Isaiah 54
Time to Rebuild
Enlarge Your Place Vs. 1-3
Start Fresh Vs. 4-10
Lay a Rich Foundation Vs. 11-17
Intro: Rebuilding Greenwood, Kansas
In 2007 a Cat 5 tornado swept thru Kansas
It set it sights on a tiny town of 1500 people called Greenwood
What made this tornado different was that the typical tornado is 150 wide, this one was 1.7 miles
The same width as the town
As it ripped through it left only two brick buildings standing in the town
Three story houses were ripped off of their foundations
Cars, cows, and trees were flung thousands of feet from where they were
After it passed, long time residents came out of the destruction and couldn’t find their way around town because so many of the landmarks they knew were gone
Soon the town started talking about leaving, there was nothing left, Greenwood would be no more
The mayor pulled together the owners of the 70 businesses in town and asked them who were leaving
He put up three whiteboards saying staying, leaving, undecided
66 of the businesses decided to stay and over the next four years the rebuilt the town better than it was before
Sometimes when things look desolate we have to make a choice; Are we going to leave or are we going to stick it our and make it better than it was
Churches have to make these choices during the life of the church
Many churches don’t die because people leave but because the ones who stay don’t want to make it better
Israel had to make the same choice, sadly only a small portion of the group decided to stick it out
Isaiah 54 is God’s promise to those who decide to stick it out and trust God
Read Isaiah 54:1-3
Transition:
“Try and suck all the sweetness that you can out of this chapter while we read it.
The personal application of a promise to the heart by the Holy Spirit is that which is wanted. C z
I believe that today’s message is a special word for our church
It’s interesting how you can teach verse by verse and God still lead you to the exact word he has for you.
He knew last year when I decided to teach Isaiah that chapter 54 would be taught today because it was the word we needed to hear today
I’ve titled the message “Time to Rebuild’
There has been a period of devastation, moments where it looked hopeless, but we see today how God intends to rebuild afterwards
He doesn’t tells us to close ranks and lick our wounds
Instead he calls us to Enlarge our tents, Start Fresh, and lay a rich foundation
Enlarge Your Place Vs. 1-3
The Babylonian exile and captivity meant more than oppression for Israel; it meant shame, disgrace, and humiliation.
God promises a glorious release from not only the exile and captivity, but also from the shame, disgrace, and humiliation.
We can take those promises for ourselves and our church
Vs. 1 Desolate one
God describes the current situation as a barren woman
In ancient Israel, the barren woman carried an enormous load of shame and disgrace.
Here, the LORD likens captive Israel to a barren woman who can now sing - because now more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman.
The remnant of Israel is looking at a rebuilding process that is hopeless
Nebuchadnezzar didn’t leave one brick on top of another in Jerusalem
God is commanding the Jews to go back and rebuild the temple and the city
It’s no wonder most of the Jews didn’t go back
Typically most rebuilds of cities were to completely demolish the city and then build on top of it
They are know as “Tells” or cities built upon previous cities
In Israel there are multiple man made mountains of demolished cities
This is where they do most of the archaelogical digs and they will often find multiple layers
But God called them to rebuild from the ashes
It looks desolate but God sees it different
If your situation looks desolate remember that God doesn’t see it that way
He can resurrect and rebuild any life that has been devastated
He can resurrect and rebuild any church that has been devastated
How does he do that?
Vs. 2-3 Enlarge your tent
Often times the counsel that God gives goes against logic
He is telling Israel to enlarge its tents
How do enlarge something that is so devastated?
Remember that Israel isn't even at place to rebuilt yet alone a place where tents can be enlarged
The curse and shame of barrenness would be so completely broken, and Israel would be so fruitful, that they would have to expand their living space.
This would be of particular comfort to the returning Babylonian exiles, who felt themselves small in number and weak.
This promise would strengthen them.
This is a recurring charge and promise heard in the Bible
1 Chron 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
This is the famous Prayer of Jabez
We to can pray for God to enlarge our tents
As a church we need to be ready for God to enlarge our tent
Even though it doesn’t seem like it’s possible, where we will get that people, or find the resources?
