Heaven Vision. Isaiah 1:1-31 Introduction

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1 Introduction WRGB is the oldest Television station in the United States. The first successful Television broadcast was made in January Television is derived from two Greek words; tele far away and vision to see. We see images that are far away up close. My grandfather loved courtroom drama TV. I remember watching Perry Mason. The character was created by Earl Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason appeared in over 80 novels and short stories, most of which involved his client being put on trial for murder. Typically, he was able to establish his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. What do you do if the character is guilty? Do you demand justice? Or do you seek a pardon? In Isaiah we receive Heaven Vision cosmic TV featuring Court TV; Future Channel; Even Obedient Animal Planet. In our courtroom drama the principal defendant are the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem. They are charged with Insurrection or Rebellion; they are charged with Insincere Worship; and they are charged with Injustice or Crimes against humanity. Heaven Vision "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." (Isaiah 1:1, NKJV) Isaiah was given a special vision. The word vision means to see, to understand, to grasp some truth or future event. When Isaiah uses the term it means something far more than to see, or grasp or understand. It means to see God, understand God s Word and truth. Vision means to see God in the circumstance you find yourself in, or a willingness to understand, accept and trust God s Word in the present and future. Vision in the Bible means more than human insight, or human wisdom, or human reasoning, or the opinions of men. Isaiah s vision is a revelation from God. "for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21, NKJV) Some people believe the Bible is merely the musing of ancient peoples about antiquated ideas. Some so called scholars approach the Bible as a collection of ancient writings, compiled and edited much like any other book from antiquity. The Bible makes an extraordinary claim. It claims to be God s Word from God s mouth for God s people. 1

2 We have the History Channel on TV. But we have Future Channel or the Prophecy Channel in the Bible. Isaiah s vision is a vision about the future of Judah, and Jerusalem (1:1-12:6). The future of God s judgment on the nations and God s eventual triumph in the world to come (13:1-27:13). The future woe (judgment, condemnation) that would fall on God s people because of their persistent sin and refusal to repent (28:1-35:10). The future shift in world power from Assyria to Babylon and the impact on Judah and Jerusalem (36:1-39:8). The future captivity of the Jews in Babylon and their release by King Cyrus of Persia (40:1-48:22). The future coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ (49:1-59:21). The future consummation of history and the glorious destiny of God s people and the terrifying fate of unbelievers (60:1-66:24). The Bible is unique in its ability to correctly predict the future. The role of the prophet was to communicate the plan of God and admonish the people as the Lord directed. The job of correction and exhortation occupied a much greater place than simply predicting the future. " I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. " (Isaiah 48:3, NKJV) "Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, My idol has done them, And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them. " (Isaiah 48:5, NKJV) "Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure, " (Isaiah 46:9-10, NKJV) Where do we find spiritual vision? What is the source of truth? We know it comes from the Word of God and the Word made flesh Jesus Christ. The Bible has the stamp of the divine in its origin, its preservation and its circulation. The Bible is divine rather than human in origin, it seems like many books but it is one, ancient in its writings, modern in its application. Why do so many millions of people continue to be blinded to spiritual truth? How do we explain their apathy, their indifference, their opposition to the truth or being closed to the truth? "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:4, NKJV) We must continue to provide ministries of instruction, to make the Word of God accessible to all peoples. We invite people to dedicate their lives to Christ. We declare that true meaning in life comes from Jesus Christ. We must engage people in meaningful 2

