WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000 Good morning. Our passage today is in Isaiah chapter 8 and then up until 9 verse 7 which is on page 693 in the church bibles. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:22.000 ! The Lord said to me, take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen, Meher Shalal Hashbaz. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.179 So I called in Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jebrakiah as reliable witnesses for me. 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:33.740 Then I made love to the prophetess and she conceived and gave birth to a son. 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:38.179 And the Lord said to me, name him Meher Shalal Hashbaz. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:48.679 For before the boy knows how to say, my father or my mother, the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:59.799 The Lord spoke to me again, because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shaloha and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Romalia. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:05.159 Therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of Euphrates. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:16.500 The king of Assyria with all his pomp, it will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:19.819 Passing through it and reaching up to the neck. 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:23.840 Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Emmanuel. 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:27.859 Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:30.980 Listen, all you distant lands. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.219 Prepare for battle and be shattered. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:35.719 Prepare for battle and be shattered. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.599 Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:43.680 Propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:51.220 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:55.720 Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy. 00:01:56.440 --> 00:01:59.440 Do not fear what they fear and do not dread it. 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:03.180 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:05.219 He is the one you are to fear. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:07.180 He is the one you are to dread. 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:11.159 He will be a holy place for both Israel and Judah. 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:16.939 And he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:22.040 And for the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:24.100 Many of them will stumble. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.020 They will fall and be broken. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:28.020 They will be snared and captured. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:34.120 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God's instruction among my disciples. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:39.000 I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. 00:02:39.420 --> 00:02:40.819 I will put my trust in him. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:45.099 Here am I and the children the Lord has given me. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:51.480 We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty who dwells on Mount Zion. 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:57.039 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, 00:02:57.579 --> 00:02:59.899 should not a people inquire of their God? 00:03:00.359 --> 00:03:02.519 Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:06.819 Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:11.659 If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.039 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:21.759 When they are famished, they will become enraged and looking upwards will curse their king and their God. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:27.799 Then they will look towards the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:30.379 They will be thrust into utter darkness. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:36.659 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. 00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:41.460 In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. 00:03:42.079 --> 00:03:47.699 But in the future he will honor Galilee and the nations by the way of the sea beyond the Jordan. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:51.180 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:56.359 On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:59.620 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy. 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:03.159 They rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:06.299 as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:11.340 For as in the day of Midian's feast you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:15.120 the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:18.519 every warrior's boot used in battle, 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.740 and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:23.439 will be fuel for the fire. 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:27.019 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:29.759 and the government will be on his shoulders, 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.920 and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:36.980 Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:41.339 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. 00:04:41.719 --> 00:04:44.500 He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:48.279 establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness. 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:50.779 From that time on and forever, 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:54.000 the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:54.659 Amen. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:58.020 Great. Well, keep that passage open. 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.880 We are in the book of Isaiah. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.560 We have been working our way through it. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:03.620 We have arrived at chapter 8. 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:07.020 Let's pray and ask for the Lord's help as we come to his word. 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:07.420 Let's pray. 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:12.300 Father, we do thank you so much for your word to us. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:16.960 We want to thank you that we're not kind of scrabbling around in the dark, 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.540 wondering what you might be like or what you might say, 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:23.660 but that here together this morning, as your word is open, 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:25.900 we get a chance to listen to you, 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.280 to hear your word to us. 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.460 Oh Lord, how we pray that you might make us good listeners 00:05:32.460 --> 00:05:34.379 to you and your word. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.460 Pray that you might help me to speak clearly and faithfully. 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:41.480 And Lord, that by your spirit, you would be at work, 00:05:42.020 --> 00:05:45.660 opening our ears to hear and our hearts to trust. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:47.640 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:48.719 Amen. 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:49.659 Amen. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:53.779 Well, if you're a Christian this morning, 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:57.860 what you need to understand is that you are in the minority. 00:05:58.819 --> 00:05:59.500 The minority. 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:03.079 Probably not in this room, at least I don't think so. 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:07.219 But almost certainly at work, you'll be in the minority. 00:06:07.719 --> 00:06:10.300 You're possibly in the minority in your family. 00:06:10.479 --> 00:06:14.680 And if you are at school, you will definitely be in the minority. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:19.340 I was trying to work out this week with a little help from the census, 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:25.379 how many people in our neighborhood find themselves in a gospel church this morning. 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:29.980 If you go to the census, I think it's about 35%, maybe a few more, 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:32.340 call themselves Christians in our neighborhood. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:36.780 But to call yourself Christian doesn't necessarily really mean you are a Christian. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:39.019 It just means that's how you identify yourself. 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:40.719 And very few actually mean much by it. 