That’s because it’s a work that only God can do
Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
I believe God is telling us to get ready to enlarge our tent
This has nothing to do with our building, but with our ministry
It is time to reach outside these walls and enlarge our ministries in the community and around the world
That means it’s going to take everyone who calls this church their home to step up
It’s going to take resources
Start Fresh Vs. 4-10
This just creates a whole bunch more question
How can we possibly expand when it appears like there are still so many problems
What about the people who have left, what are people going to say, we need to make everything right before we can go forward
It is easy when mistakes have been made to focus on those and get stuck
Vs.4 Forget the shame of your youth
God is not expecting the Jews to make everything right
In fact he is telling them he has forgiven them and wants them to look forward
There is so much danger on looking back
Luke 9:62 says anyone who sets their hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom
Don’t fear what might happen going forward
You won’t be shamed or disgraced
Is 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Vs. 5-8 With great compassion I will gather you
Vs. 7 says for a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you
Basically what God is saying is that for a short period of time I allowed you to be disciplined
But it was brief I will with gather you again with great compassion
This compassion comes from his everlasting love
Ps 78:38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
God will often let us dangle for a short period of time to help remind us of our desperate need
While it may seem like an eternity in the big picture it is short
Paul calls these “Light momentary afflictions”
In the midst of it, it doesn’t seem that way, but afterwards it does
Vs. 9-10 Stand in His Steadfast Love
What if everything does go wrong and the worst happens?
Flood waters recede, and mountains do not.
But even if the mountains shall depart, even if the hills be removed, the kindness of the LORD to His people will never depart.
The kindness of the LORD is more certain than the mountains and the hills, and His covenant of peace is more sure
Ps 46:2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling
Sometimes everything has to be stripped away to show us how powerful the love of the Lord is
Lay a Rich Foundation Vs. 11-17
Vs. 11-12 Afflicted One
God cares about the afflicted one. He cares about the one tossed with tempest.
He cares about the one who is not comforted.
When someone is in this place - afflicted, tossed, and not comforted - it is easy for them to believe God doesn’t care. But He does, and He gives precious promises to give strength.
Psalm 25:16-18 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Vs. 13-14 Peace upon your family
When we are afflicted, tossed, and not comforted, we feel bad not just for ourselves, but also for our children.
God gives precious assurance not only for us, but also quiets our fears for our children.
Jer 31:33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Vs. 15-17 No weapon shall succeed
The final two verses reemphasize God’s omnipotence over everything that happens, thus providing one more assurance to the audience
The sovereign God - who created the blacksmith, who created the spoiler to destroy - also has the power to protect.
He can promise that no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
Whatever weapon is raised against God’s people is destined to be destroyed itself.
God will ultimately even protect His people from criticism; indeed, every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.
The LORD will not allow the weapon formed against His servants to prosper.
Sometimes this means the LORD takes the weapon out of the hand of the enemy of His servants.
Sometimes it means that God allows the weapon to strike, but brings a greater good out of it than the pain of the immediate blow.
In allowing this, God will not allow the weapon to prosper, but transforms the violent sword into a shovel for building His kingdom.
The tongue which rises against you can really hurt.
“Satan leaves no stone unturned against the Church of God. He uses not simply the hand; but, what is oftener a sharper weapon, the tongue.
We can bear a blow, sometimes, but we cannot endure an insult.
There is a great power in the tongue.
We can rise from a blow which smote us to the ground; but we cannot so easily recover from slander, that lays the character low.”
This is not a blanket promise for any churchgoer.
The LORD specifically says, this is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.
Are you a servant of the LORD? Then you can rest easy in His promised protection.
The LORD also says that this is a promise for those whose righteousness is from Me - from the LORD Himself - and not from themselves.
When a person understands that their righteousness is really from the LORD, they are much more comfortable in letting the LORD protect their righteousness.
Closing:
