"God's Response" Sermon: Isaiah 59:14-21 (manuscript)

 

“God’s Response”

[Isaiah 59:14-21]

May 21, 2023 YouTube

            We saw last week that Israel is being conquered by the Assyrians and are asking Isaiah if they are being conquered and taken into captivity because God is too weak or doesn’t hear them cry out for help.  Of course, Israel is wrong, and Isaiah tells them that God is all-powerful and does whatever He wills, and God hears all things and responds according to His Will.  The problem, as we saw, is Israel’s sin.  God is not the problem, their sin is – our sin is – when we suffer for our sin.

In this morning’s text, we see something of a summary of God’s Word against the sin of Israel, and what God will do in response to it.

First, God says there is a collapse of morality in Israel.

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.”

“Justice is turned back.”  Justice is no longer being received by those who seek it.  Justice has been put on the back burner, and, instead, the people who are looking for justice are receiving whatever benefits the judge the most.

“Righteousness stands far away.”  Moral correctness is not here – it may be way over there with some other people, but it is not here.  No one is living by the Law of God – everyone thinks whatever they want to do it right.

“Truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.”  The reason that there is no justice and no moral correctness is that truth trips in the discourse and way of life of the people.  Uprightness cannot enter because truth cannot stand upright – it keeps stumbling – and indeed, collapsing.  Nothing is sound; everyone is totally depraved.

And if there is anyone who departs from evil, he becomes prey.  The crowd is so immersed in evil and believing it is good – the right way to live – that if anyone seeks to be faithful and obey God’s Law, the rest of the people go after him to kill him.

We are reminded of the refrain from the book of Judges, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”

“I have my truth and you have your truth, and if you disagree with my truth, I’ll take you out.”  Everything is true except for saying that there is only One Truth – God’s Truth – the Law of God, and His Son.

“What does it matter, just do what makes you happy.”

Morality has collapsed.

          Second, the Lord is appalled.

“The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede;”

God’s response to what He sees in Israel is to be appalled.  God is displeased that there is no justice – and that is not, “wow, I can’t believe there is no justice – that’s horrible.”  No, it’s “I’m furious!  How can you claim to be My people – claim to be obedient, pious, and holy, when there is no justice in Israel?  There is not a single person to stand up for justice – to intercede for justice – not one of you!”

How could God have called a people to Himself – a nation – a people – that He loves – and not one person is willing to stand up for justice.  Understand – not social justice that we hear about so much today, but justice – the holy obedience and love of the Law of God that He gives to His people.  The conformity of the people of God to His Law.

The Psalmist describes God’s Law like this:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11, ESV),

For Israel, there is no one to intercede, and God is appalled.

So, God chooses to do something about Israel:

“then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.”

In the Grace of God, God, in His Own Strength, brings Israel to salvation. God in His Own Righteousness upholds Israel before Him.

Israel is unwilling to repent and change – to seek the salvation of God.  Israel is unwilling to abide by the Righteousness of God – so God steps in and does it for Israel.

Doesn’t that sound familiar?  Remember what Paul writes, “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. ‘So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills” (Romans 9:14-18, ESV).

And John says the same thing: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13, ESV).

God is appalled at the state Israel is in, so He chooses to save a people for Himself by Himself.  He does the work, He changes hearts, He brings them to repentance, and He forgives them.

Third, the wages of sin must be paid.

          There is a false teaching in Israel – in our churches and in the world – that since God is Merciful and Gracious – since He saves a remnant for Himself – and that salvation is not earned or merited in any way by us – it is totally a work and a gift of God – that the wages of sin does not have to be paid.  That’s a lie.

          God is furious with us for our sin.  We have committed cosmic treason against the Holy God. And yet, God has promised to save a remnant – God has promised to save a people – totally by Himself by His Grace Alone. However, God is also Just, so He is, and He must be, furious with Israel and all people and the sin they have committed, and He requires the wages of that sin to be paid.

          Have you ever sinned against your parents – done something they told you not to do – and then they spank you – they punish you for your sin, and then they say they love you?

          The author of Hebrews writes, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11, ESV).

And so, Isaiah uses the image of a warrior of their day so they will understand God coming as a warrior to repay the wages of sin against Him.

“He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.”

God dresses with a breastplate and a helmet to protect Himself from the weapons of war.  His breastplate and helmet announce that God is Right and Holy an is coming against those who have sinned against Him – and yet, salvation is not out of the picture.  Just as God is not merely Grace, God is not merely Justice.  God is both Gracious and Just according to His Will and His Pleasure.

“According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.”

Sinful deeds are to be met with justice – with the Almighty Wrath of God. And it does not come reluctantly, but zealously – passionately with great energy – to each person, each people, each nation.  Each one is responsible to receive God’s Justice against the sin committed.

          The wages of sin must be paid because God is the Holy God – He is Just.

          Fourth, a Savior will come.

          As we already noted in the book of Hebrews, God disciplines those He has chosen to be His people – not to destroy them, but that they would learn righteousness – that they would turn from their sin and strive towards holiness.

          God is Gracious and God is Just, therefore the wages of sin must be paid.  However, there are two ways this can occur:  either you and I can take the whole Wrath of God upon ourselves for our sin – and the result will be an eternity in Hell.  Or someone Who is able can pay the debt for us.

“So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.  ‘And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,’ declares the LORD.”

Those whom the Redeemer has turned from their sin shall be in awe of the One God and see the brightness of His Holiness.  And on this side of history, we know Who the Redeemer is and what He did to save the people He chose for Himself in salvation.  As Paul states:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (I Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV),

It should have been obvious to Israel that they could not save themselves, and it should be obvious to us that we cannot save ourselves – we cannot contribute a thing to our salvation.  It is entirely a gracious work of God.  And in order for the Redeemer to give us salvation, He has to take the Wrath of God on Himself so the debt for sin would be paid.

As we have seen all along, Isaiah tells Israel – you will be punished, you will be disciplined, you will be punished – but I am sending a Redeemer for the remnant of My own calling.  And God has signed a covenant – an agreement – with those who will believe in the Redeemer.

“’And as for me, this is my covenant with them,’ says the LORD: ‘My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,’ says the LORD, ‘from this time forth and forevermore.’”

God makes an agreement with the remnant of Israel – those He will bring to faith in the Redeemer:  The Spirit of God is upon them and the Word of God is in their mouths and will never leave their mouths – even though they will continue to sin until the end of the age – yes, we shall, and the Word of God will be in the mouth – it will be believed from generation to generation – not every person – but always a remnant.  God will not forsake His people – there will always be a remnant on earth until the end of the age.  And He will never leave us or forsake us – He has made us His own.

          A Savior has come.

          Let us pray:

          Almighty God, we are not amazed to hear the description of the depravity of Israel in that day.  It is not at all uncommon from our day.  We who believe know that their sin – and our sin – ought to be punished, and God will punish all sin and all sinners – either on their own or through Jesus as Substitute. We thank You for showing Yourself to us and making us part of the remnant You chose to save.  Thank You for making a covenant with us that we know will never be broken throughout all generations.  Cause the Holy Spirit to work in us that we would deny sin and follow after righteousness, striving to become holy as You are Holy. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.