Introduction
In our society, it's pretty typical to live beyond one's means – to be overextended on credit. To purchase things now and rationalize that I will always be able to pay back what I owe eventually.
Our advertising reinforces the idea that you can get it now and pay for it later.
We are taught that credit is a good thing to have and we need to use our cards in order to keep a good credit line.
But we often forget that one day that dept will come due. We will be held accountable for the amount we racked up.
It seems that many live their lives in the same way. Thinking that I will live for the here and now and worry about the future when it comes. I will always have time to change before this life is over.
And if I do a little good along the way, at least my credit record will be good with God (if there is a God) once I leave this life.
Fallacy, fallacy, fallacy! Or as the writer of Ecclesiastes would say, “Vanity, vanity, vanity”. All is vanity outside of a pursuit of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14:
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
There is a price to be paid for all sin.
You've probably heard of the three Rs in education:
The three Rs (as in the letter R) are[1] the foundations of a basic skills oriented education program within schools: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_three_Rs)
Even though teaching these things has become a lost aRt in our day, I thought I would borrow from this theme for the title of this talk. The three Rs we are interested in are wRath, Retribution, and Redemption.
Tribute is a sum of money paid by one who is in submission to another. It is the idea that one nation in submission to another is forced to remit a sum of money on an annual basis either for protection or by virtue of a treaty.
Retribution is a payment of another sort. It is punitive in nature.
Retribution:
The act of retributing; repayment.
That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.
Wrath and Retribution (Isaiah 34:1-17)
All Of Creation Is Addressed (vs 1)
All animate and inanimate objects are called to witness what God is going to say.
After all, all of creation is subject to the decay brought on by sin.
Like in 1:2 where He called the heavens and earth to bear witness against faithless Israel and Judah.
Here he speaks of all nations.
He is speaking here to all peoples but more specifically to all those who are outside of the covenant community.
Those who have despised God's covenant and His covenant people.
Come near, listen, pay attention! God is calling out all people to sit up, listen, be forewarned.
So what is the issue? What does God want all nations to hear?
God is Angry With All Nations (2-4)
God is warning all nations that they are objects of His wrath.
To take note and consider why that may be.
In Ephesian, Paul tells us that we are by nature objects of wrath.
Ephesians 2:1-4 :
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
What is it that's so hideous about sin? Why is God so repulsed by sin?
It's rebellion against God and His righteous moral character.
The sinner is asserting himself as his own authority and usurping the only true Authority.
The sinner is denying his responsibility as a moral being.
Sin Corrupted All of Creation
Consider this: there is no such thing as sin in a vacuum – sin that only affects the sinner.
Our sin nature is the result of our first parents.
We were born sinners and that is why we sin. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.
Since the fall of man, God has dealt with sin and its effect upon all that He created.
Romans 5:12-21 :
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
And He is familiar with the continual progression of the depraved sinful nature.
There is a Day of Retribution coming. Time is running out.
And so God's moral character naturally is repulsed by sin and its pervasive nature over all of His good creation.
Graphic Language
Isaiah, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, paints a graphic picture of the devastation that accompanies God's wrath.
The idea here is that this judgment of God will be complete and final – all will be affected by it.
Given over to slaughter – this shows the complete nature of what God will do.
Slain thrown out, stench of dead bodies, mountains soaked with blood.
This is a repulsive scene, one that shows the devastation of those who face God's judgment.
Even the stars are rolled up like a scroll, and the hosts fall from the sky.
The Illustration of Edom (5-15)
As is common, Isaiah uses a contemporary nation to illustrate God's justice in action.
And what a better example than Edom.
Edom is descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob (Israel).
They were twin brothers, born to Isaac and Rebecca.
In fact, Esau was older (by a very short margin) and legal heir to the inheritance and blessing of his father Isaac.
But unlike Jacob, Esau didn't care so much about the inheritance as he did about his immediate needs.
At least not until late in life, when it was too late.
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.
He chose to fill his stomach over considering the consequences and what he was paying.
He rejected the blessing of God for temporal things.
Isn't that the condition of most of humanity.
Man is more interested in the here and now and what seems to be satisfying the immediate need but misses out on the real need until it is too late.
Esau and his descendants were at odds with God's people.
And the same is true today. The Church of God – those who are redeemed by Jesus Christ – are despised by the world.
And so God uses Edom as the prototype of all those who reject God and his covenant for a life of their own.
A life apart from God and His promises.
The Sacrifice Metaphor (5-7)
The language used in 5-7 depict what appears to be a sacrifice.
Interestingly, those who have despised and rejected God's only sacrifice and provision for sin find themselves slain by God for their own sin.
They are given over to slaughter and destruction.
A Depiction of Hell (8-10)
The Lord's day of vengeance will uphold Zion's cause.
Those who are enemies of God's people are enemies of God.
God will deal with them, that is not our job.
My Vengeance: I know my motives in vengeance are impure and self-serving and result in sin.
God's Vengeance: God's motives are pure, out of perfect knowledge, and result in His glory.
Verses 9 through the end of the chapter use language to depict the desolation of the people who are enemies of God.
