Sermon Central
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Israel Hath Rejected Isaiah’s Report (Lesson 2) Series
Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jun 2, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: To establish that Isaiah’s report was the “good news of the coming Messiah.” He came to be offered in sacrifice for the sins of the world. Israel rejected this message, but the Gentile nations gladly received it. This lesson deals with ones' faith and obedience to the gospel.
INTRODUCTION
Outline.
2. Israel Hath Rejected Isaiah’s Report
E. Remarks.
1. This is lesson two, in the sermon-series entitled: “Lord who hath believed our report?” The question originates from the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 53:1. This was Isaiah’s report of the coming and work of the Messiah. He wrote: “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him…Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,” Isaiah 53:1-6. I have collapsed this text for brevity.
2. We will now discuss how this question relates to Israel, who hath rejected Isaiah’s report. Isaiah was predicting the hearers of this report would not believe it. He was speaking of Israel, the people of God. They rejected it not because of the Messiah, Himself, but for the hardness of their hearts towards God’s words, spoken to them by the prophets, and now by His Messiah. Jesus said: “Therefore, they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias when he saw His glory, and spake of him,” John 12:35-41; Isaiah 6:10. The prophet Stephens said of Israel: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. Who always resisted the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you…Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute…who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers…who received the law…and have not kept it?” Acts 7:51-53. Jehovah said of the people: “All day long I have stretched out My hands: To a disobedient and contrary people,” Romans 10:21; Isaiah 65:2. With this brief introduction, let’s consider lesson two in this sermon-series: Israel Hath Rejected Isaiah’s Report.
BODY OF LESSON
II ISRAEL HATH REJECTED ISAIAH’S REPORT
A. Israel hath rejected Isaiah’s report. Now, we will discuss this question and how it related to Israel, who hath rejected Isaiah’s report. Isaiah was predicting the hearers of this report would not believe it. He was speaking of Israel, the people of God. They rejected the Messiah, not for His appearance, but the hardness of their hearts towards God's words, spoken to them by the prophets, and now by His Messiah. Observe--
1. Jesus said: “Therefore, they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias when he saw His glory, and spake of him,” John 12:35-41; Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 6:1-3.
2. Hosea wrote: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there was no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge in the land,” Hosea 4:1. The people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6.
3. Jehovah promised: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it,” Amos 8:11-12.
4. So these were the days of the prophet; when Jesus walked among this people, and the apostles and prophets spoke the word of the Lord unto them. And Israel would not “hear the word of the Lord.” Jesus cried: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” Matthew 13:9-17.
5. Jesus the light. Then, Jesus said: “Unto them, Yet, a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness comes upon you: for him that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light, Ephesians 5:8-10. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide from them,” John 12:35-36. Consider--
a. Jesus is the light. He admonished them to: “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness comes upon you: for him that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” But, instead:
