WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:04.459 Thanks so much, Rachel. That's a serious reading, good effort. 00:00:05.219 --> 00:00:09.200 My name's Archie. For those of you that don't know me, I'm the pastor in training here. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:14.380 If you don't have your Bibles open, Isaiah 22, now's a really good time to do that. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:15.700 And as you do, let me pray. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:27.560 Heavenly Father, by your Holy Spirit, through the written word and the spoken word, 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:33.780 may we know your living word. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:40.719 Isn't it wonderful to have been blessed with so many babies here at Brunsfield recently? 00:00:41.879 --> 00:00:45.539 And yet babies are, well, they're sort of ridiculous, aren't they? 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:48.219 I mean, they're actually, I think they're kind of pathetic, aren't they? 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:52.000 I became an uncle for the first time a couple of years ago, 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:57.120 and my sister, desperate for a well-earned rest, left me with her son. 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.500 Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:04.359 And inevitably, as soon as my sister left the room, he started to cry. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.560 In fact, to call it crying doesn't really do it justice. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:10.879 This child literally started screaming. 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:15.820 Quite quickly, my sister popped her head through the door, gave me that look, 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:20.219 you might know the look as sort of dismissive, you'll be fine, look, and left. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:23.420 I tried everything. Honestly, I tried everything. 00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:25.280 I thought he might be hungry. I gave him a bottle. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.099 It was hurled across the room. Maybe he was bored. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:31.400 I gave him a rattle. It followed the bottle across the room. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:37.140 Five minutes later, my sister came back with that same smirk on her face. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:42.140 She picked up her son, held him upside down, gave him a firm pat on the back, 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:47.040 and he let out the cutest little fart you have ever heard and immediately stopped crying. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:50.120 Babies are ridiculous, aren't they? 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.640 I mean, they can't even fart on their own. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.840 And here's the thing. We all come into the world just like that. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.040 Totally dependent on our parents. 00:02:02.020 --> 00:02:05.620 Unable to feed ourselves. Unable to clothe ourselves. 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:09.099 Unable even to fart on our own. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.240 We wouldn't last a day without our parents, would we? 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:15.080 Totally dependent. 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:15.520 Unable to be independent. 00:02:16.100 --> 00:02:23.060 And then as we grow up through life, it seems to be this constant struggle towards ever-increasing independence. 00:02:24.040 --> 00:02:26.460 Of course, we seek to become independent from our parents. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.240 We want to be able to cook for ourselves. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.420 We want to be able to clothe ourselves, to be financially independent. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:33.080 And that's no bad thing. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:39.940 But I do wonder if in our pursuit of independence as sort of the ultimate virtue in life, 00:02:40.460 --> 00:02:49.100 I wonder if we've forgotten as a society, as a world, what it means to depend on our God. 00:02:49.920 --> 00:02:52.740 What it means to depend on Jesus. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:57.900 Is it possible that in our pursuit for independence, 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:02.180 that it's become something more than just a desire to unburden others, 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:07.200 but that it's become a desire to take control, to take the reins, 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:10.060 maybe even over our own eternity? 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:15.680 We begin life utterly and ridiculously dependent, don't we? 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:19.540 And through life, we increasingly pursue independence. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:23.819 But in our passage today, God says through Isaiah, 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:26.400 depend on me. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:31.399 Key verse in this book comes in chapter 7 in verse 9. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.259 It's very worth memorizing, I think. 00:03:34.419 --> 00:03:36.120 Chapter 7 verse 9 says this, 00:03:36.180 --> 00:03:41.639 If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. 00:03:42.519 --> 00:03:47.439 If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.139 I think that sort of sums up the whole message of this book. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:53.419 It's worth memorizing and it's the thrust of our passage this evening. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.020 God says, depend on me. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:59.719 Have faith in me or else you will not stand at all. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.319 Last week, as we returned to this series in Isaiah, 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:07.879 Graham helped us see that our God is the God of all the nations. 00:04:08.539 --> 00:04:10.460 Although the nations may look powerful, 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.340 it is God that will have the last laugh. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:17.759 And that message is a message that's designed to be a comfort to the people of Jerusalem 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.840 so that they might depend on him. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:24.720 But then there's a potentially surprising twist in this section of Isaiah. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:28.620 Because from speaking to the nations in chapter 22, 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.060 Isaiah speaks directly to Judah and Jerusalem. 00:04:32.699 --> 00:04:37.459 He warns them that they have been standing on works dependence, 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:43.180 relying on their own abilities and their own ingenuity for deliverance. 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:47.599 He warns them too that they've been standing on man dependence, 00:04:47.919 --> 00:04:50.419 relying on their leaders for deliverance. 00:04:51.299 --> 00:04:54.259 And then in chapter 23, Isaiah, you may have noticed, 00:04:54.419 --> 00:04:58.979 returns to addressing the nations, the great trade empire of Tyre. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:02.679 It's not as though Isaiah is on a preaching tour here, though. 00:05:02.799 --> 00:05:04.739 He's not preaching to the nations. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.399 This book, the whole book is addressed to God's people. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.879 And so in his judgment on the wealthy trading empire of Tyre, 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:14.699 Isaiah is saying to Judah, 00:05:15.479 --> 00:05:18.099 you have been standing on wealth dependence, 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:22.939 relying on your connections with this trade empire to bring you deliverance. 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:29.219 Three aspects then this evening of independence from God that come out in these verses. 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:34.859 Works dependence, man dependence, and wealth dependence. 00:05:34.860 --> 00:05:35.340 Dependence. 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:40.360 So let's begin by looking at works dependence in verses 1 to 14 of chapter 22. 00:05:40.520 --> 00:05:43.220 The section begins, have a look at verse 1 of chapter 22. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:47.340 A prophecy against the valley of vision. 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.759 Quite a strange phrase that, isn't it? 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:56.420 It's clear from the rest of the chapter that Isaiah is talking to or about Judah, 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:59.519 the southern kingdom, specifically to the city of Jerusalem, 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:03.000 which is sort of just symbolic of God's people. 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:06.079 But it's described here as the valley of vision. 00:06:06.719 --> 00:06:10.980 I think that's probably just to establish the tone of this chapter. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:14.159 The valley, like the valley of the shadow of death. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:22.000 It's poetically speaking, illustrating the depth of darkness that Isaiah feels at what it is that he sees. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.020 And what does he see? 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:27.740 Well, in verse 1, in the beginning of verse 2, 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.100 the people seem to be celebrating, actually, don't they? 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:30.700 Do you see that? 00:06:30.780 --> 00:06:31.860 They're on the roofs. 00:06:32.140 --> 00:06:34.460 There's much tumult and revelry. 00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:38.180 That phrase translated in verse 1 in the NIV, 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:39.540 what troubles you, 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:43.100 I think it's probably closer to what business do you have doing this? 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.439 I think Isaiah is saying, why are you dancing on the roof? 00:06:47.200 --> 00:06:48.439 Why does he ask that? 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:50.800 Well, because he sees another scene. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.300 It's set in the future perfect tense. 00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:57.420 It's so certain that it's as though it has already happened. 00:06:58.260 --> 00:06:59.360 What does he see? 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:02.300 It's the downfall of Judah. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.600 It's the defeat of Jerusalem. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:11.520 It's the oncoming Assyrian war machine that we've been talking about throughout this series in Isaiah, 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:13.560 if you remember from before the summer. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:19.459 But this isn't some crushing siege that Isaiah sees. 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:21.479 But people slain without a sword. 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:22.039 Do you see? 00:07:22.799 --> 00:07:24.959 Leaders fleeing without a fight. 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:27.479 Failing to depend on God. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:28.680 They're giving up. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:31.199 They're walking away. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:33.599 And in verse 4, 00:07:34.159 --> 00:07:35.500 see how God responds? 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:37.359 Look at verse 4 with me. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.980 Turn away from me. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:41.540 Let me weep bitterly. 00:07:42.340 --> 00:07:46.740 Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:53.580 God is distraught and full of compassion over this judgment on his people. 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:58.980 And then verses 5 to 7 describe exactly how that judgment will come. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:01.240 Do you see at the beginning of verse 5? 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.259 The Lord, the Lord Almighty has a day. 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:11.399 This judgment, the judgment for which this God weeps, it's his judgment. 00:08:13.599 --> 00:08:15.279 He's the one that's going to bring it. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.659 But do you see how it comes? 00:08:17.659 --> 00:08:19.659 It comes through foreign powers. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:20.819 You see them in verse 6. 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:22.420 Elam and Kir. 00:08:22.539 --> 00:08:25.500 These are God's instruments, these foreign powers. 00:08:25.659 --> 00:08:27.740 And there will be no escape. 00:08:28.599 --> 00:08:30.939 Because in verse 7, have a look at verse 7. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:37.120 Your choicest valleys are full of chariots and horsemen are posted at the city gates. 