Whatever this life had to offer, that they gloried in, will be gone and nothing will be left to show for it.
It's all going to be burned up, consumed by fire, totally destroyed.
Note: there are some that view this and other passages of Scripture as evidence of annihilation. In other words, God will destroy the wicked to the point that they have no further conscious existence. But that is not what the Bible teaches at all. It teaches that man is a living soul and that his soul will live on forever.
But this passage does give a glimpse of the abode of the unregenerate.
In verse 10: the fire will not be quenched day and night and its smoke will rise forever.
The wrath of God is complete, permanent, and final.
And it is what every sinner deserves. It is justice from the hand of the Righteous judge.
Unclean Animals (11-15)
Verses 11-15 go into detail regarding the inhabitants of Edom.
He uses this to show the desolation. These are the creatures that are generally driven out of populous areas. But when there are few inhabitants, these creatures begin to show up.
And also, most of the creatures mentioned are unclean animals from the perspective of the Old Covenant.
Owls, ravens, eagles, jackals, etc.
Just a further illustration of the futility of rebellion against God – there is nothing left to show for it and even your place of residence will not remember you.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (16-17)
God began this chapter calling the nations to come and listen and pay attention. He concludes with the evidence written in a scroll. There is no excuse for forgetting or claiming you never knew.
The warning is clear. The sentence is predetermined. The Judge of the universe has spoken.
Principle: God's warning of coming wrath, if unheeded, will result in eternal consequences.
Applications:
What attitudes and actions of vengeance do you need to leave in the hands of God?
Who do you know that is subject to God's wrath and destruction? What are you going to do to warn him?
How does your life reflect an attitude of gratitude toward God for redeeming you from the consequences of sin that you deserve?
Redemption (Isaiah 35:1-10)
When reading through the poetry in the book of Isaiah, there might be a tendency to fixate on the physical descriptions being used and miss out on the spiritual implications. The Jews of Jesus day, by and large, missed Messiah because He didn't fit their more literal view of the prophecies. They were looking for a Messiah who would conquer their oppressors and usher Israel into a physical kingdom. They were under the impression that their greatest need was a land to live in and no oppressing nations to conquer them. But their greatest need was the same as all of humanity – freedom from bondage, not to a nation, but bondage to sin.
Luke 2:29-35 :
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss[a] your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
The Desert Blooms (From Dead to Life) (1-2)
When a desert goes long periods of time without water, it seems as though their isn't too much alive as far as plants are concerned.
It gets pretty dusty. Pretty dirty. Pretty ugly.
Pretty dead and pretty desolate.
Just as Isaiah was using graphic and descriptive language in chapter 34, along with illustrations of Edom in order to depict the eventual demise of the godless, here he is using language to depict not only the re-creation God will perform at Christ's return, but the new creation Christ brought about in the lives of the redeemed.
In contrast to the drying up and burning up in the previous chapter, here he talks about the dry and thirsty land being rejuvenated.
What used to be dead and desolate will come alive – will bloom.
This chapter is more than just a chapter about land restoration. And certainly the heavens and earth will be re-created at Christ's return.
He will restore creation to the state it was in when He first created it.
But there are also spiritual applications here that we should see.
Consider man's natural state at birth (or at conception).
At the point of our being human, we inherit a nature that is fallen.
We are dead in trespasses and sin. We are effectively like a desert, no fruit of growth, or life.
You might be saying, “Speak for yourself Mike”. I am. I know what I was before Christ changed me.
I know what my sin nature is capable of – every evil imaginable.
I know that their was no life in me and nothing in me that made me redeemable.
I know that I, like all men, was a slave to sin and I did my master's bidding willingly and without question.
And I know I was an object of wrath, just like all humanity outside of God's redemption.
But just like a desert land that is a waste but God regenerates it, so is the lost soul who is regenerated by God.
There is life where previously there was only death and despair.
Where life had no meaning and purpose, there is meaning and purpose.
The very essence of what life is becomes evident because with that life comes an ability to relate to the only One who can bring purpose and meaning to life.
And like the desert land that greatly rejoices and shouts for joy, when God redeems a person He fills that person with His joy, even if that person is living in a desert.
God Will Avenge His Redeemed (3-4)
In verses 3 & 4, Isaiah points out that life's circumstances may seem hopeless at times but for God's people they never are actually hopeless.
The appearance of hopelessness is deceptive.
Just as sometimes the appearance of hope is deceptive. Misplaced hope is blind hope.
But God's redeemed have every reason to Hope in Him. He is our advocate.
If we are his, then our ultimate enemy has been vanquished. Death and judgment and satan.
Our sin is paid for by our redeemer. He bore all the judgment and wrath on our behalf.
There is no more payment for sin for the redeemed.
And even if we go through the remainder of our days in this life oppressed by our enemies, Christ is returning.
And when he does, the days of toil will seem like a blink of the eye.
The sorrows of this life will seem like a flash compared to the glory when Jesus returns.
You see, justice is always served in a just universe.
We are part of a created universe whose Creator holds absolute authority. He is in complete control. And nothing goes unnoticed. And no infraction will be overlooked by His perfect justice.