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:44.879 I think if you add up the congregations in our community, 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.359 kind of places where you would hear the good news about Jesus, 00:06:47.979 --> 00:06:51.399 and you divide that by the population of our community, 00:06:52.099 --> 00:06:54.240 times by 100, that's how you work out percentages, right? 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.480 I think you will get to about 3%. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.680 3%. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:04.720 Put it another way, 97% of people in Queen's Park and West Kilburn 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:09.160 are somewhere else doing something else this morning, 00:07:09.840 --> 00:07:11.699 with little or no thought of being otherwise. 00:07:12.540 --> 00:07:16.840 Which means I think by any count, we are a minority. 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:20.240 Now, it's possible that that's quite shocking. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.960 I think as Christians, we've become quite adept to just sort of inoculating ourselves 00:07:25.960 --> 00:07:28.259 from this idea that we're in the minority. 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:32.079 We might cover up the detail in all sorts of ways. 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.120 You might find that all of your friends are Christians, 00:07:34.280 --> 00:07:36.960 so you just imagine that actually everybody's a Christian, 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:38.100 because all my friends are. 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:41.600 You might go to the odd big conference, 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:45.980 where it feels like you're part of something much bigger and much grander. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:49.139 If you follow the right feeds on social media, 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:52.620 you might get the impression that there is something bigger and more impressive. 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.399 You might even console yourself that 2 billion people around the world 00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:00.399 would call themselves Christians, and that's no small number, is it? 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:04.240 But actually, there are 6 billion people in the world 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.439 who would say they are not Christian. 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:09.240 Because the truth is, being a Christian, 00:08:09.719 --> 00:08:13.139 a genuine I-believe-in-Jesus Christian, 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:17.979 puts you this morning, if that's you, in a minority. 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:22.019 And if you live in this neighbourhood, in this time, 00:08:22.659 --> 00:08:25.500 then it puts you in a very, very, very small minority. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:29.899 Now, I want to suggest that because that is true, 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:33.659 Isaiah's book is of supreme relevance to us this morning. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.939 Isaiah is writing between 700 and 800 years before the birth of Christ 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:42.820 in a setting where God's people are in a massive minority. 00:08:43.520 --> 00:08:45.940 Now, that's not just because Judah and Jerusalem, 00:08:46.060 --> 00:08:46.900 to whom he is speaking, 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.180 are no longer the world superpower that they once were, 00:08:49.260 --> 00:08:50.720 although that is true, right? 00:08:50.880 --> 00:08:52.820 You will find in the weeks to come 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:56.500 that King Ahaz has put himself in the pocket of the king of Assyria. 00:08:57.340 --> 00:08:59.560 And that's a bad place for him to be, 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:00.720 and he never really recovers. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:03.620 And Israel, Judah, never really recovers. 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:07.580 But also, it's because most of the people of Judah 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:11.100 are only now really God's people in name, 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:15.000 but not really in personal faith or trust in the Lord. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.620 They are Jews, they are the children of Abraham, 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.720 but most of them do not trust the Lord. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.179 Most of them have the same hopes, the same aspirations, 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:27.680 the same goals, and the same idols, even, 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.320 as the world around them. 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:33.120 And so God's people find themselves in a minority, 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:34.379 not just in the world, 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:38.080 but even in the people that would call themselves God's people. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:41.360 And that's why one of Isaiah's favorite words, 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:42.840 and I know it's one of his favorite words, 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.639 because he calls his oldest child this, 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:46.659 is the word remnant. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.060 Remnant, that's what he calls the minority. 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:52.580 It's a small remainder, a little slice, 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.399 a small group of people amongst God's people 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.620 who still actually trust the Lord. 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:02.539 His oldest son is called Sher Jashub. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:03.539 He says, 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.519 which means the remnant will return. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.939 We met him last week, if you were with us. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:10.860 Now, we'll return to those ideas in a few moments, 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.480 but what I want to show you is that the passage 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.379 that we're looking at this morning, 00:10:13.459 --> 00:10:15.459 it divides really helpfully into three parts, 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:17.360 and we will work our way through them 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.120 and see these ideas there. 00:10:19.219 --> 00:10:20.919 So in verses one to eight, in chapter eight, 00:10:20.959 --> 00:10:22.279 you get a kind of narrative account 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.459 of what's happening at the time. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.779 In verses nine to 22, 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:28.319 you get the details of this minority group, 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.340 this remnant and what marks them out, 00:10:30.400 --> 00:10:31.400 how you recognize them, 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.020 what makes for them to be a remnant group. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.780 And then in verses one to seven of chapter nine, 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:38.800 you see something of the hope for the remnant. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:41.960 So let's start part one with the story, 00:10:42.140 --> 00:10:43.720 the story in verses one to eight. 00:10:45.280 --> 00:10:46.940 Now, if you were with us last week, 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:48.160 and someone did say to me last week 00:10:48.160 --> 00:10:49.080 that this was confusing, 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:51.080 and I tried really hard to explain it simply, 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.580 but I obviously didn't do a great job. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:55.759 But you'll know that the southern state of Judah, 00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:58.940 so God's people have been divided into Judah and Israel, 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.060 Judah in the south, Israel in the north, 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:04.000 and the southern community of Judah 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.540 with Jerusalem as its capital city 00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:09.100 are now being threatened by Syria, 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.040 which is called Aram in the story, 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:14.460 and by Israel, which is sometimes called Ephraim. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.120 They formed an alliance together, 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.340 and they have threatened Judah and Jerusalem. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:23.259 And that has put King Ahaz in a flap. 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.019 And we found him last week like that, 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:29.000 and Isaiah came to him and spoke God's word to him. 00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:31.200 And he told Ahaz, listen, 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.280 I want to tell you, you must listen to God. 