THE OFFERING OF OBEDIENCE

Transcription

1 THEOFFERINGOFOBEDIENCE 1ThevisionconcerningJudahandJerusalemthatIsaiahthesonofAmozsawduring thereignsofuzziah,jotham,ahaz,andhezekiah,kingsofjudah. 2 Hear,Oheavens!Listen,Oearth!forJehovahhasspoken.Ihaverearedchildren andbroughtthemup,buttheyhaverebelledagainstme. 3 Theoxknowshismaster, andthedonkeyknowsitsowner smanger;butisraeldoesnotknow,mypeopledonot understand. 4 Ah, sinful nation! You are a people loaded down with iniquity, an offspring who are evildoers, children who deal in corruption. They have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned their backs on him. 5 Whywillyoucontinuetobebeaten? [thatiswhatishappeningbecause]you persistinyourrebellion.yourwholeheadisinjured,andyourwholeheartisafflicted. 6 Fromthesoleofyourfoottothetopofyourheadthereisnosoundness[ofbody],only woundsandweltsandopensoresthathaveneitherbeencleansednorbandagednor soothedwithoil. 7 Yourcountryisdesolate,yourcitiesareburnedwithfire.Foreigners devouryourlandinyourverypresence;itisleftdesolate,overrunbystrangers. 8 The DaughterofZionisleftlikeashackinavineyard,likeahutinafieldofmelons,likea cityundersiege. 9 UnlessJehovahofhostshadleftusaverysmallnumberofsurvivors, wewouldhavebeenlikesodom,wewouldhavebeenlikegomorrah. 10 HearthewordofJehovah,yourulersofSodom;listentothelawofourGod,you people of Gomorrah! 11 What does the multitude of your sacrifices mean to me? declares Jehovah. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattenedbeasts.idonottakepleasureinthebloodofbullsorlambsorgoats. 12 When youappearbeforeme,whohasaskedthisofyou thistramplingofmycourts? 13 Stop bringingmeaninglessofferings!yourincenseisdetestabletome.[theobservanceof] New Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of sacred assemblies I cannot [tolerate them]! Do away with iniquity and the solemn assembly! 14 My soul hates your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts; they are a burden to me, I am tired of puttingupwiththem. 15 Whenyouspreadoutyourhandsinprayer,Iwillhidemyeyes fromyou.evenifyouoffermanyprayers,iwillnotlisten.yourhandsarefullofblood! 16 Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds and remove themfrommysight.stopdoingevil. 17 Learntodowhatisgood.Seekjustice,relieve theoppressed,defendthecauseofthefatherless,pleadthecaseofthewidow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah. Even though your sins are as dark as scarlet,theyshallbeaswhiteassnow.eventhoughtheyareasredascrimson,they shallbelikewool. 19 Ifyouarewillingandobedient,youwilleatthebestthattheland produces. 20 But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword, for the mouthofjehovahhasspokenit. 21 See how the faithful city has become a prostitute. She once was full of justice. Righteousness used to dwell in her but now murderers! 22 Your silver has become dross.yourchoicewinehasbeendilutedwithwater. 23 Yourprincesarerebelsandthe companionsofthieves.everyoneofthemlovesbribesandchasesaftergifts.theydo notdefendthecauseofthefatherless,neitherdoesthewidow scasecomebeforethem [for a hearing]. 24 Therefore, the Lord Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares,ah,iwillrelievemyselfofmyadversaries,andiwilltakevengeanceonmy enemies. 25 I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross and

2 removeallyourimpurities. 26 Iwillrestoreyourjudgessoitwillbeasitwasatfirst, and your counselors like it was at the beginning; then you will be called, The City of Righteousness, The Faithful City. 27 Zion will be redeemed by judgment, and those withinherwhorepentwillberedeemedbyrighteousness. 28 Butthetransgressorsand sinners will both be destroyed together, and those who forsake Jehovah will be consumed. 29 Theywillbeashamedofthesacredoaksthatyouhavedesired;andyou willbedisgracedbecauseofthesacredgardensthatyouhavechosen. 30 Youwillbelike an oak whose leaf fades, and like a garden without water. 31 The mighty man will become tinder and his work will be like a spark both will burn together, and there willbenoonetoquenchthefire.(isa.1:1 31) A note on the Scripture text that accompanies each individual message: The American Standard VersionandtheNewInternationalVersion,alongwiththeoriginalGreekandHebrew,havebeenused in an effort to achieve the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity. Where words or phrases have been added to the original text in an effort to better express its meaning, those words or phrases haveusuallybeenindicatedbymeansof[brackets]. Introduction When John and Kay needed help milking the cows, their neighbors, Roger and Connie,respondedtotheircall,eventhoughitmeantmissingthemid weekservice attheirchurch. ThisishowKaytellsthestory: Severalyearsago,whenmyhusbandJohnandIwerestillmilkingcows,wewere dismayedwhenhecamedownwiththefluafewhoursbeforemilkingtime.our hiredhelphadthenightoffandiknewiwouldbefillingin.iphonedkatie,our teenagebabysitter,toseeifshecouldcareforourtoddler.connie,hermother, answeredthephone. WhenIexplainedoursituation,sheaskedifwecouldusetheirhelp.Sincethey attendedchurchonwednesdaynights,iwassurprisedattheoffer.butieagerly acceptedandtoldherwhattimewestarted.asihungupthephone,iwondered ifroger,herhusband,wouldbethere,sincehewasanelderandwasexpectedto bepresentforallchurchmatters. Butthewholefamilyshowedupontime. By volunteering their help, this family cleared up the fog in my brain concerning a Scripture verse I had come across: Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22.) I didn t understand the difference until I realized our neighbors had been faced with the choice of helping someone in need or attending church It wasn t hard for them to figure out what was most importanttogod.

