Sunday November 30, 2014 Let Zion Rejoice Lesson: Isaiah 52:1-2, 7-12 Main Text: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation” (Isaiah 52:7). Introduction The last several lessons conclude their central idea in the lesson today. With living waters to sustain the faithful’s spiritual land allotments, as well as guaranteed security and safety in God’s presence, our lesson this week features the glorious future that God has in store for Israel - a time when all the sin, wickedness and evil presently in the world will be nonexistent. In God’s future kingdom, the joy expressed by its inhabitants will be pure and complete. It will be a perfect joy that originates/radiates from hearts that have been set free. Consequently, having been set free, Israel will assume the role and position God originally planned for them. God’s people will be His messengers, heralding forgiveness of sin to repentant peoples. The City Restored – Isaiah 52:1-2 - Isaiah challenges Israel to wake up as if from a bad dream. They had gone to sleep as captives but were now to awake as free men from their stupor (state of unconsciousness) caused by drinking the cup of God’s wrath (Isa. 51:17). - Isaiah calls for Jerusalem to wake from that stupor and discard garments expressive of her grief and captivity. Jerusalem was to clothe herself in new garments of strength and beauty: she was to deck herself in apparel signifying boldness, strength, confidence and prosperity – all of which come from the power and holiness of her God. - God promises the city will be a holy city devoid of pagan influences both internally and externally. Jerusalem itself take on the same character as the Temple in that only those people who are cleansed, purified, and circumcised from sin can enter in. - “Shake thyself from the dust” – speaks symbolically of the mourning that accompanies suffering and humility (Job 2:8, 12-13). The former condition of the city is to be reversed - Jerusalem is to assume an exalted and elevated position of dignity - Jerusalem is told to rise from the dust and shake herself free from the chains of her captivity, tyranny, and oppression. Her freedom was far greater than if chains had been removed though. Freedom refers to being completely forgiven. The sin bondage that had held and tortured Israel in their spiritual exile from God was over. - God will return Jerusalem to a place of political and spiritual preeminence and the city will be all that God intended. The Righteous Rejoicing – Isaiah 52:7-10 The spread of good news – vss. 7-8 - In the ancient world, long distance communication was by a selected message runner or courier. The herald often ran from city to city, delivering the message. Isaiah declared that the one who brought the news of Jerusalem’s delivery from captivity had beautiful feet because they brought news of glad tidings. - Watchmen stood on the watchtowers of ancient cities in anticipation of the messenger and welcomed the news being delivered. In turn, they would “sing out” or spread the good news with clarity and full comprehension to the inhabitants of the city. - Keynote elements of the message: + Peace – Jerusalem will enjoy a dual peace: freedom from oppressors and harmony with God; + Good things to come – since the message originates from a good God, it is inherently good. It also promises good things for those who receive it; + Salvation – deliverance from enemies and spiritual deliverance from sin and judgment. - God’s reign makes peace, goodness, and salvation possible for Jerusalem. The message of reminded Israel that God is in full control and that His kingdom is going to be established in all its glory with Zion as the center of His millennial rule. The reason for rejoicing – vss. 9-10 - The Lord will restore Zion, turning waste places into places of singing and rejoicing. The waste places are the ruins of the city after the destruction of the Babylonian siege. They are exhorted to shout for joy as Jerusalem rises again to glory. - They can rejoice because God has comforted His people. In addition, He redeemed them. To redeem is to act on behalf of a near relative in freeing one’s kin from hardship or danger by liberating or avenging them. God assumed this obligation wholly both temporally and spiritually. - The holy arm of God will be bared meaning that God’s strength will be visible and present. As a result, all the nations of the earth will witness God’s salvation of His people physically - as they see Israel’s delivery from Babylon and in their final restoration to the land; and spiritually – deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ. The Exiles Returning – Isaiah 52:11-12 The call to return – vs. 11 - Isaiah bade Israel to be cautious as they came out of Babylon regarding maintaining their purity as God’s chosen people. The warning reminded the Levitical priests that they can be God’s messengers only if they remained clean vessels for His use. They were to be distinctly and completely holy unto God and bear the vessels of His service. - The prophecy has a future meaning referring to the final re-gathering of Israel from the ends of the earth. The believing remnant is exhorted to leave behind the enticements of their dwelling places and cleanse themselves for their role in the millennial Jerusalem. - We, as believers today, also need to depart from the sinful practices from our past and enter into the full blessings of Christ’s salvation. If we are carrying the holy vessels of God, there is no room for anything else!! The manner of return – vs. 12 - The imagery presented here recalls a feature from the Exodus in which the Lord went before Israel as pillar of cloud and fire (Exod. 13:21-22). When Egypt pursued them, the Lord moved to the rear of their company and stood between them and their enemies. Likewise, He will protect the returning exiles before and behind. This “second exodus” will not be in haste or fear but in joy and rejoicing. Conclusion Do we understand that we are carriers of the good news i.e. the gospel? Do we comprehend that we offer a message of peace and that it brings freedom? Too often we refuse to share our message of hope, love, peace and salvation through Jesus Christ for fear of ruffling feathers or stepping on toes. Oh, if only we reacted to the gospel as the shepherds in the field when the angel delivered it to them. Observe: “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:16-18); “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (vs. 20) After testing the validity of the good news, the shepherds immediately went out proclaiming the good news, and - in comprehension of the good news – praised and glorified God for the blessing of both receiving and witnessing the good news!! How beautiful on are the feet of those who refused to allow public opinion of them to interfere with bringing the good news of deliverance and eternal salvation! Thank You
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 14:03:56 +0000
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