3 conversation about the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be willing to address people s doubts and answer people s questions. People continue to ask and want answers to the great questions; Does God exist? What is God like? Does God know us? Can we know Him? Can we embrace the notions of miracles in an age of secular and scientific skepticism? We must provide opportunities to meet credible Christians with the message of Jesus Christ. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, NKJV) Courtroom Drama (vv.2-10) "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider. Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: " (Isaiah 1:2-10, NKJV) Isaiah opens with an old fashioned courtroom drama. The Lord God is Judge. The children of Judea and Jerusalem are on trial. The Lord calls on heaven and earth to serve as witness to the charge. The Lord presents his case; pronounces guilt (vv.5-15) and gives the accused nation the opportunity to repent and be forgiven (vv.16-31). The Lord s First Indictment: Insurrection/ Rebellion They are charged with rebellion. Ignorance is a favorite excuse when we are charged with crimes. Did you know you were going to fast? Did you know you were stealing when you put the I-Pod in your pocket? Did you know you were cheating when you wrote the answers on your cheat sheet? 3

4 The Lord points out that the children of Judea and Jerusalem have less understanding than an ox or a donkey. They are rebellious children. The Lord God characterizes his relationship like a Father to his children. God s special relationship began with Abraham, continued with Isaac, and Jacob. God grew them as a nation and liberated them from the bondage of Egypt. Down through the generations the Lord had spoke to them; Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Obadiah, Joel, Hosea and Jonah. The Lord God had spoken to them, instructed them, guided them, cared for them, taught them, nourished them, cherished them and met their needs. When they disobeyed, when they sinned, the Lord disciplined them. He did so to bring them back into friendship and fellowship and relationship. The Lord chose Israel to be the bearer of the oracles of God, the promises of God to the world. Israel was to be God s special witness. To proclaim that God the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is God. That God was willing to provide a savior, His Son, to rescue the world from the devastation of sin and the bondage of sin, and the punishment of sin. With each successive generation the children of Israel rebelled, abandoned and then forsook the Lord. They killed the prophets. They rejected the Word of the Lord. They rejected His love, they broke all of His Commandments, and lived lives of flagrant independence, lawlessness, wickedness, selfishness, violence. They forsoke the Lord and lived wicked lives, corrupted society and the land God gave them. How serious are these charges? God calls on heaven and earth as witnesses? The charge itself is instructive. It proves God s ownership. Animals are aware of their masters. They are aware they give service to their masters. Their rebellion proved they did not really know the Lord. It revealed their sinful hearts (v.4). They were carrying a boatload of guilt. Alas, a sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity. A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters. They are not content to do evil deeds, they must solicit others to join in! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel. The title of The Holy One of Israel is used some 25 times in the book of Isaiah; but only 6 times in the rest of the Old Testament. The word Holy speaks of the nature of God and His special character. Holy contrasts his righteous character and acts with their sinful character and sinful acts. Holy contrasts the character of God from the character of men and then stresses the need to live lives of simplicity and purity before the Lord. But Israel rejected Him, and His claims for their lives. They refused to be His witness to a watching world. 4

5 Think for just a moment! How stupid how insane rebellion really is! It would lead to discipline, chastisement, punishment; because of rebellion it would lead to consistent, drought, famine, war, slaves to foreign powers. When Isaiah gave this prophecy the nation was still living in relative prosperity. The judgment predicted was still future. Isaiah asks two questions; Why be punished again? Why would they want to force God s hand in discipline? Then the Lord makes three comparisons to show what the nation would be like when God s judgment fell: 1. The nation would be like a person beaten from head to toe (vv.5-6). No part of the nation would escape injury. Left untreated the injuries become infected, as gangrene sets in and putrifies the whole body. 2. The whole nation would be overrun and decimated. Cities would be burned, farms, produce, crops destroyed and abandoned. Jerusalem would like a slum, like a crumbling cottage in an open field, melons would be left to rot. 3. The nation would suffer the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah; destroyed; in his mercy God would save a small population the remnant a small number of loyal believers, obedient to God to the end. God would spare the few and thus fulfill his promises and propel them into the future. 4. Sin made them mirror the same character as the citizens of Sodom. We might think of this as a depraved indifference to sin. The person simply decides they don t care about the consequences of decisions or behavior. They simply sin. Look at verse 10; Hear the Word of the Lord, give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. We live in a culture and society less open to the Word of the Lord and the law of our God than ever before. Isn t it ironic? Their only hope is to hear the word of the Lord and give ear to the law of God. The fundamental meaning of rebellion is disobedience to authority. We have turned from God s Word and God s law. One of the other characteristics of rebellion is defiance. Children defy parents, employees defy employers, a team defies its coach, a student their teacher. Citizens defy their government, but as serious as those offenses are the greatest offense is when a child of God defies God. The Lord s Second Indictment: Insincere Worship (vv.11-20) 5