3 Our friends were willing to get their hands dirty for the cause of Christ, even thoughthosesamehandscouldhavebeenseenbymanymorepeopleprayingin church. They knew God would rather have them show love to others, thus obeying one of God s greatest commandments, than attempt to please Him by attendingchurch.(power,6/30/91,pp.4 5) NowsupposethatKayhadcalledyou?Whatwouldyouhavedone? Here is the situation we find in the passage of Scripture presently before us: The people of Israel demonstrated themselves to be very religious they would never thinkofmissingaworshipserviceofanykindforanyreason buttheireveryday livesweredevoidofobediencetothelord. ItisinthissettingthattheprophetIsaiahiscalledtobringthewordoftheLORDto thepeopleofjudah,apeoplewhodemonstratedthemselvestobeveryreligious theywouldneverthinkofmissingaworshipserviceofanykindforanyreason but theireverydaylivesweredevoidofobediencetothelord.thiswasaconditionthe LORDfindstobeintolerable. When the LORD looks at our lives, what does He find? A life characterized by the offering of obedience? Or a life filled with religion, but devoid of obedience? BecauseanythinglessisintolerabletotheLORD,letusbesuretopresentuntoHim theofferingofobedience. I.PresenttheOfferingofObedience, OrYouwillIncurtheLORD sdiscipline(isa.1:1 9) In verse 2 the LORD protests against an incredible expression of ingratitude: I haverearedchildrenandbroughtthemup,buttheyhaverebelledagainstme. How would you feel if, after raising a son or daughter from infancy staying up throughout the night when he was sick, working hard to provide food, clothing andeducation,tryingtogivehimwhatwouldmakehimhappy heorshewere to rebel against you, ignoring your counsel, defying the rules of your house, showing no sense of respect or obligation to you? Such is the way that Old TestamentIsraelrespondedtotheLORDtheirGod. DoweactlikethistowardstheLORD?Inourdailylife,doweignoreHiscounsel, failingtoseekhiswillthroughprayerandfromhisword?doweignorethelord andfindthatallourtimeispreoccupiedwithourownpursuits wehavenotime for devotions, all our time is engaged in making a living and enjoying our own recreations? Do we consciously defy His rules idolizing our possessions or sports or relationships; entertaining lustful thoughts and practices; harboring bitterness; practicing dishonesty; coveting what rightfully belongs to our neighbor?