Note: these verses are not meant to cause us to wish God's soon justice on our enemies and God's enemies. We can get caught up in the “You'll Get Yours” syndrome and wind up sinning. But we should note that our trials here are short in comparison to the life to come.
Take heart! Bear each others' burdens! Pray for one another! Love your enemies and do good to those who abuse you.
The Redeemer's Work (Then and Now) (5-7)
When John the Baptist was in prison, nearing his death, he was interested in knowing if Jesus was the One prophesied about or if another was to come.
And Jesus quoted using Isaiah as well as siting what was evident to all who were around him: the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and blessed are those who do not turn away on account of me.
Note: if you have been with us from the beginning of this study this year, don't give up, finish this year out. We are going to see some amazing detailed prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus' first coming as well as those yet to be fulfilled in His second coming. Stay tuned!
But here we see again some physical descriptions of miracles which also have spiritual applications.
As we said before, Jesus didn't come to earth to heal and fix all the physical maladies of the day. These miracles proved who He was and were used to illustrate spiritual truths.
Back in chapter 6:9,10 of Isaiah, when God gives his commission, he talks about blinding the eyes, closing the ears, and hardening the hearts of the people.
This was not literal, but figurative of a people who ignore the truth of God's word over and over again until there is sight, sound, and tenderness of the heart diminish.
When Jesus came, he used the man born blind to open his eyes to the truth of the Savior but also to show how blind the Pharisees actually were in spite of their familiarity with Scripture.
Think of yourself prior to your salvation. Had you ever heard the Gospel before – maybe. But without any spiritual ability to see your need of a savior and that there is only one Savior, you and I were as good as blind.
Our physical sight, our physical hearing, and our ability to walk yields nothing of spiritual value.
In fact, they can be an indictment of our unwillingness to acknowledge our Creator.
Romans 1:18-22:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
But when the Holy Spirit of God works in a person to reveal what can only be spiritually discerned, then the eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf hear, and the lame are able to leap like a dear.
Only then is the mouth of the dumb unstopped and the ability to speak God's truth is made possible.
Ephesians 1:3-8 :
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 2:11-18 :
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) — 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Colossians 1:13-14:
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,[a] the forgiveness of sins.
Romans 5:12-21
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Galatians 3:1-9
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Way of Holiness (8-10)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:11)
This passage talks about a road that has some interesting characteristics:
It it the way of Holiness – the travelers on this road practice a life of holy living
The unclean will not journey on it – there is no place for those were are unclean (technical term for tainted by sin)
No wicked fools – those who deny God and practice ungodliness
Absence of ferocious beasts – (Satan is a roaring lion) Unable to touch God's redeemed
The redeemed will walk their, the ransomed return – redemption is a term used in the slave market to describe the price and payment to buy a slave. Ransomed is to pay a price for someone.
This way of holiness is not a way that you can enter any way you like.
[Illustration from Pilgrim's Progress]
There is one gate, one point of entry.
Without entering through the Gate – Jesus Christ – we meet none of the qualifications for travel on this highway.
Without him:
I can't live holy because I am sinful
I am unclean
I am wicked and effectively a fool by denying his provision for redemption.
I am not protected from the Devil and his schemes but am in fact a child of the devil.
And without Christ, I am not redeemed and I am not ransomed
Psalm 49:7-9 puts it this way:
7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him—
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
That includes my ability to pay for my own sin. If man relies upon his own ability to pay for his sin, he will bear that payment for all eternity just like chapter 34 depicts.
You see, Jesus put it this way in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 7:13,14:
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Not only is this highway unique in its occupants, but it is also unique in its destination.
The destiny is a place of everlasting joy and gladness, free of sorrow and sighing.
Joy is happiness of the heart despite circumstances. Imagine what happiness of the heart will be when circumstances are absolute perfection!
Joy will be unbounded, unfettered, unending.
Gladness will be overwhelming.
Sorrow will be a thing of the past, remembered no more.
And sighing, which comes from stress, strain, disappointment, anxiety, etc. will no longer be extant.
This highway leads to the presence of the Redeemer, the One who purchase slaves from the slave-market of sin and made us slaves to a Righteous Master.
What highway are you on? How well do you meet the qualifications listed in chapter 35?
Where and when did you enter that highway?
Matthew 7:21,22:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Acknowledging Jesus is Lord is not the same as submitting to His Lordship in your life. True servants of Christ are no longer slaves to sin but instead are slaves to a new Master, a righteous master who both makes him righteous and able to live righteous life.
Principle: Only the redeemed have reason to rejoice today and an eternity to rejoice tomorrow.
Conclusion
Maybe you're here tonight and you know all the words.
You're familiar with Scripture and would concur with all that Isaiah has been saying.
But deep down inside, you're not sure where you truly stand with God. You're not sure if you are on the highway of holiness or on the broad way that leads to destruction.
God would not have us living in doubt, wondering where we stand. He desires that we come to the knowledge of the truth.
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 5:8
Ephesians 2:8-9
John 3:1-21
John 14:1-14
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