 So the last main part of our message today, how does God bring salvation? 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.440 The Holy One of Israel. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.880 He's sure going to do it. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:11.440 We see in this passage, he gives Isaiah this glowing coal, but that's that's not really sufficient. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:14.400 Without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sin. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:21.119 So the Holy God brings salvation, he does it through his servant. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.799 That's what we have to see. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.839 There's many servants in the book of Isaiah. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:37.119 So again, this is one of the things that's a little tricky for us to track, but to give you some examples, in Isaiah chapter 20, Isaiah himself is called a servant of God. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:41.519 In Isaiah 45, a foreign king is called God's servant. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.680 In chapter 41, the whole nation of Israel is called God's servant. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:58.480 Now, here in chapter 6, I said we were using this chapter as kind of a window into the book, we don't find Isaiah explicitly called a servant, but he does function that way. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.680 Look at verse 8. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:06.240 I heard the voice of the Lord asking, Who will I send? 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:08.319 Who will go for us? 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:13.039 I said, Here I am, send me. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:16.640 The master calls, the servant answers. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:23.680 But Isaiah, the servant, he's just the messenger. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:30.319 He announces God's salvation, he himself can't bring God's salvation. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:36.799 A foreign king, though used as God's pawn, can't bring ultimate salvation. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:41.599 Even the nation of Israel can't ultimately bring salvation. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:53.599 And though it's not spelled out in great detail here in chapter 6, you really need all of the book of Isaiah to start seeing how God's going to bring about this salvation through his servant. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.279 There's a clue for us, even here. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.400 Look at verse 13. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:08.240 Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.720 The holy seed is the stump. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:18.960 This is one of those verses that at first reading you're like, I'm not, I don't, I don't know why he says that, but let's give some attention to it. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.960 It's gonna give some rewards here. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:28.319 So what Isaiah is saying is God is gonna bring judgment, but it's not total judgment. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:32.160 There's gonna be a remnant, a group of leftover survivors. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.160 That's where he says a tenth will remain. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:39.039 So you have a tree that's cut down, but the stump and the seed are still there. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:44.079 And if you just got the stump and the seed, it could grow and blossom again. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:46.799 There's some kind of hope for salvation here. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.119 Let's keep working on this, right? 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:53.839 In the Bible, nations are often compared to trees. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.559 So Ezekiel 17, for example, compares Israel to a tree. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.720 But they're a tree that never seems to bloom properly. 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:09.920 They're pruned and pruned, and yet you get to John the Baptist and he says, Oh, you think you have Abraham as your father? 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.359 You brood of vipers? 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:15.599 Now the axe is laid to the root of the tree. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.759 That doesn't sound good. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:28.160 Is Isaiah 6 13 this verse, is that all that Isaiah has to say about roots and stumps? 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:29.200 No. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:31.759 Listen to Isaiah 11, verse 1. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:44.079 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.799 Jesse is David's father. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:53.279 But Jesse's long dead when Isaiah gives this prophecy. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:57.039 David's long dead when Isaiah gives this prophecy. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:09.680 But Isaiah is saying, from the line of David, there's going to come another root, another branch that will yet grow again. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:17.359 Righteousness will be a belt around his hips, and faithfulness a belt around his waist. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:20.000 And there's even more. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:29.599 Here in Isaiah 6, verse 13 ends with this phrase the holy seed is the stump. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.839 Who did Isaiah encounter? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:35.440 The God who is holy, holy, holy. 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:45.759 But if this is if this is talking about Israel only or exclusively, it's not going to be going well. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:48.160 They're going to get uprooted and struck down. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:56.960 And yet, God Himself can supply the holiness that he requires. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:12.559 And we hear this language of oaks and stumps and seeds, and we've got botanical imagery in our minds, and we should have that in our minds. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:26.720 But this word seed, it's a word that's not only used of plants or tree seeds, it's used of human beings, of offspring. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:36.559 This is the same word when God promises Eve her seed will crush the serpent's head. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:40.240 And the Old Testament traces the story of that promised seed. 