4 In verse 3 the LORD protests against an incredible expression of spiritual ignorance: theoxknowshismaster,andthedonkeyknowsitsowner smanger;but Israeldoesnotknow,mypeopledonotunderstand. UnlikeOldTestamentIsrael, let us appreciate the fact that our life is totally dependent upon God a fact to whichboththeapostlepaulandtheapostlejamestestify: hehimselfgivesallmenlifeandbreathandeverythingelse inhimwelive andmoveandhaveourbeing.(acts17:25b,28a) Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spendayearthere,carryonbusinessandmakemoney. 14 Why,youdonoteven know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appearsforalittlewhileandthenvanishes. 15 Instead,yououghttosay,Ifitis thelord swill,wewillliveanddothisorthat.(jam.4:13 15) Let us appreciate the fact that we owe our allegiance to God. Such is the case becauseheisourcreatorandweliveinhisworld: TheearthbelongstotheLORD, andeverythinginit,theworld,andallwholiveinit; 2 forhefoundeditupontheseas andestablishedituponthewaters (Psl.24:1 2.)Althoughmore,asaChristian,He isourredeemerandhehaspurchaseduswithhisownblood: Doyounotrealize thatyourbodyisatempleoftheholyspirit,whoisinyou,whomyouhavereceived fromgod?youdonotbelongtoyourself; 20 youwereboughtwithaprice.therefore, glorifygodwithyourbody (1Cor.6:19 20.) Maywebeconsciousofthefactthatinarelativelyshorttimewewillbecalledto standbeforehimandgiveanaccountofourlife.astheapostlepaulinformsus, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receivewhatisduehimforthethingsdonewhileinthebody,whethergoodorbad (2Cori.5:10.) Inverse4theprophetidentifiesthesepeopleas asinfulnation (or, asinning nation. ) Sinning is the adjective that most accurately describes these people; theyaredevotedtothepracticeoftheirsins;theylovetheirsinsmorethanthey lovetheirgod.whatwouldbetheadjectivethatmostaccuratelydescribesyour lifeormine? These people are further described as an offspring who are evildoers. The text literally reads, an offspring of evildoers but this does not mean that they are the children of evildoers. On the contrary, they are the children of godly forefathers,but,unlikethoseforefathers,theyareagenerationofevildoers.can you look back to a godly grandfather or grandmother? Or to a godly father or mother they feared God and loved Him, they were devoted to the Lord Jesus ChristtheirSavior?Nowlookinthemirror.Doyouseeareflectionofthosegodly forefathersinyourlife?ordoyouseeinyourselftheoppositeofwhattheywere?

5 Isaiahgoesontodescribethemas childrenwhodealincorruption, or, children whoactdestructively. Bytheirlifestyleofsinanddisobediencetheyarebringing destructionuponthemselves.thatwhichmoseshadforesawwasnowcomingto pass: Iknowthataftermydeathyouaresuretobecomeutterlycorruptandtoturn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon youbecauseyouwilldoevilinthesightofjehovahandprovokehimtoangerby whatyourhandshavemade (Deut.31:29.) Their sin is described as personal transgression against the LORD Himself: they haveforsakenjehovah,theyhavedespisedtheholyoneofisrael. Wemustrealize thatwhenwebreakgod scommandmentsweareineffectsmashingthosetablets ofthelawrightinfrontofhisface.themorallawofgodisanexpressionofhis character, and to break that law is not merely to violate an abstract code of conduct,buttodefyandoffendthepersonofgodhimself?comparethispresent passageofisaiah1:4withisaiah5:24, theyhaveforsakenjehovah,theyhavedespisedtheholyoneofisrael(isa. 1:4) theyhaverejectedthelawofthejehovahofhosts,anddespisedthewordof theholyoneofisrael(isa.5:24) Finally, their relationship with the LORD is described as one of estrangement ("theyhaveturnedtheirbacksonhim.")theirisspiritualindifference,aloofness, withdrawal,allpotentiallyleadingtoadivorcefromthelord maythisneverbe adescriptionofourspiritualcondition! Ifyoursonordaughtertreatedyouinthisway,howwouldyoufeel?Whatwould you do? The human reaction: This behavior is intolerable! Strong disciplinary actionmustbetaken! TheLORD sdivinereactionisthesame.verses5 6picture amanbeingfloggedforhistransgressions,yethedefiantlypersistsallthemore inthosetransgressions;consequently,thereisnorelieffromthedisciplinethatis beingadministeredtohim. Inverses7 8theactualmeansofdiscipline/punishmentisdescribed,itisforeign invasion: yourcountryisdesolate,yourcitiesareburnedwithfire,thedaughterof Zion is left like a shack in a vineyard[i.e.; a makeshift shelter for the caretaker], like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege. We must understand that whenwegoagainstgoditwillgohardforus,andtherewillbenoreliefunless werepentandsubmittohim.considerthecaseoftheprodigalson: Afterhehadspenteverything,therewasaseverefamineinthatwholecountry, andhebegantobeinneed. 15 Sohewentandhiredhimselfouttoacitizenof that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his

