Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday January 13, 2010

Download | Duration: 00:39:47

Isaiah 50

1

Cf. 49:14 The Lord is still responding to Israel’s charge that He had forgotten/forsaken them.  Israel lived in fear of being abandoned by the Lord.  Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.1 Israel was living in the dark room and had developed some negative images of God.  Isaiah is bringing the light of God’s word to them.  He wants them to have a positive image of God, and not a negative one.  Even though Israel is being punished as a consequence of sinful decisions she had made, the Lord has not written her off.

Certificate of divorce = ending of relationship/Sale = a transfer of ownership.  Where is the certificate/bill of sale?  There was a sale, but not a final one.  The Lord has not come to an end of His love for Israel nor is He in debt to anyone. There was no divorce/no sale.  There was nothing final about the discipline the Lord imposed upon Israel.  There was discipline for iniquities, but no divorce/spanking for transgressions, but no sale.  The Lord hadn’t given up on Israel.

The Lord hasn’t given up on you.  Some of urn the dark room… What’s happening today does not have to define your tomorrow.  Israel thought they had crossed a line/offended God once too often.  Such was not the case.  Heb. 13:5.  

During the Korean War, hundreds of American captives of the Chinese communists perished in prison camps because of a condition later described as ‘give-up-itis.’ Unwilling to challenge the efforts of their captors to indoctrinate them, they accepted the enemy’s verdict of guilt. Some actually curled up in their cells in the fetal position. They lost hope.”2 

When you lose hope you lose tomorrow.  Hope says that you have a tomorrow/the devil would have you think otherwise.  The devil would have you live in 49:14.  “Extreme Home Makeover” - walls in house were covered in mold that caused extremely unhealthy living conditions.  This is 49:14.  

2-3

This didn’t have to happen.  The Lord asks why no one responded to His call for righteousness.  The basic answer is unbelief.  No one really believed the Lord.  The dark/dank mold of unbelief had eaten away at their hearts.

Is My hand so short…?  Why do you take your current condition as My final word?  “Take My hand.”  Israel became convinced of the short, weak hand of God.  Even as the Lord brought His power to bear upon Egypt, He will bring His power to bear upon Babylon.  What is holding you is not more powerful than the Lord.  

4-11  God provides a man who is for God v4 in logical order:

4-5   Responsiveness to god -

    * He awakens Me morning by morning.

This primarily is a reference to Jesus.  When He awoke, His heart hungered for God.  This awakening is not necessarily being aroused from a natural sleep, but a stirring of your spirit.  It’s not that the Lord is your alarm clock, but that there is a hunger for God at the beginning of every day that helps shape/define who ur.  Do you wake up in the morning w/ a hunger for God?  Make this a prayer point.  If your natural hunger is depressed, there’s a problem.  So, too, w/ your spiritual hunger.

Morning by morning – the man Jesus did not become a spiritual giant overnight and neither will you.  He grew in stature and in favor w/ God/man.  Samuel awoke to the word of the Lord and he became a prophet as he heard God and spoke what he heard.  

    * He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

You know that God has something to say 2u.  To listen is 2b still/ quiet/2b attuned 2a voice.  Disciples – the learned

    * The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples

The Holy Spirit would instruct you in what to say

    * That I may know how to sustain the weary one w/ a word

From spirit to ear to tongue to another’s heart.  Weary describes those at their limit.  The word you speak increases their limit.

Your ministry will flow from your relationship w/ God.  The ministry of the word flows not just from books/study, but from prayer/ revelation.  This is true for anyone who communicates the Word – parents, too.  Devotions are not a work you do for God, but one He does for you.  Your responsibility is to get yourself into a place where you can hear His voice.  

5-6  Resignation to suffering

The beard was a sign of freedom and respect.  

Spitting – If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?  Numbers 12:14

Spitting b4 anyone, or spitting on the ground in speaking of anyone’s actions is an expression of extreme detestation in the East.  Sir John Chardin

7-9  Resolve to faithfulness

    * For the LORD God helps Me…

I am not disgraced… even w/ the spittle running down

I shall not be ashamed… He has the glorious confidence of the nearness of God

    * He who vindicates me is near…

Vindicate – to cause 2b righteous

Since HE is for me, WHO can be against me?  If you are confident of the HE, you need not care about the WHO.  

    * Behold, the LORD God helps Me…

When the smoke clears/dust settles/when the morning dawns in brilliant light – you will be standing and all your enemies will be slain.

Responsiveness to God | Resignation to suffer | Resolve to faithfulness

10-11 Recommendation to surrender

If you are in the darkness, trust the Lord.  Don’t light your own fire – it’ll burn you.  Don’t try and find your own way out of the darkness, you’ll only hurt yourself by doing so.  In v6, the Servant is in the darkness, but He knows God is near.  

No light – light = gleam/flash.  There’s not even a spark in the darkness.  motyer

Judas kindled his own fire and traveled further n2 darkness.