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:50.319 And here's Isaiah so powerfully bringing together this hope of restoration of a promised seed that's going to be provided by God Himself. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:53.599 He could pack a lot into one verse. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.279 God's the ultimate author. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:01.039 So it's going to take the whole book to help fill this out. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:03.279 But what does all of this have to do with God's servant? 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:12.880 In the book of Isaiah, the language of a servant is more common than the language of seed and the language of stump. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:14.880 But there's a connection here. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:24.960 Israel's failure to be the righteous stump corresponds to their failure to be the righteous servant. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:39.039 Isaiah's inability to be the ultimate holy seed and offspring of David, that corresponds with Isaiah's inability to be the final and climactic servant of God. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:59.039 Isaiah takes up this message of the servant multiple times in the book, Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 53. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:03.039 We looked at four different servant songs. 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:06.079 And this servant brings God's righteousness. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.400 He showcases the compassionate heart of God. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:27.920 So if the message of Isaiah 52, 7 is the good news that God reigns, then the message of these triumphant servant songs is that a glorious servant is coming and bringing salvation once and for all. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:32.000 Let's turn over to Isaiah 53. 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.079 I know you've been here in Isaiah 6. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:37.359 We've been listening to a lot of different verses from Isaiah. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.759 Turn to Isaiah 53. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:46.880 It's one of the most well-known passages in Isaiah, and it's the final servant song. 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:54.640 Notice verse number 2. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:07.759 He grew up before him, this servant, like a young plant, and like a root out of the dry ground. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:12.319 There's just further connection of this servant who is the root of David. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:15.039 Look down to the middle of verse 10. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:18.160 He will see his seed. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:21.519 So Jesus is the ultimate offspring. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:33.759 And those who are of faith are blessed together with the Lord Jesus Christ, part of this holy seed. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:35.200 We become part of the family of God. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:46.000 When Isaiah sings these servant songs, yes, they're songs of celebration, but they're songs of sorrow. 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:52.960 There's this sort of two-beat rhythm of these songs. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:54.960 It's suffering, glory. 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:57.519 Suffering and glory. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:00.640 And you can see that here in verse number five. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:03.279 He was pierced because of our rebellion. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:07.599 Verse 6, the Lord punished him, laying on him human iniquity. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:14.559 Verse number seven, he is the Lamb led to the slaughter, suffering, suffering, suffering. 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:18.960 And it's vicarious suffering. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:24.000 That just means he was suffering in the place of other people. 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:32.079 He himself committed no sin, no iniquity was found in his mouth, but he was suffering for the people of God. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:39.359 That's how God accomplishes salvation through a suffering servant. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:42.720 Now, what about glory? 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:54.799 But verse number 10 says he will prolong his days. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:57.519 So death's not going to have the last word. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:02.799 In verse 12, he will be given the many as a portion. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:07.359 Psalm 2, he receives the inheritance of nations. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:14.799 And I know I had you turn to Isaiah 53, but this servant song actually begins back in Isaiah 52. 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:18.559 Look back to Isaiah 52, verse 13 of how the song begins. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:24.880 See, my servant will be successful. 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:28.720 There's doubt about Israel accomplishing the work. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:32.000 There's doubt about David and Isaiah. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.319 There's no doubt about God's servant's son. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:36.640 Jesus will be successful. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:39.039 The nations will bow down and worship him. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:47.200 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.839 Yes, he was lifted up on a cruel cross. 00:33:52.160 --> 00:34:01.440 Now he's lifted up to the highest heavens to receive all glory and honor and thanks and blessing and power. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:08.639 Friends, brothers and sisters, this is the message of Isaiah. 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:15.119 The Holy God brings salvation through his servant. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:18.079 This is how one writer puts it. 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:29.440 The prophecy spans the era from Isaiah till the final consummation as it unfolds God's plan for the redemption of his people. 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:35.599 The meaning of the name Isaiah sums up the prophecy. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:39.039 Yahweh is salvation. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:51.599 Over the last twelve plus years on Sunday mornings, we've been in New Testament books more often than Old Testament books. 