WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:31.519 Again, please take your Bible if you have one and open it to Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 60. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:41.920 And I can really encourage you this morning, if you don't have a Bible, to take the pew Bible that's there in the seat back in front of you and open it to page 619. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:50.479 We're going to be looking together this morning at the entirety of two chapters of Isaiah. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.359 And I promise I will get you out of here before lunch. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:01:05.280 But because we're looking at so much, to really be able to follow along, I think it will be helpful for you to have the text in front of your eyes as we look at it together. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:17.439 So I invite you again to take your Bible and make your way to Isaiah's Gospel, also known as Isaiah the Prophet, and make your way to Isaiah 60. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:30.560 We heard Isaiah's gospel voices in chapter 40, and we listened to the good news brought by the gospel feet in Isaiah 52. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:40.239 For the next few moments, I trust the good news will form us together to offer gospel praises to the Redeemer who has come. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:51.359 We spent our time together this December looking at the moments in Isaiah where we encounter the term that we know as gospel, the gospel. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:58.959 This morning we look at the third passage in which it's which it's found, and that's Isaiah chapter 60 verse 6. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:10.800 It says at the end of Isaiah 60, verse 6, they shall bring gold and frankincense and shall bring good news, the praises of Yahweh. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:20.080 Now, at first glance, we might wonder if the use of this term gospel here is general or specific. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:30.240 In other words, is Isaiah referring to everyday good news that comes to all of us, just in the course of life? 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:37.599 Good news about a bonus, good news about the health of a loved one, good news about a job, whatever it might be. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:45.680 Is it referring to general good news or is he referring here to the good news, the gospel of Jesus, our Redeemer? 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:52.879 You see, when we read the Bible, we want to be careful not to make it say something that it's actually not saying. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:03:04.879 And just because a particular word was used in the translation of ancient Hebrew text doesn't require it to have an explicit meaning that we want to put into it. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:09.439 So we need to do a little investigation to see what is really going on here. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:16.319 And I want to help us think through this this morning by imagining a bullseye image. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:18.800 You can all imagine a bullseye, right? 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:24.400 You have a dot in the middle and concentric circles around that dot. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:36.639 As we move outward from the center of that kind of image, we will encounter other lines that tell us about this good news. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:43.840 So we want to understand that our bullseye this morning is that gospel, that good news in verse 6. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:59.840 And we're going to start there and work our way out to see if we can come to an understanding of what Isaiah means when he refers to this good news being given through Israel. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:04.479 So the bullseye is the last half of verse 6. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:11.919 The outermost circle that we're going to look at encloses all of chapter 59 and 60. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.879 It's a very large parameter. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:23.040 But let's begin this morning by looking at the bullseye, which is all about bringing praise. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:31.680 They shall bring gold and frankincense, they shall bring good news, the praises of Yahweh. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:48.399 Now there are some minor variations among the translations we have present this morning, but all of them will in one way or another define the good news here as the praises of Yahweh, the praises of the Lord, the praises of God. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:56.639 Now it might seem a little strange to consider praises that are given to someone else as good news. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:58.720 Good news for me. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.800 But if you think about it a little bit, I think it makes sense. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.279 We might positively praise other people. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:17.439 For example, we might praise our children or our grandchildren for their obedience or maybe for the improvement of a skill that they've been working on. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:25.040 We might praise them for fulfilling a task efficiently or in some kind of spectacular way. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:30.720 We might praise someone else for their character or maybe for their appearance. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:42.720 But sometimes our praises of other people don't mean anything to anyone but me and the person to whom I'm giving praise. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:49.759 I know of someone who loves to collect rifles and take them to the shooting range and target shoot. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:57.519 So if I praise that person for his marksmanship, that won't mean anything to you. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:09.519 But if I praise one of our church staff, on the other hand, for something that is done very well, that might be good news for you. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.439 Now take that a step further. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:20.160 And consider giving praise to the one who gives you life. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.519 No, I'm not speaking about your mother. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.560 I'm speaking about the God who gives life. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:34.639 Let's say that I praise God for something that he has done. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:50.319 Or let's say on looking, thinking about it differently, that I praise God for something that He is, His character, His His kindness, His graciousness, His love to His people, His provision to His people. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:57.040 When we give praise to God, we think about who He is and what He's done. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:05.680 And because of who He is, those kinds of praises naturally mean good news to everyone of His children. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:16.639 If I give praise to God for His grace and His mercy, because He is always gracious and always merciful, that means it's good news for you. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:26.879 If I give praise to God for His power in all of creation, that's good news for His children. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.040 Doesn't matter who you are. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:37.759 Because of who God is, any praise given to Him is by its very nature good news for His children. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:43.360 Because He does not change but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:48.639 Any praise given to Him is good news, is gospel for His children. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:56.240 By the way, that's why we we read Scripture together on Sunday mornings? 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.199 That's why we we pray together. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:02.319 That's why we sing together. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:08.319 It's the reason, in fact, for all of the one another's that we find in the Bible. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:16.000 When we praise God in those kinds of ways, God's good news is communicated to all of us. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.160 That's the bullseye. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:26.879 The good news is praise given to God. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:42.000 We are highlighting some positive character, some positive action of God, and we are communicating it in a positive, praiseworthy kind of way. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:51.440 Now, Isaiah, Isaiah was written about 2,600 years ago to a particular people in a specific time and a specific place. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:09:00.480 So that helps explain some of the names and locations that we see in the circle just out from the bullseye. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:04.000 Let's call this ring praising people. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:06.159 The praising people. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:15.759 Notice what he says in verse 6: a multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Epha and all those from Sheba shall come. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:20.720 Verse 7, we have flocks of Kedar, the rams of Nabiot. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:30.480 We go on and we keep reading about the ships of Tarshish in verse 9, same place that Jonah wanted to flee to, right? 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.039 We have the glory of Lebanon in verse 13. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.679 In verse 12, there's nations and kingdoms. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:48.720 Now, as we think about those, Sheba was the, what was it, was a realm to the south of Israel, to the south of Palestine, toward Arabia and Egypt. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.960 It would have reminded Isaiah's people of the queen of Sheba, who came with great wealth to visit Solomon. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:00.320 She heard about the wisdom that God had given him, and she came to visit him and to give him rich gifts. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:08.799 Midian and Epha were descendants of Abraham through Ishmael, but they were often enemies of Israel. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:16.559 Along with Kedar and Nabioth, these peoples and locations could also be prominent trade partners. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:21.600 Tarshish was known as a distant location of wealth and trade. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:29.679 In fact, we see in verse 10 that these people are called foreigners from Isaiah's vantage point. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:35.279 Foreigners shall build up your walls, their kings shall minister to you. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:46.320 These people were foreigners from close neighbors, we might say right across the border, to peoples in faraway lands. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:54.799 Verse 3 and verse 12 refer to them as other nations and other peoples and other kingdoms. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:11:06.000 And it's a fantastic picture that is painted for us that foretells a time when non-Jewish peoples will come to give praise to Israel's God. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:16.799 In fact, he says they're going to bring the wealth that they possess to Jerusalem to bring beauty to Jerusalem, the city itself and God's temple. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:26.080 Yahweh will be known to them, and they will desire to come, bringing their wealth with them to share in the good news of God's praises. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:39.039 This imagery is all directed to God, who's in Jerusalem and in Zion, the holy city, and it points to a significant change of events. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:42.159 Look at chapter 60, verse 12. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:48.159 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.919 Those nations shall be utterly laid waste. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:03.039 But the glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plain, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:11.279 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.559 They shall call you the city of Yahweh, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:26.320 Enemies and foreigners are now coming to Israel and bowing down to worship God and to give Him praise. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.080 That is good news. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:48.080 How interesting is it that we read in verse 6 that part of this gospel of good news is bringing gold and frankincense and bowing down at the feet of God in verse 14. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:55.440 This is bringing good news, the praises of Yahweh. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.600 So there's a change that's taking place. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:03.600 God anticipates that his own people are going to give him praise. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:09.440 But he also anticipates that there's going to be something drastic that happens. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:23.600 Israel's neighbors, Israel's enemies, even to the far reaches of the world, are going to make their way to come and worship God, to give him praise. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.639 And that is good news. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:32.159 Well, that makes us wonder about the reason for that change of events. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:38.879 What would make enemies and foreigners into fellow worshippers who give praise to God? 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:49.600 Well, that's the next circle out, and that is identifying for us the hope that comes from a certain kind of light. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.919 The hope of light. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.159 Verse 9 makes an interesting claim. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:14.799 The ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:30.480 Notice that coastlands, that's that's a way of saying, all of the peoples that live all along the coast, probably speaking first of the Mediterranean Sea, he says, think about the coastlands, as far as you can go, they are going to find their hope in me. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:36.799 In the name of Yahweh your God and the Holy One of Israel, because he's made you beautiful. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:43.039 God said in verse 7 that he would beautify his beautiful house. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.000 How? 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:50.480 By using foreigners, bringing their treasures and resources to Jerusalem. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:15:07.440 Now, whatever that might imply, it tells us that foreigners will find Jerusalem and her God as beautiful and full of hope for them. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:14.399 Now that requires that they understand they can't find hope in themselves. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:21.440 It requires that they understand they can't find hope in their own countries and their own peoples. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:27.919 But somehow they find their hope in the God who makes his home in Jerusalem. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.320 And all of that takes place because of what God will do. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.200 What will God do? 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.039 Look back at verse 1. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:40.559 Arise, shine, for your light is come. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:47.679 The glory of Yahweh has risen upon you, for behold, darkness shall cover the earth, thick darkness the peoples. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:57.279 But Yahweh will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you, and nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:02.000 Now, do you see the your in those verses? 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:07.600 Your light, your rising, and then all the you's that are there. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.039 Isaiah is writing here about Israel. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:14.639 Even more, he's writing to Israel. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:19.279 He's describing a point that is in the future for them. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:22.480 Disaster is on their doorstep. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:32.159 Isaiah is looking beyond that disaster and saying, there's going to come a time when darkness is going to be turned to light. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:54.320 But something would change, something would occur that would transform Israel into a nation and a people and a place that somehow would provide hope for nearby perennial enemies and faraway countries. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:07.279 And Isaiah describes this kind of transformation like a magnet, that Israel would be a hope-filled draw that draws in people from all over the world. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.359 But that hope wasn't found in Israel herself. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:20.240 Yes, he says, nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:26.079 There will be a light in the dark, a hope-filled dawning in Israel. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:34.880 But it's not because they have that light and that hope in themselves personally, naturally, inherently. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:16.160 And if you know, if you know the biblical storyline, you can pick up on some of the echoes that are found in the rest of Scripture, like Israel still enslaved in Egypt and God bringing darkness, a darkness that could be felt upon all the land of Egypt. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.920 But in Israel, there was light. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.960 Where Israel was, there was light. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:46.160 Or maybe even better, you might pick up on the echoes of Genesis and the creation account, where the whole world is described as being in darkness and in chaos and this weird kind of unformed place, and all of a sudden God speaks and says, Let there be light, and boom, there's light scattering the darkness. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.960 An explosion of light. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:19:00.720 And so we see this circle around the bullseye drawing us to the command to arise and shine because your light has come. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.720 The glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:13.200 The light of hope does not come from within Israel, it comes upon Israel from God. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:20.480 Similarly, my friends, you don't have this light within you. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:24.559 Because within you is darkness. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.519 The light of Christ has to come upon you. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:41.200 If the light of Christ shines within you, it is not because you are light, but because the light of Christ has risen within you. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:47.920 On our image of a target, the bullseye is the good news of praise of Yahweh. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:58.480 And that praise is driven by a worldwide hope, a spreading light, a hope that dawns with the glory of God giving light to a dark world. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:02.640 But that dark world contained nothing hopeful. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:10.160 That's why there is a third ring where we see God's promise to intercede. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:17.039 As we look forward to chapter 60, verse 13, we see God's promise to act. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:23.359 He says, The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plain, the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.119 Now look what God's going to do. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:29.440 There are several I wills five times in these verses. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.559 I will make the place of my feet glorious. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:39.039 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despise you shall bow down at your feet. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:42.880 They shall call you the city of Yahweh, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:52.000 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you a majestic place forever, a joy from age to age. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:21:00.240 You shall suck the milk of nations, nurse at the breasts of kings, and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.960 Instead of bronze I will bring gold. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:08.319 Instead of iron I will bring silver, instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:14.160 I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:23.680 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders, and you shall call your walls salvation and your gates praise. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:27.119 That sounds like good news. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:33.200 Sounds like good news, and it's all because of God's promise. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:39.759 He says over and over again, I will do this, I will do this, I will do this five times. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:54.160 And God makes specific here promises to bring Israel out of the darkness and make her a place of hope and light in the midst of a dark world. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.039 We see something similar on the other side. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:04.559 Of the bullseye, but in a in a much different tone. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:14.799 Isaiah wrote of Yahweh's looking looking on the earth in the time of Isaiah and seeing only darkness. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:27.359 So you can imagine this from the creator's perspective, the creator who spoke light into existence, dispelling the darkness, and now he looks on and he expresses it as though he's only seeing darkness. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.720 What's going on? 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.599 Look back at chapter 59, verse 16. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:40.960 Chapter 59, verse 16, God saw that there was there was no person, no human being. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:44.480 He wondered that there was no one to intercede. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:56.880 The world in darkness lay, unable to lift itself, to rouse even the light of day. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:08.880 Enslaved to sin, it could its master alone obey, that prince of darkness, whom only true light could slay. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:15.519 And so God, looking on this situation, took up the armor of a warrior. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:20.720 It says his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:25.039 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, a helmet of salvation on his head. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:30.400 He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:36.640 Here is God as the divine warrior saying, Where is the intercessor? 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:42.799 There's no one to dispel the darkness. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:48.720 So God says, I will do it. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:54.240 I will dispel the darkness. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:06.240 So in verse 19, coming like a rushing, flooding stream, a torrent driven by divine might. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:14.160 He says, a redeemer will come to Zion to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, declares Yahweh. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:29.920 The intercession of God would be like the brilliant dawning of the sun, dispelling the darkness in Israel, spreading like the light of a new day, until the hope of that light inspires the world to give praise. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.599 God promised to come. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:48.240 A Redeemer would come so that those who'd look to that light in repentance and humility would be moved to arise and shine in that light, declaring the praises of Yahweh, the Redeemer who has come. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:56.000 But there's one more thing that we have to look at. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:05.680 It's linked to that statement in verse 16 of chapter 59, where there was no human being to intercede. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.240 Why was intercession necessary? 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:15.440 Why was the world in darkness? 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:24.880 On Christmas Eve, we're going to look at the hope that is found in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:33.759 But before that hope is given, the beginning of chapter 9, and even at the end of chapter 8, Isaiah painted a dire picture. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:41.200 Isaiah looked out and saw a hopeless land that was void of the word of God. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:53.200 And he wrote, They will look to the earth, but behold distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish, and they will be thrust out into utter darkness. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:57.279 He spoke of people dwelling in a deep darkness. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.240 Why? 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.440 Why does Isaiah speak of this? 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.079 So that leads us to our fourth ring. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.759 The world. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:10.799 And sin and error, pining. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.359 Go back to the beginning of chapter 59. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:22.240 Chapter 59 begins with a reminder of God's vastness. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:27.759 If you think you understand God, stop right there because you don't. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:35.839 Behold, Yahweh's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, or his ear dull that it cannot hear. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:48.319 If your world feels entirely enveloped in darkness, your world of God, your view of God is too small. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:57.359 If your view of life feels so crushing and overwhelming and full of despair that you can't see light, then your understanding of God is too small. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:06.000 But why is it that we look and we see darkness everywhere, darkness everywhere, oppressive felt darkness? 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.799 Why is that? 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.920 Verse 2. 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:13.920 Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:25.519 Remember that John tells us in the New Testament, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:34.240 So if there is darkness between you and the light, then that means there is a separation of some kind. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:40.640 God's hand is not shortened so that he cannot save. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:44.880 He does not need a hearing aid to hear his people's cries. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:51.359 God has a very clear and objective understanding of the state of his creation. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:28:02.480 This ring is important because without it, we don't see the beauty, the glory of the good news of the praises of Yahweh at the center. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:18.640 When the words of the song, the Christmas hymn that we sing describe the world pining away in sin and error, when those were translated into English, they accurately represented Isaiah's description of Israel. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:24.240 This reality even describes the world as a whole. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:30.880 So let your eyes and heart take in what Isaiah says. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.400 Verse 2. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:42.240 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:50.960 And your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:57.599 Your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:00.880 Your lips have spoken lies. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:05.200 Your tongue mutters wickedness. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.920 No one enters into suits righteously. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.880 No one goes to law honestly. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:16.480 Everyone relies on empty pleas. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:20.079 They speak lies, they conceive mischief, and give birth to iniquity. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:25.039 They give birth to snake's eggs. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.279 Adder's eggs. 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:30.319 They weave the spider's web. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:35.759 He who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:38.160 Their webs will not serve as clothing. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:41.599 Men will not cover themselves with what they make. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:46.240 Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.880 Their feet run to evil. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:53.039 They are swift to shed innocent blood. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:57.039 Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.200 Desolation and destruction are in their highways. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:05.759 The way of peace they do not know. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:09.680 There is no justice in their paths. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.079 They've made their roads crooked. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:14.960 No one who treads on them knows peace. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.480 Because of this, justice is far from us. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.880 Righteousness does not overtake us. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.519 We hope for light. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.319 And behold, darkness. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:29.440 We hope for brightness. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.319 But we walk in gloom. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:36.720 We grope for the wall like a blind person. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:38.480 We grope like those who have no eyes. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:42.480 We stumble at noon in full light as if it was twilight. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:45.039 Among those in full vigor, we are like dead men. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:48.880 We all growl like bears, we moan like doves, we hope for justice. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.240 There is none. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:52.319 We hope for salvation. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:54.480 It's far from us. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.519 Why? 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.240 Why? 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:05.039 For our transgressions are multiplied before you. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:09.359 And our sins testify against us. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:15.599 For our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:27.359 Transgressing, denying Yahweh, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.759 Isaiah knows of what he writes. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:38.960 Remember in chapter six when he had the vision of the Lord high and lifted up. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:46.240 Holy, holy, holy, claimed the angels. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:51.759 And Isaiah said, Woe is me. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:55.519 I'm undone, I'm falling apart, I'm coming apart. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:59.119 The molecules in my body are disintegrating. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.000 Why? 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:09.039 Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the king. 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:15.759 Justice is turned back. 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:22.880 Righteousness stands far away, for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:24.720 Truth is lacking. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:29.759 She's gone, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:36.319 Yahweh saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:46.799 This depravity is what God sees in his creation, and it's what prompts him to say there is no one to intercede. 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.799 No one. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:05.039 Or have seen in videos since September eleventh, two thousand one. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:09.519 When the World Trade Centers collapsed. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:16.319 We watched as first responders scurried to the scene. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:24.799 Some of us have images of the fire trucks racing across the bridge. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.079 Rushing to rescue people. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:45.119 Such a disaster. 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:48.160 Such a doomed situation. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:51.279 And no one responding. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.079 No one reacting. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:00.400 No one seeking to save. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:04.720 That is what God saw. 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:10.320 No one to intercede. 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:13.119 Darkness and doom. 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:17.760 Sin and error, and no one to intercede. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:21.599 Now, on the one hand, this is about national Israel. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:28.880 Isaiah the prophet condemned a nation refusing to listen to God, condemning them for wallowing in their sin. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:41.440 It's written to them to give hope of God's intercession, to give them the hope of wrongs being righted, of bringing light and hope to them through God's redemption. 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:46.960 But we've already seen that it's not just about ethnic Israel, haven't we? 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:50.480 Israel's Redeemer comes to her. 00:34:50.719 --> 00:35:00.320 God says, I will intercede, I will step in like the warrior, I will redeem, I will come like a rushing river as a warrior to redeem my people. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:03.519 I'm going to be light to my people's darkness. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:05.440 I'm going to give them hope. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:11.199 But it's not just about her because that same Redeemer gives Israel's enemies hope. 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:17.039 And people from faraway lands give praise to Yahweh for his light. 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:22.000 You see, this is the essence of the good news of the praises of Yahweh. 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:28.639 It's not merely Israel who's pining in sin and error, groping around in the darkness. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:33.599 The entire creation groans under that burden. 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:41.760 And God's promise extends not merely to Israel, but to all who will hope in him. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:47.519 And his light will dawn not merely on Israel, but on the world. 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:52.320 How do you know that? 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:59.519 Well, I know that because it's not the first time that God's redemption is spoken of in terms of light. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:03.199 We could point to several places in Isaiah. 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:08.559 But consider just Isaiah 49, verse 6. 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:10.239 Isaiah 49. 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:24.559 God is talking here, Isaiah is referencing God's promised servant, the one who's going to come and act in God's name as God Himself. 00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:41.519 In Isaiah 49, verse 6, God says of this servant, it is too small, too minor of a thing for you to be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:46.159 It's too little of a thing if I just give light to Israel. 00:36:48.079 --> 00:37:00.559 Now I'm going to make you as a light for the nations, so that my salvation might reach to the ends of the earth. 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:05.039 The world in darkness languished. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:09.039 And God said, I will intercede. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:12.239 I will bring salvation myself. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.559 Let there be light. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:23.440 And Isaiah, hearing God's promise, turned to Israel and to Israel's enemies and to the rest of the world. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:28.400 And he said, Arise, shine, for your light has come. 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:34.079 But we're not quite done yet. 