A Translation and Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 26 Aug 2007
14. Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
“Because of you I sent Babylon away
and brought them all down as fugitives,
even Chaldeans, in their pleasure yachts.
15. I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16. Thus says Jehovah,
who gives a way in the sea, a path in the strong waters,
17. who pitches out chariot and horse, army and strongman.
They will lie down, they will never get up,
they have been extinguished, quenched like a wick.
18. You will not remember the first things or brood on old things,
19. Look, I am doing a new thing, It springs up now, Don’t you know it?
I will even put a way in the wilderness and rivers in desert!
20. Livestock of the field will honor me, jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness, streams in the desert, to cause my chosen people to drink.
21. This people I formed for myself will recount my praise.
22. Yet it wasn’t me that you called, Jacob,
for you are weary with me, Israel.
23. You have not brought to me a lamb of your burnt offerings
or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not caused you to serve with offerings,
and I have not wearied you with frankincense.
24. You have not bought for me cardamom with silver,
you did not satisfy me with your fat sacrifices.
Moreover you have caused me to serve in your sins;
you have wearied me with your iniquities.
25. I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
26. Remind me; let us judge together; record it, that you may be justified.
27. Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me.
28. So I profaned the holy princes and I gave Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproach.
· After having four boys in a row and then 5 girls in a row, we’ve discovered that boys are different from girls.
· Girls change clothes constantly. One minute, they’ve got normal clothes on, then you turn around and they’re all swishing past in princess dresses, the next they’ve got their normal clothes back on, but they’re all wearing each other’s clothes…
· Boys are not like that. They would just as soon never change clothes. It’s not efficient. Once you find an outfit that’s comfortable, why ever go to the trouble of changing out of it?
· My son Amos is particularly that way this summer, as he can usually be seen wearing a pair of black cutoff shorts with a brown t-shirt that says “Colorado” in gold letters on the front.
· Friday night, however, we were getting ready to go out to eat, and I don’t know whether my wife had managed to snatch his favorite outfit and put it in the washer, or if he had just been commanded to wear something neat and clean, but he emerged wearing blue shorts and a green shirt.
· He walked up to Beni and said, “Who am I?” Beni took a wild guess, “Amos?”
· “Nope,” said Amos, “because I’m now wearing a green shirt!”
· Well, just because Amos was wearing a new shirt didn’t mean he was a different person. In our text today, we see that God is doing a new thing, but He is still the same person. In verses 14-16, we have a description of the unchanging person of God using seven names:
A) Seven Names for God:
1. Jehovah (v.14, 15, 16) – We’ve already seen how God called Himself this name to Moses in Exodus . This name has to do with the Hebrew verb “to be” and describes God as self-existent – He has always been and always will be, and did not come from anything else.
2. Redeemer (v.14 and v.1) – we already looked at this name for God last week and how it describes a buying back of something. This is what Jesus did when He gave his life and shed His blood on the cross in order to purchase us for God.
3. Holy one of Israel/your Holy One (v.14 & 15) – this combination of “holy” and “redeemer,” is remarkable. It means that God defines right and wrong and upholds His ethical standards so that He can remain holy, but it also means that He graciously works to take unholy people and make them holy. He’s not just the Holy One in unapproachable holiness, no, he is the Holy One OF ISRAEL, YOUR Holy One! How could a holy God remain holy while transforming sinful people into saints? Through Jesus.
4. In v. 15, God is the Creator of Israel – we also looked at this last week. John 1 tells us that Jesus, “the word of God” was “with God in the beginning” and “created all things” with God.
5. “your King” This is the first time God calls himself the “king of Israel” since Israel chose to make Saul king over them. Remember, God was not happy about that. He is the rightful king. In fact, the last four times in the Bible that a king is mentioned for Israel are Zechariah 9, Matt. 21, John 12, and John 19 – all of them referring to Jesus as the “king of Israel!”
6. In verses 16 and 17 we have two more participles describing God’s nature: He is “one who gives a way” for His people. James 1 describes how every good gift comes from God. God the creator is also a giver of the good things He creates for the people He loves.
a. God especially is one who gives a way, a way out, a path of everlasting life. Is there a problem in your life that is impossible to solve? A habit of sin that can’t be licked? God can make a path where there was none!
7. But there is a flip side to this. God, the one who places, is also the one who dis-places. In v. 17, God is the “One Who pitches out” or “brings out” the bad guys. We talked about this concept two weeks ago, how God has a single purpose to get glory for Himself, but a dual objective to build up those who love Him and judge those who hate Him.
B) Events that show the character of God and point to His new project.
1. The Fall of Babylon (v.14)
a. It is written in Perfect tense, but it hadn’t actually happened yet. As a prophet, Isaiah saw this event as though it had already happened.
b. It describes the Chaldean people in Babylon being “sent out” and “brought down as fugitives” – fleeing from their city in boats. God “sent” Cyrus the Persian to conquer Babylon and send the captive Jews in Babylon back home to Jerusalem.
c. Cyrus had to divert the Euphrates river in order to conquer Babylon. The picture here is of the Chaldeans running out of the city to jump into their boats and escape.
i. The Hebrew word that describes the boats is a word which literally means “shouting” – sometimes this is joyful shouting, and sometimes it is a cry of rage.
ii. Perhaps they were hoping to make their getaway in their pleasure yachts, but ended up shouting in frustration when they realized they couldn’t use their boats because there was no river there anymore – Cyrus had diverted it!
d. Notice that it is done for Israel’s sake – this is consistent with God’s nature as a Redeemer of His people from bondage and giver of good things to His people.
e. v. 15 seems to be the answer to an unspoken question, “Why, God, would you do this?” He answers, “Because it is my nature. I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”
2. The Exodus (v.16-17)
a. Verses 16-17 paint a picture of the time when God opened up the Red Sea for the children of Israel to cross on a dry path through the middle of the waters, then brought the waves crashing down on the Egyptian army as they tried to follow the Israelites.
b. There are a bunch of dead Egyptian soldiers in the bottom of the Dead Sea. Some archaeologists even claim they have found petrified chariot wheels down there.
c. This is a typical example of what God is like. He is the great Redeemer-King who creates a new and Holy people for Himself. He is a way-maker. He makes the path to salvation and freedom for His people and He conquers all His enemies.
d. Just as God brought down Pharaoh of Egypt, He will bring down Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and if He can do that, He can bring any modern-day empire down, too.
3. The “New Thing”
a. Verses 18 and following introduce something new. It is contrasted with “former things” and called “a new thing” in v. 19.
b. Jewish scholars say that this “new thing” is the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem.
c. John Calvin took issue with that, noting that the miracles of Egypt were far more impressive than the events surrounding Zerubbabel and Nehemiah’s return and that the reconstruction temple was disappointing enough for the older folks to reminisce about the old temple before the exile (Haggai 2)
d. v.18 says that “they will not remember the former things,” this new thing will be so awesome that all the previous miracles of deliverance in the past will pale by comparison.
e. What is that new thing? It is forgiveness of sin through the work of Jesus Christ.
f. The miracles Jesus did of making wine and bread, or healing the sick and raising the dead, of being God made man and dying for our sin – these are far more impressive than all the plagues of Egypt.
g. The “new and living way” of Jesus eclipses the Old Testament sacrificial system. Jesus took the old Passover meal with its sacrificial lamb and said, “Now, start doing this in remembrance of Me!”
h. Do you understand this?
i. Look at v. 25 “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
j. The truth that God will not remember your sins brings out another possible meaning for v.18 – If God will not remember your old sins that He has forgiven, then you shouldn’t dwell on and remember those old sins either!
k. This “new” path of salvation will be like a way in the wilderness, like rivers in the desert. These blessings are repeated in v.20
l. In the deliverance from Egypt, thousands of Egypt’s animals died, but in this new path of faith in Jesus, no animals have to die. v.20 talks about the whole created order enjoying the blessing as it comes to God’s people!
m. V. 20 also states the reason why God is pouring out these blessings like water – “to give drink to my chosen people.”
i. Just as God provided water in the desert for Israel as they came out of slavery in Egypt,
ii. so God provides His Son Jesus, who is called the “Living water” offered to all who are in slavery to sin. (John 4:10; 7:38)
n. This “new thing” – salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ – is consistent with God’s character mentioned earlier. God is a Redeemer who makes us holy!
C) God’s punishment of the people who failed to respond properly is just.
1. v.21 reiterates what we already saw in v.7 last week that the reason God does all these things is so that we will “recount His praise.” It is for praise that He does all this.
a. As God states in v. 25, we don’t do anything to earn God’s favor, it is “for His own sake,” for His own reasons that He “blots out your transgressions.”
b. Isaiah 42:10 “Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth!”
c. Ephesians 1:5 “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace…”
d. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
e. Such a great salvation deserves praise!
2. However, the Jews were not giving God the praise He formed them to give Him.
a. v.22 You did not call upon God
i. implies they called upon other gods
ii. because they were tired of waiting for the one true God!
iii. God is relational and when we break relationship with him, He is offended.
iv. The personal nature of this offense is intensified by switching from 2 person plural to singular. “Don’t y’all know… You personally did not call upon me”
b. v. 23 You have not brought to me a lamb
i. Implies that sacrifices were made, not to God but to something else.
ii. What is it that you are willing to make sacrifices for?
a. Is it for God or is it to temporarily extend something else you take pleasure in?
b. EXAMPLES: I know that coffee in the morning will give me a headache that afternoon, but sometimes I am willing to sacrifice my ability to think clearly in the afternoon for the immediate energy and comfort from that sweet creamy pungent drink.
c. I’ll sacrifice morning prayer time in order to do church administrative work because when I’m more prepared administratively, I’ll appear more with-it as a leader. That is idolatry.
