Isaiah God s Charges Against the Wicked ~ Part 4 Isaiah 56:9-59:21

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1 Isaiah God s Charges Against the Wicked ~ Part 4 Isaiah 56:9-59:21 True worship involves wonder, witness, and warfare; but we have to start with wonder. Wonder is the basis of worship, wrote Thomas Carlyle; and Emerson said that wonder was the seed of science. Philosophy begins in wonder, said Alfred North Whitehead; so it appears that wonder is a priceless ingredient in the life of any thinking person. The trouble is that wonder is a rare ingredient. You do not often find it present in most modern worship. After all, what is there to wonder about? Why should there be any mystery in the worship experience of the average congregation? We know all about God, because we know our Bibles so well. We study, we listen to sermons, in person and by means of cassettes; we read books that explain what God and the Christian life are all about. We have outlined the Bible, analyzed God s attributes, and charted the ages. What is left to elicit our wonder? Furthermore, we live in the space age and have watched rockets and space shuttles take off and return. We have witnessed man walking on the moon. Thanks to TV documentaries, we have seen everything from the conception of a baby to the eruption of a volcano. We have watched flowers grow, fish spawn, and stars become supernovas. There is no more mystery, no more wonder in our world. The world will never starve for want of wonders, wrote Gilbert Keith Chesterton, but only for want of wonder. 1 True worship is a response to God. Hypocrisy in worship occurs when actual worship is directed at something other than God. I Introduction II Indictment Against the Leaders 56:9-57:2 III Indictment Against the Idolaters Verses 3-13 IV Indictment Against the Proud and Greedy Verses V Indictment Against the Hypocritical Worshipers Verses 1-14 VI Indictment Against the Unjust Verses 1-21 VII Conclusion Introduction: Once again I want to start with a quick review of the focus in this extended study and to review the points we have previously made. There are two aspects to this study. 1. Biblical humility: If God s children, Israel or us, are to be restored when fallen into sin, it requires an accurate view of God and the individual. This is biblical humility. For the unbeliever this means accepting they are sinners in need of a savior. For the believer this means also recognizing sin and repenting. 2. Thou Shalts: In New Testament thinking it isn t enough to recognize the ways we aren t supposed to behave, it is more vital to understand correct heart attitudes and the positive ways we are to live. Therefore, instead of always seeing the Thou shalt nots we want to see the Thou shalts. 1 Wiersbe, Warren W., Real Worship, Oliver Nelson, Nashville, TN, 1986, p. 43.

2 Now, let s take a moment to review what we ve already covered. II Indictment Against the Leaders: For Israel, the problem was a rebellious and idolatrous leadership. This was a major factor in her fall and the later captivates. On the other hand with leaders comes responsibilities for followers. 1. The first responsibility requires holding our leaders accountable for accurately presenting God s truths. (see Acts 17:11). 2. And when we find we have godly men over us, we then have a second responsibility, to provide for them. (see Hebrews 13:17). III Indictment Against the Idolaters: One of Israel s ongoing struggles was with idolatry. But as we have noted on numerous occasions, we too can fall into idolatry, if we understand idolatry as putting anything or anyone ahead of the Lord. But, the easiest way to avoid this sin isn t by emphasizing what we should avoid, it is by focusing on God and His will for our lives. If we keep Him in first place, then idolatry is a nonissue. (see Exodus 20:1-6). IV Indictment Against the Proud and Greedy: God has created us for relationship and impact. The reasons we struggle with pride and greed is because we try to fill these needs from some other source than God. The real answer to avoiding these traps goes right back to the need for a biblical humility. We have nothing of which we can boast, Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31). This brings us to the new indictment. As we will see, the opposite of religious hypocrisy is a true spirit of worship, not just within the context of a local body of believers services, but within the life of each believer. Once again, the question: is what or whom do we worship? Religion is that which binds a man. Every man is bound somewhere, somehow, to a throne, to a government, to an authority, to something that is supreme, to something to which he offers sacrifice, and burns incense, and bends the knee. ~ G. CAMPBELL MORGAN 2 V Indictment Against the Hypocritical Worshipers: Verses 1-2: For Israel, one of the exercises of worship was fasting. And it is this specific aspect Isaiah uses to expose religious hypocrisy. God calls the people to hear him. Isaiah is commanded to shout out with a trumpet-like voice to let the people know of their sin in worship. The sin is obvious. The people are acting as if they are truly seeking God. Note the word used here. The people seem to be seeking God. Religiosity and commitment to acts of worship is not by any stretch of the imagination. Zeal isn t the same as reality. Just consider some of the extreme forms of behavior that has occurred in so-called holy roller environments and ask: what does this have to do with true worship? The obviously, the answer is: nothing. 2 Ibid., p. 12. ) 448 (