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:36.960 And in order to persuade you to listen to God, 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.180 there will be a sign. 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.500 Ask for a sign. 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:41.000 Ahaz refused. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.620 God gave him a sign anyway, 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:43.820 and the sign was a child. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:46.440 And now as you pick up chapter eight, verse one, 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:48.660 you find in verse one that Isaiah is taking out 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:51.819 a large scroll, a banner, a placard of some kind, 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:56.459 and he's writing the name Meher Shalal Hashbaz on it. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.759 And he's calling Uriah and Zechariah 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:00.719 to witness to it in verse two. 00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:05.299 In some ways, this is kind of like a gender reveal party, 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.740 although the gender's already been revealed. 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:08.039 It's a name reveal party. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:10.719 And Isaiah is going early on the name. 00:12:10.719 --> 00:12:14.179 He is placarding the name of his new child around. 00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:17.720 Meher Shalal Hashbaz means something like speed, 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:19.220 spoil, haste, booty. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.720 It's a reference to the coming Assyrian army. 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.720 They're going to come really fast, 00:12:25.040 --> 00:12:27.600 and they're going to take all of the spoil. 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.240 And effectively, the placard, I guess, 00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:32.600 means in some senses, like, the end is nigh. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.540 Yeah, you know those placards that people call, 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.460 the end is nigh. 00:12:35.560 --> 00:12:38.220 That's basically what the placard is saying 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:41.180 to the northern kingdoms of Israel and Syria. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.399 In verse three, you hear that the son is born 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:46.360 to Isaiah's wife. 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.840 Then I made love to the prophetess, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:49.879 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.240 And the Lord said to me, 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:54.159 name him Meher Shalal Hashbaz. 00:12:54.579 --> 00:12:56.139 And just like God promised, 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.220 before the child even knows or understands 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:58.899 what an army is, 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:03.139 the threat of Israel and Syria invading Judah has gone. 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:06.539 Assyria, the swift, spoil, haste, booty kingdom, 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:10.199 has swept through it and defeated the two nations. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:14.220 Verse five then picks up the story 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:15.960 as the Lord himself tells it. 00:13:16.660 --> 00:13:18.180 The Lord spoke to me again. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:20.860 Because this people, that is the people of Israel, 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:24.580 has rejected the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah, 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:27.320 that is the stream that's flowing into Jerusalem, 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:31.440 and rejoices over Rezin, that is the king of Syria or Aram, 00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:34.240 and the son of Ramalia, that is the king of Israel. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.020 Therefore, the Lord is about to bring against them 00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:39.360 the mighty waters of the Euphrates, 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:41.679 the king of Assyria with all his pomp. 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:44.259 It will overflow all its channels, 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:46.460 run over all its banks, 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.799 and sweep into Judah, swirling over it, 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:52.579 passing through it, and reaching up to the neck. 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:56.120 Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Emmanuel. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.399 The key to those verses, I think, 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.559 is understanding those gentle flowing waters of Jerusalem. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.419 So while Jerusalem itself, we found, 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.000 it was a fortress city. 00:14:07.479 --> 00:14:10.099 It had been reinforced by King Uzziah. 00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:15.000 Still, the water supply for Jerusalem was kind of flaky. 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:17.719 It was this waters of Shiloah. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.019 And here the people are, effectively, 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.819 they're looking at God's water supply into Jerusalem 00:14:22.819 --> 00:14:25.139 and going, that will never work. 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:27.099 That will never stand. 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.519 That will never be enough. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.659 And so they turn to the strength of their alliance. 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:35.919 And then in what is some kind of, I guess, tragic irony, 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.519 they discover, actually, 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:40.699 that the God who is the God of the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah, 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.319 who is supplying Jerusalem, 00:14:42.719 --> 00:14:44.039 is also, it turns out, 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:45.899 the God of the great river Euphrates. 00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:49.279 And so God turns the river Euphrates 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.299 and floods them. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.319 That river is 00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:55.419 a metaphor for the Assyrian army. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:57.100 And they wash away Syria, 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.199 they wash away Israel, 00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.860 and they even come through Judah 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:02.080 and up to the neck of Jerusalem itself. 00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:03.879 And that's exactly what happens. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.640 The Assyrian army marches down the coast, 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.720 cuts off the supply lines of the Northern Alliance, 00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:10.100 and then destroys them completely. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.040 About 20 years later, 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.100 working their way through Judah, 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.560 they capture the cities 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:17.340 and they get right to the gates of Jerusalem, 00:15:17.900 --> 00:15:19.120 which they fail to take. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.560 I want you just to imagine, 00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:23.060 I know this, 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:24.580 it all feels very distant, doesn't it? 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.900 But I want you to try and imagine with me, 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.360 if you can, 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.100 just what it might have been like to live there. 00:15:30.040 --> 00:15:30.440 You know, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.259 you're having a chat 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:33.259 with one of your office colleagues, 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.460 or whatever the equivalent is of an office 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.639 in, you know, 00:15:37.160 --> 00:15:38.340 700 BC. 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:40.560 And you're by the water cooler, 00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:40.879 again, 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.420 whatever the equivalent is of that. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.460 And you know, 00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.980 one of your colleagues says to you, 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.860 do you believe in all that God stuff? 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:47.900 Really? 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:51.520 Do you believe all that stuff 00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:52.460 about, you know, 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.879 Jerusalem being safe? 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.860 Do you believe that? 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.580 Do you believe that 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:58.399 God will keep his people? 00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.399 I know that's what they say, 00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.639 isn't it? 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.279 They say that God 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.259 has this promise 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.159 to look after his people. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:02.980 Do you believe that? 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.460 That Ahaz really just 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.419 has to do nothing 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.220 but trust the Lord 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.120 and everything will be okay? 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.879 Do you believe that? 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:09.519 Well, 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.460 the conversation carries on, 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:10.720 doesn't it? 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.320 And everyone's answer 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.059 is exactly the same. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.340 Of course I don't believe it. 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.919 What a complete load of rubbish. 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.679 Have you seen the water supply 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.120 in Jerusalem? 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.080 It's terrible. 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:18.879 It's pathetic. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:20.379 It won't stand up to anything. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.720 And so you think, 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:22.899 well, 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.539 okay, 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.959 I'm listening to this conversation 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:26.340 and choices are hard to make, 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:26.539 aren't they? 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.500 It's difficult to make decisions 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.279 and so basically 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.919 I'm just going to do 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.759 what everyone else does. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.199 I'm just going to believe 00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:32.120 what everyone else believes. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.559 And it turns out 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.000 to be horribly wrong 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.740 because it turns out 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.259 that most people were wrong 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:42.600 and the remnant were right. 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:44.459 Now, 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.159 I want to suggest to you 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.120 that's exactly what you see 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:46.720 happening around you 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.519 all the time today. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.919 What do you think about Jesus? 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.439 Do you really think 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.319 Jesus is divine? 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:53.500 Yeah, 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.559 Christians say 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.679 that Jesus is coming again 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.379 to judge the living 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:56.779 and the dead. 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:57.579 Do you believe that? 00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.259 Really? 00:16:59.179 --> 00:16:59.659 I mean, 00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:00.459 just look around you. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.439 Everything seems to carry on 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:01.699 as normal. 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.459 People who don't believe 00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:02.799 in Jesus, 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.339 they seem to have 00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:04.039 perfectly good lives. 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.339 In fact, 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:04.960 in some ways, 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.759 they seem to have 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.700 better lives. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.299 This cross and resurrection stuff, 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.659 is that really important? 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:12.700 Is that what life is for? 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.039 No, 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.259 of course it's not. 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:17.580 You know, 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.700 my friend's nephew's 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.000 brother, 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.180 sister, 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.819 has read a bit of the Bible 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.299 and they think 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.640 they've found 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.600 contradictions in it. 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.000 And so, 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:26.660 because choices 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.200 and decisions 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.960 are hard to make, 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.720 most people 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.759 just go with the flow 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.960 and they reject Jesus. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.920 And like Syria 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.819 and Israel, 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.420 they will find themselves 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:39.279 to be horribly wrong. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.680 Jesus himself said, 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.920 for wide is the gate 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:44.119 and broad is the road 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.279 that leads to destruction 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.220 and many enter through it. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.240 But small is the gate 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.379 and narrow the road 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.279 that leads to life 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:53.319 and only a few find it. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.680 That's part one, 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.279 the history 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.940 or the story 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:57.680 of what's been happening. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:58.599 Israel and Syria 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:00.059 are defeated by Assyria 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:01.639 before Isaiah's son 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.460 is able to say 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.420 mummy or daddy. 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.700 The majority 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.759 are in the wrong. 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.680 Then comes part two, 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.420 the marks 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.000 of the remnant. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.220 verses 9 to 22 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:11.720 of chapter 8. 