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:54.880 And all scripture is given by God's inspiration. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:57.760 You can't go wrong preaching any book of the Bible. 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:12.079 For some people, the New Testament is a little easier to understand, and it points maybe a little more directly and clearly to God's servant son, Jesus Christ. 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:21.039 But we have to realize you can't fully appreciate the New Testament without the Old Testament. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:31.280 When Jesus began his public ministry in Luke chapter 4, he quotes from Isaiah 61 to say, well, just give me Jesus. 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:36.800 Well, Jesus himself says you gotta understand Isaiah if you're gonna understand me and my message and my work. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:40.480 So we don't want to just go this far into the Bible. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.960 We want to go farther and farther. 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:53.760 And because God is the divine author, I mean, there's a depth, there's an ocean of depth that we have yet to see in Isaiah, in Luke, in Philippians, and in every other book of the Bible. 00:35:54.239 --> 00:36:00.960 So read and keep reading and pray that the Spirit of God would open your eyes to see the glorious things that are here. 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:11.119 Let me give you one final example of reading Isaiah in light of the entire Bible. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:16.800 How can we meditate on this servant of the Lord who brings salvation? 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:23.119 And how can we meditate on him in this suffering and glory? 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:27.760 These two lenses that come up over and over in these servant songs. 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:32.320 Well, let's again try to think about those three horizons. 00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:45.199 Yet God brought them back to the land. 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:48.079 Yet God allowed them to rebuild the temple. 00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.199 He was going to do that. 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:52.400 There's impartial, but a measure of glory. 00:36:56.159 --> 00:37:06.639 But God is urging his people to look forward to the day of the Messiah, the day when that true root of David grows from the tree. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:13.599 And in the coming of Jesus Christ, we have a servant, the very servant from heaven. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:21.840 He came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:25.519 He's a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:28.079 He knew what it was to suffer. 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:31.679 But what about glory? 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:34.719 The grave couldn't keep him from rising again. 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:36.719 Living, he loved us. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:39.119 He's carried our sins far away. 00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:46.559 So what about our lives? 00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:50.719 You servants of God, your master proclaim. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.840 God calls us to be servants. 00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:55.280 And you know what that means? 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:56.639 There's going to be suffering. 00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:58.559 Expect it. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:04.559 Israel deserved their suffering. 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:09.280 We can't say about the suffering in our lives that we don't deserve it. 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:14.960 I mean, we're all unprofitable servants if we're going to be very narrow about it. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:23.119 And yet, because we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, suffering is not going to have the final word in our lives. 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:29.760 God may not save us from difficulties here. 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:34.320 But there's glory. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:45.039 Tears are going to be wiped away. 00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:50.000 Sorrow and suffering will be forever behind us. 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:54.159 I started to say the rear view mirror, but there's not even going to be a rear view mirror. 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:58.480 We won't have to look and see anything that caused those tears. 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:03.039 It's glory, glory, glory in Emmanuel's land. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.599 This is because the Lord does it. 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.920 Romans 8. 00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:16.559 Those he justified, he also glorified. 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:18.400 It's a done deal. 00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:25.920 There's justification in the present, and there's suffering in the present, but there's full glory in the future. 00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:36.079 I am convinced that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:48.320 And Paul even says in Romans, quotes Isaiah all the time in Romans, but he talks about how all of creation is eagerly waiting for the revelation of the glory of the children of God. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:53.119 Because when we get our final glory, then the whole creation gets its glory as well. 00:39:56.079 --> 00:40:04.800 Isaiah gives us this vantage point to be able to take in all of life and history for the work that God is doing. 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:10.079 And that's a vantage point that we want to take with us into the world as God's servants. 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:15.280 Let me close with these words from Isaiah 45, verse 22. 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:17.199 Listen to this call. 00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:22.239 Turn to me and be saved. 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:24.559 All the ends of the earth. 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:30.000 For I am God and there is no other. 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:32.239 Let's pray. 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:47.039 Lord, how can we do justice to the riches, the tapestry, the food, the building blocks, the sure foundation that's found in Scripture? 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:49.119