3 Verses 3-5: The people s response to God in their worship is sadly familiar. We do what we re supposed to. How come God doesn t give us what we want? Why do those who want nothing to do with God then ask Why doesn t God prevent this evil in my life? There is a major disconnect between what people want from God and the fact they don t want Him to interfere in their lives. Even we can fall into the trap asking, Why do I work so hard at being a good Christian, when it doesn t pay off in the circumstances of my life? This is the magic thinking found in the prosperity gospel. If you have the right formula, the right prayer, etc., then God is required to respond to your requests/demands. And if He doesn t, it s lack of faith, or the formula was carried out incorrectly. This isn t about worship, it s about power and control. This is certainly a hypocritical worship. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men (Matthew 15:8-9). Actually this behavior is descriptive of all religion, all cults. Religion, worship without truth is not only empty and meaningless, but it keeps people away from a true relationship with God by allowing for self-righteousness. Sackcloth and ashes are certainly badges of humility and religiosity, right? Here they seem to be more advertising of just how righteous we are. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6:5). Verses 6-10: This kind of religion is obviously not what God is looking for. True religion isn t lived out in ritual, but in a life committed to God and living out His love before others. The true worshiper lives a holistic life; he is concerned about the spiritual and physical wellbeing of others. He isn t focused on what He can get from God, but what He can give to others for God. Remember, one of the symptoms of the problems within Israel was the lack of social justice. But where there is true worship, religion, there is a desire for social justice and providing for the individuals physical needs. As we care for the needs of others, we have the opportunity to present the answer to their spiritual needs as well. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:35). True religion is letting God s light shine forth through us. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). ) 449 (

4 Verses 11-12: The point people seem to miss is true blessing doesn t come through getting God to do things our way, but from doing things His way. And that s the point Isaiah makes. He presents the blessings that will come to Israel when she repents and turn to Him. Vine lists the blessing this way: What is promised here is (1) uninterrupted guidance, (2) soul-satisfaction even in extreme drought or barrenness, (3) the impartation of strength, so that the very physical frame becomes an instrument of the fulfillment of His will, (4) the verdant beauty of a watered garden, setting forth the beauteous effects of the indwelling Spirit of God, (5) the outflowing of blessing by the Holy Spirit, represented as a spring or fountain of water, whose waters do not deceive (A.V. margin). There is also a promise found here for national revival. Again, this may have been fulfilled to some extent with the return from Babylon, but certainly it has yet to be fully fulfilled and won t be until the kingdom age. Verses 13-14: For Israel, the demonstration of a return to God and true worship is symbolized by Sabbath keeping. Buksbazen summarizes these final two verses this way: The importance of the keeping of the Sabbath is repeatedly emphasized by the prophet, as a visible acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Jehovah, as Lord of our lives and of our time. The Sabbath was of particular importance to Israel in exile as a unifying and sanctifying force, and has remained such throughout the ages. When the children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath not merely as a burden the Sabbath will become a delight to them. It has been said by a Jewish sage: More than the Jews kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept the Jews. The honoring of the Sabbath and of the Lord who sanctified the Sabbath will bring exaltation and honor to Israel from the nations of the earth, also restoration and enjoyment of their ancestral heritage. 3 With honoring the Sabbath, that is with keeping to God s ways the believer experiences all the blessings God desires to give. This means loving God and loving others is the source of the abundant blessings we all desire. Comments: Wiersbie has an excellent summary of the passage, but I am replacing his word fasting with worship. If in my religious duties I am doing what pleases me, and if doing it does not make me a better person, then I am wasting my time, and my worship is only Sin. Worship and fighting do not go together! Yet how many families walk piously out of church at the close of a Sunday worship service, get in the family car, and proceed to argue with each other all the way home! True worship will lead to humility before God and ministry to others. If we worship in order to get something for ourselves from God, instead of to become better people for the sake of others, then we have missed the meaning of worship. It delights the Lord when we delight in the Lord. 4 So we have seen that hypocrisy in worship is going though the act for self-serving reasons rather than serving God. This means true worship is that which is focused on God and serv- 3 Buksbazen, Victor, The Prophet Isaiah, In Two Volumes, The Spearhead Press, Collingswood, NJ, 1971, p Wiersbe, Warren W., The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament The Prophets, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 66. ) 450 (