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.019 Now, I think 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.299 you would be okay 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.160 to be a little confused 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.200 by these verses at first. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.539 They do dot around the place. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.460 Sometimes Isaiah 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.200 seems to be speaking 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.799 to himself. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.440 It's almost like 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.079 you're reading from 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:22.380 Isaiah's personal 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.420 spiritual journal. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.519 And sometimes 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.240 he's talking to 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.200 a group of disciples. 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:26.880 It seems to be 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.599 a group of people 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.660 he's gathered around him. 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.660 Other times 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.940 he's quoting the Lord directly. 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.180 But the big idea here 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.180 that I want you to capture 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:35.480 is that Isaiah, 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:37.019 as opposed to 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.339 the rest of the people, 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:40.459 is trusting in the Lord. 00:18:40.959 --> 00:18:42.319 And along with Isaiah 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.980 trusting the Lord 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.119 are a small group 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:44.599 of others 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:45.699 who are doing the same. 00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:47.159 So what you have 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:48.319 is a nation 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.659 that is in the large part 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:50.359 in rebellion 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:51.279 against God 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.359 and then 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:54.099 a small remnant 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.819 who are remaining 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:56.000 faithful with Isaiah 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.919 at the heart of it. 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.139 The majority 00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:58.899 going one way 00:18:58.899 --> 00:19:00.119 and a small group 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:00.740 of faithful men 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.019 and women 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.599 going the other. 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.480 Now, instead of walking 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.399 through verse by verse, 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.319 let's just pull out 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:06.119 two marks 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.839 of this remnant. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.019 The first mark 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.399 is this, 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.759 they listen to the Lord 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.359 and not people. 00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.319 Let me pull out 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.039 some verses for you. 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.779 Look at your Bibles. 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.859 Look down at verse 10. 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.919 Devise your strategy, 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.079 but it will be thwarted. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.220 Propose your plan, 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.679 but it will not stand, 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.619 for God is with us. 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.240 Comes again 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.119 in verse 13 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.960 where Isaiah says, 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:27.799 the Lord Almighty 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.240 is the one 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.179 you are to regard as holy. 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.240 He is the one 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.839 you are to fear. 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.539 He is the one 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.899 you are to dread. 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.580 In other words, 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:35.060 don't dread people, 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.660 dread the Lord, 00:19:36.800 --> 00:19:37.400 fear the Lord, 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.000 not people. 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.880 You see it too 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.620 in a negative way 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.240 that they talk about 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.160 the hopes of the masses 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.740 around them. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:43.860 Turn over the page 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:44.780 to verse 19. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.680 When someone tells you 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.820 to consult mediums 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.560 and spiritists 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:49.720 who whisper and mutter, 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.840 should not a people 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.840 inquire of their God? 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.300 Why consult the dead 00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:54.160 on behalf of the living? 00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:56.840 Here they're mocking 00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:57.780 the whispers 00:19:57.780 --> 00:19:58.560 and the mutterings 00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.320 or the squeaks 00:19:59.320 --> 00:19:59.860 and moans 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.380 is more literal, 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.680 I think, 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.740 of the mediums 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.800 and the spiritists. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.120 Comparing it 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.880 to the word of God 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.620 that they heard. 00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:07.900 This is the mark 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.740 of the remnant 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.200 marked out 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.740 from the rest 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.320 of the nation. 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.640 This is a group 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.060 of people 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:13.740 who despite 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.560 the attitudes 00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:15.400 and the convictions 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.060 of the world 00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.580 around them, 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.960 they have chosen 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.740 to listen 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.380 to what God says. 00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:22.259 They have come 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.040 to the conclusion 00:20:23.040 --> 00:20:23.960 that God 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.120 with them 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.620 is better 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:28.080 than the world 00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:29.740 with everyone else. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.220 That's what 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.759 they concluded. 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.339 that the world 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.099 is wrong 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.779 and God 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.440 is right. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:35.619 Now, 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.119 you're to hear that 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.599 and you're to ask, 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:36.900 I think, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.519 why on earth 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.240 would they do that? 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.940 What would persuade 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.940 this small group 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.339 of people 00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.519 against the opinion 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.420 of everybody else 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.299 that they should 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.000 listen to God? 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.799 what is it 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.700 that they have seen 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.279 that everyone else 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:47.880 has missed? 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:48.980 Well, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.619 it's not so much 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.660 what they have seen, 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:50.920 is it? 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.319 It is what they have heard. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.240 So, 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.039 in verse 11, 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.700 you find that 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.599 the strong hand 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.079 of the Lord 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.980 is on Isaiah 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.140 and the Lord 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.180 speaks to him, 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.539 warning the people 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.619 of the way 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.099 to follow. 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.380 And Isaiah 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:03.980 listens 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.900 and he trusts God 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.500 and he trusts 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.380 what he says. 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.920 He fears the Lord 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.579 and not people. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.019 See, 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.900 this is Isaiah's 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.460 radical claim. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.059 It's the claim 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.859 of the whole Bible, 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.879 which is that 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.699 the world 00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:16.339 is ruled 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.019 by a God 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.459 you cannot see. 00:21:19.699 --> 00:21:20.259 A God 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.059 who made you, 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.899 who loves you, 00:21:21.979 --> 00:21:22.639 who will hold you 00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.159 to account. 00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:24.759 You cannot discover 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.619 that God 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.919 under a microscope. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.539 You cannot discover 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.619 him with a telescope. 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:31.599 But you can discover 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.179 him through 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:33.719 what he says, 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:35.059 through his word. 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.019 And faith in him 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.819 comes from 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.879 hearing him. 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:43.379 The evangelist, 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.400 the late Billy Graham, 00:21:44.520 --> 00:21:45.160 tells a story 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.940 of being challenged 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.520 by a friend 00:21:46.520 --> 00:21:47.260 about the reliability 00:21:47.260 --> 00:21:47.960 of the Bible. 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:49.820 A friend told him 00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:50.900 in 1949 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:52.460 that he was out of date. 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.220 He said to Billy Graham, 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:54.420 listen, 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:54.940 no one believes 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.580 the Bible anymore. 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:56.220 What? 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:56.960 It's ridiculous. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.100 Don't you know 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:58.640 that science 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.460 has disproved the Bible? 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.740 And Billy Graham 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.540 tells the story 00:22:02.540 --> 00:22:03.420 that that night 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.300 he couldn't sleep 00:22:04.300 --> 00:22:05.660 and so he got up 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.540 and he went for a walk. 00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.180 He took his Bible 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.700 with him. 00:22:08.280 --> 00:22:09.100 He got into the middle 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.500 of the woods 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.420 and he put his Bible 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:13.380 down on a tree stump 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.859 and there he prayed. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.259 He records his prayer 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.640 like this. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.059 He says, 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.680 oh God, 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.920 there are many things 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.460 in this book 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.599 that I do not understand. 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.200 There are some areas 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.960 in it that don't seem 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.420 to correlate 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.339 with modern science, 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.920 but Father, 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.960 I'm going to accept 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.440 this as your word 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.720 by faith. 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.420 I'm going to allow 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.460 faith to go beyond 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.759 my intellectual questions 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.420 and my doubts. 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.039 I will believe this 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.519 to be your inspired word. 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.920 He stood up 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.880 from his knees 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.039 on that August night 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.840 with tears in his eyes 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.420 and he says, 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.500 I sensed the presence 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.400 and power of God 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.440 as I had not sensed it 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.039 in months. 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.519 Not all my questions 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.060 were answered, 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.720 but I knew 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.900 that a spiritual battle 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.560 in my soul 00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:56.039 had been fought and won. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:59.019 That's Isaiah, right? 