Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday July 22, 2009

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Isaiah 41  p2

Vv8-20

In this passage, Isaiah speaks to Israel who have been defeated and taken captive by Babylon.  For 70 years they have been in subjection to Babylon – will it ever end?  70 years is a long time.

Man at pool of Bethesda had been lame for 38 years.  Woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment had been sick for 12 years.  Lazarus had been dead four days. Have you noticed that we measure our sickness, but not our health.  We measure our pain, but not our pleasures.  Few would say, “I haven’t been coughing for 2 weeks now.”  It’s more like, “I’ve been coughing nonstop for 2 weeks.”  It’s been so long, will it ever end?  Time crawls when you are suffering.  The questions is: Has God forgotten me?  Will this pain ever cease?  It’s been 70 years for Israel and God has a word for His people.  God has a word for you.

8-9  When you think you’re forgotten, God says: I have chosen you.

God wants to impress one truth upon them and takes seven lines to do it.  Each line reinforces the final truth of the 7th  line.

    * My servant/whom I have chosen/Abraham, My friend/taken from the ends of the earth/called from remotest part/You are My servant.  POINT: I have chosen and not rejected you!

Israel should be dumbfounded – “We haven’t served/chosen/ befriended You - nor deserved restoration/warranted renewal – we’ve rejected You.”  And isn’t this true to one degree or another w/ us?  We haven’t walked in the fullness of love/obedience.  We should be dumbfounded at God’s choice of us.

God says, “You are who you are and I AM that I AM.”  God will not stop being who God is.  Israel is God’s chosen people.  Cf. Jer. 31:33-35; 33:23-26  It is inconceivable to me that a large part of the church does not recognize the covenant calling of Israel.

God is as connected to Israel as you are to your child.  You would no sooner disown your child than God would disown Israel.  And God has chosen you.  God has made a covenant w/ you in Jesus Christ.  1J1:9.  Why is God so faithful when I am so unfaithful?  Because of Jesus/grace.

10-14  When you think you’ll be overwhelmed, God says: I will uphold you.

In the clash of empires, God is holding them above the fray.  Two dinosaurs fighting and little human is caught in the battle, fears being crushed.  Don’t we need that today?  With CA and the Federal Gov’t pushing so many programs, levying so many taxes, w/ so much unemployment and financial insecurity – don’t you need to hear God say, “I will uphold you”?  

I will help you – come alongside one and lead them to victory – someone else’s strength becomes your strength.  Aaron and Hur

Do not fear the change that is coming.  God was saying: “Don’t think that the march of history/rise and fall of empires will take you further and further from My promises and purposes.”  Israel couldn’t see it, but the changing of empires was to their benefit.  The policy of the Persians reversed the policy of the Babylonians.  

11-13  The Babylonians were shamed/dishonored.  Who contends w/ and quarrels w/ and wages war against you?  Devil: a defeated foe!

14  Worm – not in terms of being of no value (for God has affirmed their value to Him in vv8-9).  Worm is used in terms of inability.  Cf. v15 – there are mountains to remove and a worm is insufficient.  

Redeemer = goel – nearest kinsman.  The Redeemer is a kinsman to the worm!  Cf. Ps. 22:6

15-16 When you think you there’s no way forward, God says: I have made you strong.

As Israel is caused to think about her return to J’lem, it seems like there’s no way to get there and do what needs to be done.  Whatever obstacle is in your way is not measured by how big it is but by how powerful you are.  How can a worm remove mountains?  

15-16  The worm becomes a threshing-sledge – a heavy wooden board studded with metal teeth on its underside.  After it had been dragged along on the threshing floor, the grain/chaff were tossed into the air w/ a pitchfork/chaff was carried away by the wind.  

Prayer can move mountains – lay into your problems w/ the weight and power of God behind you.

17-20 When you think you’re all dried up, God says: I have made you fruitful.

What’s happening here?  Cf. 64:10.  Jerusalem has become a desert – a symbol of the curse.  During the Bab. captivity, J’lem was impoverished/humble – no walls/gates.  It was a has-been city.  Those in exile who love/have a heart for J’lem can only mourn her.  

Parched tongue – thick and heavy in mouth – inarticulate speech.  No joy, no testimony, no confession.  “Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”  No speaking because no fullness.  “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”   Has-beens can’t sing the song of the Lord and can’t speak the word of the Lord.    

This isn’t just a description of ancient Jewish history – this is a description of you.  Some of you are like the city of J’lem during the Bab. captivity – you were once strong in the Lord and now sin has broken in and crippled your soul. You think you’re all dried up – a has-been.  J’lem was once filled w/ people and presence of God – never again.  You think the same of yourself.  God will come to you again.  

When Cyrus gains the throne, God began to restore and pour out His provision for J’lem.  God promises that the has-been city will flourish again and those that love her will be satisfied.  

When God’s appointed king comes to the throne, God will pour out His blessing.  Jesus dead/despairing disciples | Jesus risen/joyful disciples | Jesus exalted/Empowered disciples

7 kinds of trees in v19 – picture of fullness of Spirit in you.  Fruitfulness follows fellowship w/ God.  

When you think you’re forgotten, God says:      I have chosen you.

When you think you can’t endure, God says:      I will uphold you.

When you think there’s no way forward, God says:   I have made you strong.

When you think you’re all dried up, God says:     I have made you fruitful.