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:40.220 There's nowhere for God's people to turn. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.539 There's nowhere for them to run. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:46.980 Because the enemy have them surrounded. 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:49.360 Why? 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:51.940 Because as the first half of verse 8 puts it, 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.080 the Lord has stripped away the defenses of Judah. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:57.200 So this is what is coming. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.200 What's Judah's response going to be? 00:09:01.280 --> 00:09:03.940 Well, it's utter works dependence. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.040 See, in the rest of verse 8, what do they look to? 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:11.340 The weapons in the palace of the forest. 00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:13.200 They'll be fine, they think. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:14.900 They have halls. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:16.720 That's the palace of the forest. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:19.700 Great big wooden halls full of weapons. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.660 This is the armory of Judah. 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:28.240 And in verses 9 and 10, they're going to tear down their own houses to rebuild the city walls. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:33.699 And then they're going to reroute the water so that the invaders can't cut off their water supply. 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:36.799 Actually, King Hezekiah did exactly that in Jerusalem. 00:09:36.959 --> 00:09:37.719 You might have heard of it. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.519 You can read about it in 2 Kings chapter 20. 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.919 In fact, if you go to Jerusalem today, you can see Hezekiah's tunnel. 00:09:45.839 --> 00:09:48.899 And these things are actually really quite impressive feats, right? 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:53.100 I mean, Jerusalem really did have an incredible armory. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:59.679 And actually, isn't it incredibly selfless to vacate your home in order to rebuild the city's defences? 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:08.019 And it is, I think, both very wise and ingenious to ensure that the enemy can't cut off your water supply in a siege. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:12.100 The problem here isn't with what Jerusalem are doing. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:16.620 It's not with their actions, but with their heart attitude. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:20.580 Have a look at the second half of verse 11. 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.620 Here's the problem. 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:24.399 What does it say? 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:30.679 You did not look to the one who made it or have regard for the one who planned it long ago. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.919 This is the problem. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:35.259 They have no recognition of God. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.940 The people of Jerusalem, they're just totally dependent on those works. 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:42.500 Doing it all under their own steam. 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:51.279 And then in verse 12, using repentance language, really, God calls them to tear out their hair and put on sackcloth. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:57.120 To repent, to turn around, to recognize and depend on God. 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:00.320 To stand in faith. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:06.940 Instead, in verse 13, they have this fatalistic attitude. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.320 We've done what we can. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.200 We have built our defences. 00:11:11.420 --> 00:11:13.500 And so today we're just going to party. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:15.560 For tomorrow we die. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.180 People without faith. 00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:24.000 The way that Paul applies this verse in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 is to say that they're people that God, 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.280 that do not believe that God will raise them from the dead. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.740 They're not depending on God for their own resurrection. 00:11:30.959 --> 00:11:34.799 And so they squeeze as much as they can out of life today. 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.379 For tomorrow they die. 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:40.159 They're just totally works dependent. 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:42.459 And we can be like that too, can't we? 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:45.539 I mean, individually, that is certainly true. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:49.980 I think naturally we're all bent that way. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:54.039 Believing that one way or another we're going to be able to save ourselves. 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:58.419 You'll know what this is like if you're a Christian here this evening. 00:11:59.699 --> 00:11:59.919 Right? 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:06.199 You'll know that because you feel better, don't you, about your prospects of a relationship with God 00:12:06.199 --> 00:12:08.799 when you've ticked all your Christian boxes for the day. 00:12:09.599 --> 00:12:10.839 We all know what that feels like. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.639 You've read your Bible. 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.059 Tick. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.179 You've said your prayers. 00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:13.939 Tick. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:17.459 Maybe you've even dared to have a conversation with a colleague about Jesus. 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:22.440 And again, note that none of those things are bad, are they? 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:29.700 But just like the people of Jerusalem, building the defenses and ignoring the defender, 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:33.019 we reveal our works dependence. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:38.160 For if you do not stand firm in faith, you will not stand at all. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:43.180 But actually, I think the real application of this is not individual but collective. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.600 This is written to God's people as a whole. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:51.740 And so collectively as a church, there is a danger, isn't there, that we become works dependent. 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:56.920 What is it that will see God's kingdom grow through the church here in Brunsfield? 00:12:58.060 --> 00:13:01.159 To see our church grow and thrive. 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:04.200 Would it be the addition of some new members of staff? 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.580 Replacing the pews? 00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:10.639 Even solid biblical teaching and engaging worship music? 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.639 None of these things are bad, are they? 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:18.179 But do we pursue these sorts of gifts and blessings and ignore the giver? 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:22.679 Building defenses and ignoring the defender. 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:28.539 If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:35.080 So first, Isaiah is warning Judah that they have been standing on works dependence. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.960 And next, he warns them that they've been standing on man dependence. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.580 We come across two leaders in these verses, don't we? 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.800 One, very bad. 00:13:43.400 --> 00:13:44.879 The other, pretty good. 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:50.320 The first, in verse 15, is Shebna, the steward, a palace administrator. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.960 He's obviously a pretty big wig. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.320 Certainly, he thinks that he's a big wig. 00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.720 I mean, have a look at verse 16. 00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:56.340 What's he doing? 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:59.700 He's cutting out a grave for himself. 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:03.000 A grave, as verse 16 has it. 00:14:03.280 --> 00:14:07.660 A grave on the heights, which is the spot reserved for royalty. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:13.019 But do you see what God is going to do with this prideful man? 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.319 Have a look at verse 17. 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:19.100 He's going to take a firm hold of him and hurl him away. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:23.559 Sort of Garden of Eden and fall language, isn't it? 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.539 You see in verse 18, it's as though he's rolled him up into a ball. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:30.339 Kind of have a picture of a tennis ball at the bottom of a sock. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.279 And he just whirls it round and round and launches him out. 00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:36.079 Out of God's promised land to die. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:41.259 And we get a hint of why in the second half of verse 18. 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:46.240 Shebna was behind Jerusalem's works dependence. 00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:49.879 It was his chariots that he was so proud of. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.300 Defenses without the defender. 00:14:53.280 --> 00:14:56.780 And the people seem to be relying on this bad leader for their deliverance. 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:58.100 Man dependence. 00:14:58.100 --> 00:15:02.759 There's also a better leader that God is raising up. 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:04.180 Do you see that in verse 20? 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.639 Eliakim. 00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:09.960 Given the clothing and authority of Shebna before him. 00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:11.600 But more than that, look at verse 22. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.259 He's given the key to the house of David. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.980 Which means he's given royal authority. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:20.600 And not just any royal authority, but the authority of David's line. 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:26.340 Which is, if you know your Bible, the line of the promised coming future king of deliverance. 00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:30.180 And in verse 23, it just looks so promising. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:32.980 He's going to be like a peg driven into the wall. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.220 A peg for all of Jerusalem to hang on. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.340 A man to depend on. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:41.780 Maybe a bit like a brand new set of coat hooks. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:44.220 Freshly installed by the newlywed husband. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:49.519 Ready to take the ever increasing growing collection of coats and jackets. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.720 But then see what happens in verse 23. 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:56.340 A little like the newly installed coat hooks. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.659 Inevitably unable to take the weight. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.539 This peg is going to give way. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.980 You see, that's the inevitable end of man dependence. 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:07.319 No matter how good the man. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:10.759 You see, I don't know who first said this. 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.600 You may have heard it before. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.480 It's been said by many. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:16.539 But the best of men are men at best. 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:20.899 I think of some of the leaders in my Christian life. 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:27.399 Men and women that I have looked up to and learned from and depended on. 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:32.600 Often only to get a little closer and see what they're really like. 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:37.000 Because the best of men and women are men and women at best. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.980 And of course there have been some very high profile cases. 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:45.000 Horrific cases really recently of fallen Christian leaders. 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:51.620 And so we know that if your Christian life has been the result of the ministry of a man or a woman. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:55.120 And if your Christian life is dependent then on your human being. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.960 Man dependent. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:00.379 Then you're surely going to be disappointed. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:04.799 For the best of men are men at best. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:11.099 And again for us as a church this really addressed to God's people collectively. 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:14.200 It's worth asking what do we expect from our leaders? 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:17.339 What are we dependent on them for? 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:21.519 Because at its heart their role is really quite simple. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:27.259 To help us become increasingly dependent on Christ in faith. 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:31.079 Less dependent on them and more dependent on him. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:34.440 For if you do not stand firm in your faith. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:37.200 You will not stand at all. 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:45.400 So in chapter 22 then we've seen how Judah and Jerusalem have been standing on works dependence and man dependence. 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:50.400 And then in chapter 23 Isaiah says you've also been standing on wealth dependence. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:56.280 Reliant on your connections with the trade empire of Tyre to bring you deliverance. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:18:00.580 Verses 1 to 14 contain a picture of Tyre destroyed. 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:04.440 And then in verse 15 we get a surprising twist. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:10.559 Notice first in verse 1 and again in verse 14 the repeated refrain. 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:13.420 Wail you ships of Tarshish. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:16.320 Wail you ships of Tarshish. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:20.940 Tarshish is really just symbolic of some city far across the sea. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.960 And Isaiah says wail. 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.039 Why? 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:26.880 Well still in verse 1 Tyre's empire is destroyed. 00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:30.519 This prophecy spells their end and it's a stark warning. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:35.259 But remember Isaiah isn't embarking on a preaching tour here. 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:37.660 He's not going around Tyre's expansive empire. 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:40.400 This warning isn't to them, to the nations. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:43.359 No he's preaching in and to Jerusalem. 00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:49.180 And so really he's preaching a warning that says you Judah have become wealth dependent. 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:51.599 Dependent on trade with Tyre. 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:56.879 An empire of pride that has been judged and will be destroyed. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.319 So what was this empire? 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:01.059 What was the empire of Tyre? 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:09.659 Well you'll notice in the following verses some of the places named Cyprus, Sidon, Shihor, Egypt, Phoenicia. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:12.159 This was the trade network of Tyre. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:16.200 A string of city-states that spanned across the entire Mediterranean. 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:19.619 Connected by sea and by trade. 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:24.700 And places that through Tyre, just like Judah and Jerusalem, had become wealthy. 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:31.180 But places that in verse 2, like Sidon, are to be silenced. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.480 No longer bustling with trade. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:39.600 Places that in verse 3 had been enriched by the harvest of the Nile, thanks to the trade of Tyre. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.180 But no longer. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:48.960 Places that like Judah via the trade empire of Tyre had become rich, but that in verse 4, are to be ashamed. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:53.299 And then the sea itself speaks. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.600 I have neither been in labor nor given birth. 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:59.160 I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:04.220 The sea here is lamenting the loss of her sons and her daughters. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:09.940 The merchant sailors that, because of the destruction of this empire, are no longer at sea. 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:14.860 In verses 6 and 7, the merchant sailors who have now become refugees. 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.360 Read from verse 6 with me. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.680 Cross over to Tarshish. 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.980 Wail, you people of the island. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:30.160 Is this your city of revelry, the old, old city whose feet have taken her to settle in far-off lands? 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:38.060 These sailors, having previously traveled to and from Tarshish, that port city at the end of the world, 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:42.120 they now return there with their tail between their legs. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:48.900 And so their revelry when they get there, just like the revelry of Jerusalem in chapter 22, is silenced. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:21:00.380 The wealth of Tyre, Isaiah warns Jerusalem, the wealth that you relied on in your wealth dependence is only temporary and it is being destroyed. 00:21:01.780 --> 00:21:04.640 Verse 8 then asks, I think, a really important question. 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:06.300 Who is behind this? 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:09.000 And I guess by implication, why is this happening? 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:12.680 And in verse 9 comes the inevitable and familiar answer. 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.840 The Lord Almighty planned it. 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:22.759 It is Yahweh, the God of Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, who is snatching away the wealth of empires, 00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:25.599 removing that on which his people have become dependent. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.619 In her pride, the Lord will humble her. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:36.039 With the simple gesture of an outstretched hand in verse 11, the Lord will bring this empire to an end. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:44.139 They will lose their harbor in verse 10, their fortress in verse 11 and their rest in verse 12. 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:46.379 And it will be utterly destroyed. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:54.059 Because you see, the wealth of men and of nations and of empires is always temporary. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:22:00.019 It's all too easy, I think, when you are standing like this on wealth dependence. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.439 It's all too easy for us to start running our lives independent of our God. 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:11.699 Or to think that somehow God's mission in the world is reliant on our wealth and our giving. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:17.319 You know, in many ways, I really do not envy the very wealthy in this world. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.160 Especially Christians. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:23.259 I think it must be incredibly hard to be a wealthy Christian. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:29.539 Easy to think if I somehow, if I write a check or fund something that the church is doing, 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:33.460 I can somehow bypass my need for faith and repentance. 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:37.460 We are, aren't we, incredibly blessed here at Brunsfield. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:40.620 I know that many of you here this evening give generously. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:46.019 And I know that many of you steward your money faithfully, not in dependence on it, but in faith. 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:51.120 But we need to know that human wealth is insecure. 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:58.640 That it only takes one bad investment or a credit crunch or a recession or a global pandemic 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:02.120 to reveal that folly of wealth dependence. 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:07.759 Whether we're relying on our own wealth or on the wealth of those around us. 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:11.080 We would do well, wouldn't we, to avoid depending on it. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:15.000 And again, maybe especially as we apply this to us as a church. 00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:19.600 Just as Judah has become dependent on the wealth of Tyre. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:25.480 For us, as a relatively wealthy church in an incredibly wealthy city, 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.859 speaking, you know, globally, 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.599 it's possible for us to think as we look around at this incredible building. 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:36.339 Many churches in this city don't have a building. 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:41.899 And the impressive tech equipment that we have, the fancy glass doors on the way in. 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:48.700 It's easy for us to see our wealth and to think that as a result of that, we will stand. 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:53.440 That as a result of that, God's kingdom will grow here in Brunsfield. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:55.660 And that we're going to be part of that growth. 00:23:56.900 --> 00:24:02.280 It's easy for our dependence on the Lord to shift to dependence on the merchants of Tyre. 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:04.519 To shift to wealth dependence. 00:24:06.060 --> 00:24:11.780 But if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:14.380 Here comes the twist. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.900 For it would be easy, wouldn't it, to come away thinking, 00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:17.980 well, isn't wealth bad? 00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:19.120 Aren't the wealthy bad? 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:21.880 But we see in the last few verses of this chapter, 00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:24.680 as Isaiah looks ahead to the new Jerusalem, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.820 words here that John uses in Revelation chapter 21, 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:35.580 we see that all wealth will ultimately be brought into God's city for God's glory. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.360 Notice in verse 18. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:42.319 Yet her profit and her earning will be set apart for the Lord. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.879 They will not be stored up or hoarded. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:50.919 Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord for abundant food and fine clothes. 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:53.980 As the Lord restores the wealth of Tyre, 00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:57.759 all of her wealth, indeed all of our wealth, 00:24:57.880 --> 00:25:01.720 the wealth of all the nations will be carried into the heavenly city 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:05.060 and bring glory to God in so doing. 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:10.379 And so would we depend on him and look to his glory, 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:15.220 standing not on works dependence or man dependence or wealth dependence, 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:17.919 but standing instead firm in faith. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:22.779 And as we do that, it's worth asking the question just as we finish, 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:27.980 what does it really look like today to stand firm in faith? 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:33.400 We enter into this world utterly dependent on our mothers and our fathers. 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:39.240 And then we may pursue independence then at every turn as we grow. 00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:43.220 Ironically, then I think we tend to return to a state of utter dependence, 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:46.060 don't we, in our old age very often. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:50.419 But I wonder what it would look like if throughout life, 00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:56.700 instead of pursuing independence, we actually sought to be dependent in faith, 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.700 to stand firm in faith. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.099 And as we answer that question, 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:03.359 wouldn't it be appropriate for us to look at Jesus, 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:07.679 the author and protector of our faith, 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:11.079 the God who became man. 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:15.679 And as a man, Jesus was just utterly dependent on the Father. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:19.639 In the garden of Gethsemane, knowing what was to come, 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:22.700 he sunk to his knees in prayer, 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:25.480 in total dependence on his Father. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:34.019 Think that faithlessness is very often first evident in prayerlessness. 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:38.919 Not those hollow, empty, wordy, showy prayers, 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:42.559 but dependent prayer, secret prayer. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.720 We've got to ask ourselves, 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:49.220 are we individually and corporately as a church, 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:52.220 really seeking our Heavenly Father in prayer? 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:56.599 Are we desperately dependent on him on our knees? 00:26:57.639 --> 00:27:02.399 Because faithlessness is so often first evident in prayerlessness. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:05.259 We've seen too, haven't we, 00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:07.600 the dangers of man dependence, 00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:09.660 of Shebna and Hilkiah. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.840 But of course, as we look to Jesus, 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:15.240 here is a man that we really can depend on. 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.780 The God who took on flesh, 00:27:17.780 --> 00:27:20.680 who lived an absolutely perfect life, 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:22.940 who died in our place to deliver us 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:26.220 from the ultimate enemy of sin and death, 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:29.799 who rose again and promised us new life. 00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:32.480 Here is a man that we really can depend on. 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:32.880 Will we? 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.100 Will we depend on him? 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:40.640 Is our eternal standing before God really dependent on him 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:42.880 and what he's done for us? 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.539 Or are we just trying to tick the boxes, 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:47.819 read my Bible, said my prayers? 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:52.159 And you know, he's a man who did all of that, 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:55.740 not as a wealthy king on a throne, 00:27:56.579 --> 00:28:00.819 not depending on the wealth of other kings on thrones, 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:03.799 but this is a God who took on flesh, 00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:10.679 who came from glory and entered the world in rags and poverty, 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:15.240 and who was raised again to glory through weakness. 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:21.639 So for us, as we navigate the challenges of life, 00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:24.639 recognizing that we cannot save ourselves, 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.460 that the world we live in is a mess 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:28.500 and that we're part of the mess. 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:34.079 In his life, in his death and in his resurrection, 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:36.539 Jesus shows us what it means 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:41.159 not to stand in works dependence or in man dependence 00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:42.839 or in wealth dependence, 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:45.720 but to stand firm in faith. 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:48.819 Faith ultimately in him. 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.519 Let me pray. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:02.079 Heavenly Father, we look to Jesus, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:06.880 the author and perfecter of our faith. 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:12.079 We look to him as the perfect example of faith 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:15.720 and we look to him as the object of our faith. 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:20.720 Help us by your Holy Spirit to depend on you 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:22.379 in everything that we do, 00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:26.500 to depend on what you have done in your mercy, 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:31.960 what you've done for us through your son, Jesus Christ, 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:35.319 to bring us into eternal relationship with you. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:39.220 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:40.679 Amen.