6 " To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? Says the Lord. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. " (Isaiah 1:11, NKJV) " When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? " (Isaiah 1:12, NKJV) The Lord accuses them of insincere worship. The children of Israel were observant Jews. They worshipped the Lord, but they did so in an insincere manner. Their worship was formal, hypocritical, empty. The children of Judah missed the point of ritual sacrifice. The Lord rejects hypocritical, empty insincere worship. Isaiah uses strong language to describe God s disgust with empty religion. The Jews went to Temple. They offered the sacrifice. They observed the Sabbaths and the Festival Days. But in their heart they were in rebellion. They refused to obey God s Word and were living lives of persist willful sin. As soon as they were through with Worship services, they returned to their sinful lifestyles, their immoral and selfish ways. They failed to see the meaning in the burnt offering. The burnt offering is described in Leviticus 1:3-17. A male sheep, goat or bull, turtledoves or young pigeons were offered. All except the skin was offered in the burnt offering; the skin was given to the priests. The purpose of the sacrifice was a type or picture of total surrender to God, as well as a picture of substitution and atonement. It is fulfilled in Jesus Christ and his total surrender to God on behalf of every believer (Heb.12:2-3). It is a type and picture of the total surrender of Jesus Christ and His willingness to empty Himself, the one who knew sin became sin for us. To what purpose? the Lord asks? Does the Lord really delight in sacrifice? Does God really love the ritual, the incense, the form of religious externals? The purpose of the sacrifice was to picture redemption and reconciliation with God but the people were not really willing to be reconciled. They were unwilling to turn from their sin and return to the Lord. They were unwilling to keep his commandments and live righteous lives. As a result, God rejected their offerings, He took no delight in them. The people coming to the Temple had the net result of simply trampling His courts. They were hypocrites, people who pretended to know God but whose hearts were far from Him. Their worship pretense their sacrifice pretense their prayers pretense their religion an insincere ceremony that God hated. They had become a burden to God. 6

7 People play religion the way some children play grownup. God wanted friendship, relationship, fellowship. He issues a strong warning; stop making meaningless offerings (vv.13-15). Stop burning detestable incense. Does that mean the odor was bad? NO! This is a symbol of prayer. Stop evil assemblies not simply the regular worship service, but all special services, festivals, etc. They must stop religious praying empty praying. God stopped listening to their prayers because their hands were filled with blood. Here the idea is God sees them as murderers. They treated the poor unfairly, wickedly, unjustly, sometimes even killing them. "Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword ; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 1:13-20, NKJV) The people were guilty of hollow and hypocritical worship. Full Pardon The Lord offers a full pardon. The Lord offers a way for cleansing from their sin. Three steps are necessary; (1) They must repent; (2) They must come to the Lord and reason with Him (v.18); they must admit their sins are as scarlet, the deepest color of red; that they are guilty guilty as guilty as the worst murderer whose blood red hands betray guilt. The idea is shedding the blood of innocent people; and the Lord can make them white as snow. They must come to the Lord for forgiveness. Isaiah warns of two possible verdicts (vv.19-20). If they are willing to be cleansed and obey God they would be rewarded (v.19). The people would once again eat the very best fruit of the land and live fruitful and productive lives (what a beautiful picture of restoration). However, if the people continued to turn from the Lord, they would be destroyed. Judgment was certain, the Lord himself pronounced the judgment. God 7

