Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday January 6, 2010

Download | Duration: 00:49:07

Isaiah 49 p2

We saw in vv1-7 that Jesus Christ is the Servant that is being referred to.  V8 carries on w/ Jesus.

8  Favorable time – one determined by prophecy.  Both Isaiah/ Jeremiah point to Israel’s restoration from Babylonian captivity.  Jeremiah had even measured it in years.  God keeps a prophetic calendar.  He has dates already filled in.  Cf. Acts 17:31 – fixed a day

Even though the Servant is the Son of God, God doesn’t answer His prayer simply because the Servant is pleasing to Him but because the time is pleasing to Him.  God answers the godly person, yes.  But God responds in the time that is pleasing to Him.  If you pray and the Lord doesn’t respond immediately, that doesn’t mean that you are an ungodly person.  It doesn’t mean that your request is ungodly.  A godly person can pray a God-honoring prayer and still have its answer delayed because God has a time in mind to release what you’re praying for.  Ps. 126:4 restore our captivity.  Daniel knew the time and prayed for spiritual preparedness – didn’t ask that time be adjusted.

The desolate places are those where people once lived, but have been put to the edge of the sword - burned/demolished, are no longer inhabitable – soil sown w/ salt/fields filled w/ rocks/trees cut down. You used to live in love/hope/peace.  But even as the enemy came and pushed Israel out of the land, so you have been pushed out of love/hope/peace.  The Holy Spirit would bring you back into these experiences.  He desires to “restore the land”

9-11  As Israel returns to the land, God made provision for their journey.  Whether barren/burning places – provision/protection would be theirs as in the wilderness between Egypt/Canaan.  All barriers will become byways/the way will be made plain.  

12-13  Looking beyond the restoration of Israel to the land after the Babylonian exile to a more far reaching restoration.  

14  The Lord says in vv8-13 I have favored you.  Israel says in v14 You have forgotten me.  The foggiest place in the U.S. is Cape Disappointment, WA.  It is foggy for 2,552 hours a year – 106 days.

Even after all the promises in C49 Israel still cries out that God has forgotten her.  She is in the fog of unbelief.  Though the Lord multiplies His promises over and again, there are still those who would say, “The Lord has forgotten me.” And why – life has unfolded in ways unanticipated.  Many feel like the little girl sitting on the front step waiting for daddy to visit and he never shows.  So many find themselves at Cape Disappointment.  

In the midst of trial we don’t want promises, we want provision.  But provision alone doesn’t build faith.  What builds faith is provision preceded by a word that we rest in.  When my kids would ask 2go2 Chuck E. Cheese, I would give them a time and then I wanted them to trust me and not agitate. When we cry out for help/make desires known, God gives promises.  If Israel was aware of God’s prophetic time clock, they would have been counting the days to their deliverance.  They didn’t know the Word and there4 they didn’t have hope and w/o hope they were w/o strength. Hosea: “My people die for a lack of knowledge.”  

15  The response: I will not forget you

God’s love will not let you go.  The Lord will not abandon what He has birthed.  He will not leave you as an orphan.  What you consider 2b delay is the Lord’s intentional timing.  Sometimes Benjamin thought we were deliberately delaying the celebration of his b’day, but we had to wait for 9.5.  There was a set time.  

16  The response: I will always remember you

Cf. Lev. 19:28  Engravings were for the dead (but ur alive!) and ancient tattoos recorded the objects of worship.  Cf. mark of beast on right hand/ forehead.  The wounds in Christ’s hands are a constant reminder of God’s vision/heart for us.  There is a beautiful bride engraved upon His palms.  

Walls: Your fullest potential is His constant vision.  He doesn’t see your devastation.  His action is guided by His vision/not your condition.  There is something brewing in the mind of God 4u.  

Agostino d’ Antonio a sculptor of Florence, Italy, worked diligently, but unsuccessfully on a piece of marble, trying to make something of it, until he said, “I can do nothing with it.”  Other sculptors attempted and were unsuccessful.  The piece of marble was discarded into a rubbish heap for 40 years.  One day, Michelangelo saw it and saw the possibilities that lay inherent w/in it.  He had it brought to his studio and out of this seeming worthless piece of stone, the David, one of the world’s greatest masterpieces was brought forth.  

17-18  The response:  I will build you

God has released His work in your life.  The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God for the church/you.  He takes what is potential and makes it actual – just like Michelangelo and the marble.  

19-21  The response: I will multiply you

God wades n2 places devastated by sin.  “I will possess/beautify all of you.”  Chernobyl site uninhabitable for decades.  Dead areas you thought you’d never occupy again will respond to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  “I’ll never trust another man.”  “My marriage is dead and will never be restored.”  “I can never minister again because of my past sin.”  Etc.  

22-23  The response: I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU

When the captives returned to the land, they were given assistance by surrounding nations.  “I will be your supply/provision.”  Phil. 4:19

24-26  The response: I WILL RESCUE YOU

The power that holds you is greater than you, but not the Lord.  The Lord is stronger than anything that grips you.  Romans 8:31ff

Though your heart be as foggy as Cape Disappointment, the Lord will clear the way 4u.  He has given you favor and will never forget you.  Our problem is that we forget the Lord and His mercies.