6 stomachwiththepodsthatthepigswereeating,butnoonegavehimanything. 17 Whenhecametohissenses,hesaid, 18 Iwillsetoutandgobacktomyfather andsaytohim,father,ihavesinnedagainstheavenandagainstyou. 20 Sohe gotupandwenttohisfather.butwhilehewasstillalongwayoff,hisfather saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his armsaroundhimandkissedhim.(lk.15:14 17a,18,20) Ifyourlifeisdevoidofobedience,youareforsakingtheLORD scallingandyoucan expecttoincurhisdisciplinaryaction,noterevelation3:19, AllthosewhomIlove Irebukeanddiscipline.Therefore,beearnestandrepent. Letuspresentuntothe LORDtheofferingofobedience,sothatwedonotincurHisdiscipline. II.PresenttheOfferingofObedience, SothatYourWorshipwillbeAcceptabletotheLORD(Isa.1:10 15) Inverse11theLORDdeclaresthatHehashadenoughofthehypocriticalworship of these people. He poses the question, What does the multitude of your sacrifices mean to me? At this stage it appears that Old Testament Israel was offeringanabundanceofsacrificesuntothelordinanattempttoappeasehim, with the hopes that He would deliver them from the foreign invader who was layingsiegetotheirland.buttheirlifecontinuedtobedevoidofobedience. TheLORD goesontodeclare, Ihavehadenoughoftheburntofferingsoframs. Note: The burnt offering was intended to represent the offering up of the worshiper s life unto God. Here were a people offering merely the symbol of devotion,ratherthanthewholehearteddevotionthelordrequiresandwhichis Hisdue.TheLordJesussummedupourspiritualdutyinthesewords: Youshall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and Youshallloveyourneighborasyourself (Matt.22:37 39.)TheLORD further informs Israel, I do not take pleasure in the blood of bulls. This is the very truth He had impressed upon them earlier in their history through the ministryoftheprophetsamuel: DoesJehovahdelightinburntofferingsandsacrificesasmuchasinobeyingthe voiceofjehovah?toobeyisbetterthansacrifice,andtoheedisbetterthanthe fatoframs 23 for rebellionislikethesinofdivination,andarrogancelikethe evilofidolatry.(1sam.15:22 23a) In verse 12 the LORD demands to know, Who has asked this of you this trampling of my courts? Now the LORD Himself has required that His people appear before Him in worship: Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD God (Ex. 23:17.) But worship that is devoid of obedience, and divorced from a life of devotion, the LORD views as a trampling of His holy courts.wemustsoberlybeawarethatifweenterthehouseofthelordtooffer Himworship,whilerefusingtorenderobedienceuntoHiminoureverydaylife, ouractislookeduponbythelordasaprofaningofhissacredhouse.

7 In verses 13 14, employing the strongest terms the LORD denounces such worship. Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Such worship neither pleases nor honors God; it does not win His favor. Your incense is detestable to me! Incense withitsfragrantaromarepresentedprayer,butprayerdivorcedfrom obediencebecomes detestable tothelord likethestenchofanopengarbage canonahotsummerday.noteproverbs28:9, Ifanyoneturnsadeafeartothe law,evenhisprayersaredetestable. TheLORDgoesontodeclare, thecallingof [sacred] assemblies I cannot [tolerate them]! Do away with iniquity and the solemn assembly! Solemn assemblies and iniquity are two mutually exclusive things;whensuchassembliesaremixedwithiniquitythoseassembliesbecome repulsivetothelord. LetuspresentuntotheLORDtheofferingofobedience,sothatourworshipmay beacceptableandpleasingtohim. III.PresenttheOfferingofObedience, asarightresponsetothelord scounsel(isa.1:16 31) The people of Israel have been bringing to the LORD the multitude of their sacrifices.now,totheirshockanddismay,theydiscoverthatthelordrejectsall thattheyareofferinghim.whatcounseldoesthelordnowgivehispeople? In verses the LORD gives the counsel to cease from sin and to practice righteousness,arighteousnessthatconsistsof justice fairnessandintegrity inourbusinessdealingsandourpersonallife.justiceismorepreciselydefined in the following statements: relieve the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow the LORD is referring here to social justice. Note the LORD s counsel given in Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, whatisgood.andwhatdoesthelordrequireofyou?[herequiresyou]toactjustly andtolovemercyandtowalkhumblywithyourgod. In verse 18 the LORD graciously extends the offer of forgiveness to those who have offended Him but who now return to Him: Even though your sins are as darkasscarlet,theyshallbeaswhiteassnow. Basedupontheatoningsacrifice of Jesus the Messiah, the LORD extends to us this assurance: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jn.1:9.) But,asverse19indicates,theLORDpromisesHismercyandblessingonlyupon theconditionofoursubmissiontohim: Ifyouarewillingandobedient,youshall eat the best that the land produces. Note: This is not a self manufactured obediencethatproducessalvation;onthecontrary,itisthefruitofsalvationand newlifeinchrist.

8 In verse 20 the LORD warns of His judgment against those who persist in their transgressionsandrebellionagainsthim: Butifyouresistandrebel,youwillbe devouredbythesword,forthemouthofjehovahhasspokenit. LetuspresentuntotheLORDtheofferingofobedience,asarightresponsetoHis counsel. Conclusion AstheLORDlooksuponyourlifeandmine,tothedegreethatHefindscompliance with His holy will a compliance produced by the Holy Spirit may He grant His blessing and comfort and further growth in grace. But to the degree that He finds conformitytotheungodlystateofjudahasdescribedinthispassage,mayhebring conviction,accompaniedbythegraceofrepentanceandrestoration.