8 created Hell for the devil and his angels. His Word was the guarantee that judgment would fall on all who continued to rebel against him and disobey His Holy Commandments. The Pardon Must Be Accepted During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train and in the process killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to death by hanging. Because of public sentiment against capital punishment, however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson (first offense), and eventually Jackson intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused it. Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a presidential pardon. Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court s decision: "A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die." And so, as punishment for his crime, George Wilson, on a day appointed by the court, was taken from his cell and hanged to satistfy the requirements of the law. Pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be granted, it must be accepted. You and I are in a similar condition today. We need pardon "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). We are all guilty of sin, and deserve the punishment that awaits us on the appointed day of judgment. Pardon has been offered by God. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Jesus "is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice, the sinbearer) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (I John 2:2). Pardon has been offered to all men to the whole world! God s pardon must be accepted. The Bible teaches that we may accept God s pardon through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (II Corinthians 7:10), confession of Christ (Romans 10:9,10), and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). We continue to receive God s pardon for our sins by walking in the light as He is in the light, while the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from our sin (I John 1:7). A pardon is only a pardon if it is accepted. Full pardon has been granted and is waiting... Will you accept God s pardon on His terms? (via: 9th Avenue church of Christ bulletin; Haleyville, AL) 8

9 False worship is unacceptable. True Worship must include a willingness to believe and obey God s Word, and worship is acceptable. If you are committed to continue in a lifestyle of sin and rebellion, your worship is unacceptable. Ownership of a Bible, membership in a church, attendance at a worship service, does not constitute meaningful worship. You must be willing to obey the Bible, serve your brothers and sisters, and abandon the lifestyle of sin. Listen to what the Bible says; "He answered and said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. " (Mark 7:6, NKJV) " Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? " (Matthew 7:21-22, NKJV) Face The Future (vv.21-31) "How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you have chosen. For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden that has no water. The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them." (Isaiah 1:21-31, NKJV) The Lord s Third Indictment: Injustice 9

10 Isaiah describes the transformation from faithful city to painted prostitute, harlot, whore, these are unkind words and we would much rather hear working girl, streetwalker, or escort or dating service. The Lord accuses Judea and Jerusalem of injustice and deceit. Wickedness, lewdness, sinfulness was now the rule rather than the exception. There was still a scattered remnant of faithful followers of the true and living God, but they were few and far between. The charge of injustice is leveled against the entire city, but a future city where justice reigns is envisoned. The Lord would restore the city, free its citizens and punish all enemies and oppressors. Under David and Solomon the city experienced a measure of faithfulness and justice and righteousness. Now the city was filled with drunks and murderers it its early times it was the city of Dom Perignon and silver certificates and now it was the city of watered down wine and fiat currency. The Lord hates injustice. Injustice takes place when we treat others unfairly. Child abuse or sexually assaulting a child is a crime of injustice in part because children are the most vulnerable and least capable of defending themselves. Abuse of all forms is an injustice. We treat others unfairly or unkindly. The Lord hates criminal acts, showing partiality, spreading rumors and malicious gossip. The Lord hates lying, stealing, cheating, oppressing others, destroying property, denying basic human rights, holding prejudices and discriminating against people, abusing the trust and responsibility placed on us by God, by law, by society. Corrupt, perverse, wicked leaders ruled in Isaiah s day. Sound familiar? They were companions of thieves and willingly took bribes. Helping the citizens was the furthest thing on their minds. They neglected the widows, the orphans, the fatherless; they neglected the needy and even oppressed them. Most lived in selfishness and selfcenteredness. " You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow s garment as a pledge." (Deuteronomy 24:17, NKJV) "How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? " (Psalm 82:2, NKJV) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10, NKJV) "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality." (1 Timothy 5:21, NKJV) Conclusion 10

11 In his book, Lee: The Last Years, Charles Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal Artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our life. -- Michael Williams, Morganfield, Kentucky. Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 4. Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never heard of the incident. "Don't you remember it?" her friend asked. "No," came Barton's reply. "I distinctly remember forgetting it." -- Luis Palau, Experiencing God's Forgiveness. Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no