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.700 God, I will listen to you. 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.800 I cannot see you, 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:06.099 but I can hear you 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:07.740 and I will listen. 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.440 And that's Billy Graham 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:11.599 and that's Isaiah. 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.319 Is that you? 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.319 Is that you? 00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.379 Are you basically 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.460 deciding what to trust 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.980 based on what you see 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.259 or based on what 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.240 other people see? 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.740 Or are you listening 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.579 to what God says 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.339 in his word? 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.200 That's the first mark 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.700 of the remnant. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.099 The second mark 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.279 is that they are waiting 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.960 for the Lord. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.240 Look down at verse 17 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.000 of chapter 8. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.819 I will wait for the Lord 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:34.179 who is hiding his face 00:23:34.179 --> 00:23:34.799 from the descendants 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.319 of Jacob. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.899 I will put my trust 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:37.399 in him. 00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.720 Here am I 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.399 and the children 00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:40.240 the Lord has given me. 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.059 We are signs 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.619 and symbols in Israel 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:44.259 from the Lord Almighty 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.359 who dwells 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.079 on Mount Zion. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.240 Notice what this means. 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.899 Isaiah's here 00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.439 with the signs 00:23:49.439 --> 00:23:49.879 and symbols 00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.619 of his children. 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.240 That's Sher Jashub 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.059 whose name means 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.099 the remnant will return 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.839 and Meher Shalal Hashbaz 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.839 who's referring 00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.740 to the Syrian army 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.439 being really fast 00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:58.740 and quick 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.720 and taking all the spoil. 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:02.559 But he does not yet have 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:02.839 does he 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.559 what God has promised. 00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.259 He actually says 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.640 God is hiding his face. 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.559 In other words 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.539 he is waiting. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.519 He doesn't have everything. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.299 According to verse 20 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.400 as he's waiting 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.259 the people around him 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.240 are living in ignorance 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.900 of God's word. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.839 They have no light. 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.079 In verse 21 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.339 people are even angry 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:20.740 with God 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.960 and cursing God. 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.180 People are full 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.299 of fearful gloom 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.120 in verse 22. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.839 This is the world 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.740 in which Isaiah 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.400 is waiting. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.180 It's a tough world. 00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:31.340 It's a dark world. 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.940 And they're in the minority 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.160 and the minority 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.900 even feel like 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.720 God might be hiding. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.940 This is Isaiah's world. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.320 This is our world too, right? 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.759 We've seen more 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.540 of the fulfillment 00:24:44.540 --> 00:24:45.280 of God's promises 00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:46.420 than Isaiah had. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.700 We know 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.700 that the Assyrian army 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.440 did destroy 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.380 the Northern Alliance. 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.740 We know too 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.460 that after them 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:54.100 the Babylonian empire came 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:54.759 and they destroyed 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.340 the Assyrians 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.540 and that after them 00:24:56.540 --> 00:24:57.420 and after a few others 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.440 the Roman empire came 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.320 and occupied Jerusalem 00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:00.900 and they crucified 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.940 the Son of God. 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.460 But we're still waiting 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.340 for Christ's return. 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:07.240 We're still waiting 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.320 for his returning glory. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.080 We're still living 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:10.759 in a place 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.279 and a time 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.700 where most people 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.779 reject God 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.640 and it's not led 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.200 to happiness 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:18.180 but to a new kind 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.100 of misery and darkness. 00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:20.820 You and I live, 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.140 don't we, 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.620 in a world 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.100 where the rich 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.860 seem to get richer, 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.120 the poor seem to get poorer, 00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.080 everyone seems to be 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:25.840 out for themselves. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.159 We live in a world 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.179 where it's sometimes 00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.000 dangerous just even 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.919 to walk down the street 00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.459 at night. 