The Joy Of Christmas
December 15, 2002
Isaiah 61:1-11
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3, RSV
Introduction:
Counting the days (til school ends, til birthday, til Christmas)
-hope, anticipation
Israel’s hope (restoration)
Bondage
Historical background (situation)
"By the time of Isaiah, the Jewish monarchy was in ruins. After 586 B.C. most of them had been carted off by their captors to live in a foreign land"
[In The Air There’s A Feeling Of Christmas by Matthew Rogers. www.sermoncentral.com.]
This from a nation that in its height controlled, not just Israel as we know it today, but also sections of the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the entire west bank. A nation that the prophet now sees in ruins.
And the people who saw themselves as the favored people of God now in despair question why? How could God let this happen?
America’s experience September 11, 2001
Compounded = Israel’s experience
Jerry Falwell’s comment
Psalm 127:1 "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." (RSV)
But for Israel the problem was that they were the people of God. So, how could God let this happen?
It is to this that the prophet Amos responds:
Amos 2:4-5 "Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked. So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem." " (RSV)
And when Isaiah cries, "Here am I. Send me." God says:
Isaiah 6:9-13 "And he said, "Go, and say to this people: ‘Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without men, and the land is utterly desolate, and the LORD removes men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains standing when it is felled." (RSV)
The chosen people are smitten by sin. Their bondage is not an issue of politics, or military might; it has nothing to do with global economics, or conventional wisdom. It’s about sin, and God hates sin.
Isaiah 59:2 "your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear." (RSV)
Jerusalem lies in ruins, because sin reigns supreme. Isaiah chapter five allegorically describes the situation: the vineyard
Despair
-(describe city in ruins)
What are a people who are in utter ruin to do? They don’t even think God hears them anymore.
Isaiah 58:3 "The people ask, "Why should we fast if the Lord never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?" " (GN)
In response God reminds Israel of the sin which separates them. In chapter 58 He instructs them what to do to find His favor once again.
The problem is the overbearing power of sin.
Isaiah 59:12-13a "For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God." (RSV)
A power which we are unable to break free of our own accord. Peter says:
2 Peter 2:19 "whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved." (RSV)
Like a prisoner chained behind bars we are helpless to free ourselves.
Liberty
Isaiah 59:15b,17 "The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. . . He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle." (RSV)
As a warrior He prepares for battle. Not a battle against men and women, but agianst the oppressive forces of sin in our lives.
In jubilee the prophet cries out:
Isaiah 61:1-4 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations." (RSV)
Martin Luther King, Jr. "Free at last"
Civil rights-freedom to the oppressed
The words the prophet uses in verse two are words which recall the Law of Jubilee
-Leviticus 25
Leviticus 25:10 "And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants." (RSV)
Fifty year liberty
The prophet joyfully informs the oppressed, freedom has come.
vss 3,8 "give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. . . For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them." (RSV)
"I will free them, I will pay the debt"
Jesus
Jesus repeats these words (1-3) and adds:
Luke 4:21 "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (RSV)
"I’m what you’ve been waiting for. I’m here to set you free."
Later John the Baptist would send disciples to question Jesus whether he really was the long expected Messiah-the hoped for savior that would truly set the captives free.
Jesus replied:
Luke 7:22 "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them." (RSV)
"Free at last..."
vss 10-11 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." (RSV)
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove.
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.
-Joy To The World