5 ing Him. This can be done in numerous ways including, but not limited to, what we call worship services; serving others on a daily basis in assisting with physical needs as well as being concerned with their spiritual ones. How do you see worship within your life? Wiersbie in his work on worship gives a working definition of worship by noting worship is : the believer s response of all that he is mind, emotions, will, and body to all that God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God s revealed truth. It is a loving response that is balanced by fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better. 5 In the Old Testament aspects of worship included; family, public, and individual worship. These aspects continue to be applicable, if we understand public as corporate. This means all aspects of worship can be carried out in these settings. But remember, primarily worship is corporate. The elements include prayer, praise, confession of sin and faith. These certainly can occur within the family and with the individual. Aspects which are primarily corporate include the sacraments, baptism and communion, public reading of the scripture, collecting monies for supporting the work of the ministry. All three environments of worship are required for a balanced worship life. This means, in spite of some very strange teaching, being part of and worshiping in a local body is a must. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). The specific forms of worship are not as important as making God the focus of worship; the availability of worship, through the shed blood of Christ, and the power of worship, the Holy Spirit. Worship is a triune experience. And it is the awareness of the Son and the Holy Spirit which is the distinctive of New Testament worship in contrast to Old Testament worship. Finally, I want to remind us that how we live is also a statement of worship. If God is truly the center of our lives, then His will becomes the foundation of all our choices. In this way our lives become a statement of worship. Our lives, lived this way, are statements of praise and of testimony, both elements of worship. If we remember this truth, it will impact the way we present ourselves and therefore the Lord before others. We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer We praise thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator, In grateful devotion our tribute we bring. We lay it before thee, we kneel and adore thee, We bless thy holy name, glad praises we sing. 5 Wiersbie, p. 27. ) 451 (

6 We worship thee, God of our fathers, we bless thee; Thro life s storm and tempest our Guide hast thou been. When perils o ertake us, thou wilt not forsake us, And with thy help, O Lord, our battles we win. With voices united our praises we offer, To thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise. Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us, To thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise. Amen. 6 6 Cory, Julia Cady, We Praise You, Oh God, Our Redeemer, Public Domain ) 452 (

7 Isaiah God s Charges Against the Wicked ~ Part 4 Isaiah 56:9-59:21 I Introduction II Indictment Against the Leaders 56:9-57:2 III Indictment Against the Idolaters Verses 3-13 IV Indictment Against the Proud and Greedy Verses V Indictment Against the Hypocritical Worshipers Verses 1-14 VI Indictment Against the Unjust Verses 1-21 VII Conclusion Introduction: 1. Biblical Humility: 2. Thou Shalts : Indictment Against Leaders: 1. First Responsibility (see Acts 17:11) 2. Second Responsibility (see Hebrews 13:17) Indictment Against Idolaters: (1 Corinthians 1:31) V Indictment Against the Hypocritical Worshipers: Verses 1-2: (Exodus 16:23, 20:11)

8 Verses 3-5: (Matthew 15:8-9, 6:5) Verses 6-10: (Matthew 25:35, 5:14-16) Verses 11-12: Verses 13-14: Comments: (Hebrews 10:25) Personal Application: This week let us focus on how our lives are acts of worship. Prayer for the Week: Lord, may our worship be worthy of You. In Christ s name, amen.