d. We all make sacrifices, who will those sacrifices be for?
iii. Calvin wrote that sacrifices offered with an impure heart don’t count. If you are worshipping God out of a desire to look good to others or for any other reason besides to give honor to God, it is as if you have not even brought a sacrifice to God.
c. You have not honored me with your sacrifices
i. Sacrifices were made, but they were for some other reason than to honor God.
ii. v. 23 notes that this reluctance to praise God was despite the fact that God’s requirements were not that wearisome
a. Yes, God asked for sacrificial animals, but it was only 10% of increase.
b. Yes, the Jews had to import frankincense from Arabia to accompany the offerings, but God never told them how much frankincense to offer – they could offer whatever amount they could afford.
c. Nowadays we don’t even have to go through all that rigamarole of slaughtering animals. Worship is so much easier since Jesus fulfilled all the animal sacrifices with the sacrifice of Himself, yet we still find it easy to come up with excuses to skip worship.
d. I John 5:3 “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.”
e. Let us not consider honoring God to be a burden!
d. You have not bought for me sweet cane / cardamom
i. Spice used for scenting the special formula of anointing oil in Ex. 30:23
ii. Indicates they were not willing to follow the little details in worshipping God the way He told them to.
iii. Don’t cut corners in worshipping God – Don’t hold back on little details.
e.
You have not satisfied me with
your fat sacrifices
This passage is an echo of the
opening chapter of Isaiah, where he wrote:
“(11) What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Jehovah: I have
had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I
delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats… (13) Bring
no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me… your hands are full
of blood. (16) Wash, make yourself clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before my eyes; cease to do evil; (17) learn to do good; seek justice, relieve
the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (18) Come and let us
reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (19) If you
are willing and obey, you shall eat the good of the land: (20) but if you
refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah
has spoken it.”
3. For these reasons, God is just in judging Israel
a. The logical progression of the use of “honor”:
i. v.4 God honored Israel
ii. v.7 Israel was created to honor God
iii. v.20 Even the wildlife honors God
iv. v.23 Israel did not honor God
v. Therefore God’s judgment against Israel is just.
vi. John 15:5-6 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
vii. There is no value to the farmer in a fruit tree that doesn’t bear fruit.
b. In v.26, God facetiously asks to be reminded in case there was something good the Jews did which He has overlooked.
i. Imagine Osama Bin Laden finally brought to trial.
a. All his hatred for Americans is put on display,
b. Thousands of men that he trained in terrorism and inspired to kill Americans are bought to witness,
c. Tens of thousands of widows and orphans devastated by the killings and maimings of his terrorism give their testimony,
d. and now he is asked to say something for himself.
e. What can he say to tip the scales of justice? “I planted a tree on Arbor Day?”
f. Nothing is going to tip those scales for him; he deserves to die.
ii. And you are the same way
a. Adam, your first father sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit, and he passed on to you a warped and twisted soul that naturally rebels against God.
b. In addition, you have broken the moral law – the 10 commandments that God wrote down for Moses.
c. So you deserve to burn in hell forever, and there is nothing you can do tip the scales of justice and get out of it.
c. In v. 28, the judgment against Israel is pronounced.
i. The holy chief priest, the princes of Israel, the false prophets, and the whole nation will be profaned – removed from the temple worship of God in exile into Babylon.
ii. They will be destroyed – put under the ban – cursed.
iii. They will be made an object of scorn, reviling, and reproach.
D) Application
1. That’s kind of a downer ending for the chapter!
2. The good news is that for those who do not neglect God’s great new way of salvation, the chapter ends at verse 25 - with the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God!
3. Hebrews 2:1-3 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”
4. What can we do to not “neglect” this salvation?
a. Believe it.
i. Believe that God is a Redeemer, your Holy One, your Creator, your King, your Way-maker, and the One who pitches out your enemies!
ii. Believe that in Jesus, a new and living way has been opened for you to be forgiven of your transgressions against God, freed from your sin, and reconciled to God.
b. Worship God
i. v.21 God “formed you for Himself” and provided the way of salvation “that you may declare His praise”
ii. Let us do what we were built for – not talking about the weather, but of God’s praise!
iii. When we worship God – when we approach our devotional time, when we gather for family vespers, when we assemble for church – we should do it cheerfully and wholeheartedly, not being reluctant or holding back. 2 Cor. 9:7 “God loves a cheerful giver”
iv. The verb here paints a picture not merely of making mention of God’s praise, but of actually making a list of all the things that make Him praiseworthy.
v. Make His praise extravagant, don’t hold back on the little details – the cardamom and the frankincense were examples in the Old Testament, now it may be the detail in considering your words before God as you lead in prayer or the detail in preparing special food for fellowship. Don’t look at it as a burden but rather as an exciting opportunity to honor your Redeemer!
Hebrews 10:17-25 quotes Isaiah 43:25 "…their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Nate Wilson’s website – Isaiah Sermon Expositions
Christ the Redeemer Church website - Sermons