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:45.280 Because we need to see the part of this circle that is on the other side of the image, because this ring circles around, and we see it at the end of chapter 60 of Isaiah. 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:54.480 We read of all of that darkness, all of that sinfulness, all of that pervasive iniquity at chapter 59. 00:37:54.639 --> 00:38:05.920 But look what it says at the other end of our picture in chapter 60, beginning in verse 19, we see the ultimate result of God choosing to act. 00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:12.960 He says, the sun shall be no more, and your light by day. 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:13.920 What? 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:16.000 You're going to plunge us into utter darkness? 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:16.559 No. 00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:27.599 Nor for brightness shall the moon give you light, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:36.719 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself, for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:39.199 Your people shall all be righteous. 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:45.920 They shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. 00:38:55.280 --> 00:39:02.320 See, the final and complete result of God's acting on Israel's behalf is no more darkness. 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:06.719 It's total and all-encompassing. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:10.639 God's redemption is not partial. 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:12.880 He does not partially save. 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:19.440 When God promises to redeem, he fulfills that promise to its very end, and that is gospel. 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:29.280 We see then that we're not reading about the darkness of night that comes every evening. 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:34.960 We are reading about the darkness of the soul. 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:44.079 We're reading about people who have no light of God, no hope of eternity bound to sin and to its temporary pleasures. 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:55.440 So do you see then why the bullseye, why the good news of the praises of Yahweh is at the center. 00:39:57.440 --> 00:40:05.840 Look at the devastating effects of sin and the absence of any rescue from that disaster. 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:11.039 No one to intercede, no rescue in sight, no dawning of light. 00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:15.920 And then consider that God Himself says, I will redeem. 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:22.480 And he does so in such a way that it brings glorious light not just to Israel, but to the entire world. 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:26.880 And that light dispels the darkness of sin and faithlessness. 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:30.719 That is the good news for which people praise God. 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:35.039 It is the gospel according to Isaiah. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:41.440 I know we've said that we need to look at just one more thing. 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.800 One more thing. 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:44.719 And I promise this will be all. 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:48.480 Let's take this one step further. 00:40:48.719 --> 00:40:53.119 And put it in the in the context of salvation history. 00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:58.320 Beginning in Isaiah chapter nine. 00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:02.239 Isaiah chapter nine. 00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:18.320 Again, the passage that we referred to before at the end of chapter 8, where Isaiah says they people have no dawn. 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.760 There's no light. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:22.239 There's distress and darkness. 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:31.519 Chapter 9, verse 2, Isaiah says, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:37.360 Those who have dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them a light has shined. 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:45.360 It's in that context of darkness being dispelled by light that a child is born. 00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:48.159 That a son is given. 00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:52.079 Now look with me at Isaiah 42. 00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:56.719 Isaiah 42, just going to point out just some passages here. 00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:58.239 Just read scripture. 00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:08.159 Isaiah 42, behold, my servant whom I uphold, my chosen in whom my soul delights. 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:11.280 I have put my spirit upon him. 00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:14.320 He will bring forth justice to the nations. 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.119 Wait a minute. 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:19.679 I thought God looked at the world and saw no justice. 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:24.719 Oh, God's servant will bring justice. 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:29.360 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street. 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:31.519 A bruised reed he will not break. 00:42:31.760 --> 00:42:34.639 A faintly burning wick he will not quench. 00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:38.159 It's referring to Jesus in Matthew chapter 12. 00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:40.880 He will faithfully bring forth justice. 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:49.360 He will not grow faint or be discouraged until he has established justice in the earth and the coastlands, hope for his law. 00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:59.920 Thus says God Yahweh, who created the heavens, who stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it. 00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:01.440 I am Yahweh. 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:03.119 I have called you in righteousness. 00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:05.039 I will take you by the hand and keep you. 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:09.360 I will give you as a covenant for the people and a light for the nations. 00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:16.559 To open eyes that are blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and from prison those who sit in darkness. 00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:32.400 And it's partly that passage that a man named Zechariah in Luke chapter 1 married to Elizabeth. 00:43:34.079 --> 00:44:02.639 It's partly that passage in Isaiah 42 that Zechariah was thinking of when he said at the birth of his son John that the tender mercies of our God have come, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to Guide our feet into the way of peace. 00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:21.519 Zechariah's son would prepare the way for the one who in his own voice said in John chapter 9, verse 5, I am the light of the world. 00:44:23.360 --> 00:44:25.920 One more place, go to the end of the book. 00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:28.400 Revelation 21. 00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:40.960 Revelation 21, and just notice how your Bible is no mishmash of texts put together. 00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:44.639 It's sovereignly designed and put together. 00:44:44.960 --> 00:44:47.199 Revelation chapter 21. 00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:55.360