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.000 We live in a world 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.519 dominated by false religion, 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.279 false hope, 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:35.939 false gods 00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:36.819 and shallow morality 00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.980 and this world, 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.819 the world in which 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.619 we live, 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.480 it can still sometimes 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.220 feel like God 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.740 is hiding, 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:44.819 can't it? 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:47.559 And to be part 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.039 of the remnant 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.339 is not to be sheltered 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.039 from those things, 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.819 it is to trust God 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:53.419 whilst waiting 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.339 in the darkness. 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:57.939 I don't know about you 00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:59.659 but I'm not brilliant 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.159 at waiting 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:04.259 and I have to practice it 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.579 because I spend a lot 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.720 of time waiting it seems. 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.379 I have a wife 00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:09.299 who's not always brilliant 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.099 at timekeeping. 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.159 But you know, 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.379 don't you, 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:12.980 when you're waiting 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.779 for stuff 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.439 that you go through 00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:15.699 a whole range 00:26:15.699 --> 00:26:16.220 of emotions, 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:16.659 don't you? 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.199 At first, 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.639 you're not that bothered. 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.099 You know, 00:26:21.179 --> 00:26:21.319 well, 00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:21.879 they're a bit late, 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.259 it's okay. 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:25.039 Then you get into 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.240 sort of like anger. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.640 I can't, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.960 does my time 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.839 mean nothing to them? 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.039 What are they waiting, 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.859 why are they making 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.259 me wait? 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.859 And then you get 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.480 kind of emotional 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.460 and just sad 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.200 and frustrated 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.859 and slightly depressed. 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.900 But if you, 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.779 if you came to me 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.420 and you saw me 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:42.779 going through 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.400 those range of emotions, 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.079 what would you say? 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.000 I think you'd say, 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.279 listen, 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.819 that's just a feature 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.559 of waiting, Steve. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.319 That's just a feature 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.700 of waiting. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.799 Listen, 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.360 you this morning, 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:54.819 you might find 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.880 your Christian life hard. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.580 It might be difficult. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.279 Reading your Bible 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.279 might feel like a slog. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.640 Going to school 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.740 where you're the only Christian 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.340 might feel really isolating. 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.960 In your family, 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:06.920 it might be really difficult 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.759 because you're the only one 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.259 who's a Christian 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.539 and everyone else around you 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.539 thinks it's a bit stupid, 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:10.840 really. 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.600 Why are you going 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.180 to church again? 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.840 Well, listen, 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:17.039 that's what waiting's like. 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.880 That's what waiting's like. 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.120 Waiting in the darkness. 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:22.179 And, you know, 00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:23.219 there are times of relief, 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.500 aren't there? 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.139 Sunday mornings 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.919 and Sunday evenings 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.319 are supposed to be like that, 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:26.599 right? 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:28.039 It's the Lord's day. 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.639 It's not his half day, 00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:29.839 right? 00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:30.519 It's his full day, 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:30.739 right? 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.359 You can come morning 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.799 and evening. 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.179 But still, 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.199 you won't find it easy. 00:27:34.979 --> 00:27:37.559 You will still find at times 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.219 that you might think, 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.359 maybe I've got this wrong. 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:40.799 What is God doing? 00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:42.919 And that's what waiting's like. 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:45.679 So let's look at part three, 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:47.339 the hope for the waiting 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.899 or the hope we are waiting for. 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.859 If you look down 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:52.059 at verse one of chapter nine, 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.819 you'll see that there is great hope 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.519 for the remnant 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.480 walking in the darkness 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.240 of this world. 00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:57.439 Nevertheless, 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.579 there'll be no more gloom 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.720 for those who are in distress. 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.220 In the past, 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.699 he humbled the land of Zebulun 00:28:03.699 --> 00:28:04.740 and the land of Naphtali, 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.039 but in the future, 00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:08.159 he will honor Galilee of the nations 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:09.839 by the way of the sea 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.619 beyond the Jordan. 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:12.659 The people walking in darkness 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:14.000 have seen a great light. 00:28:14.219 --> 00:28:15.819 On those living in the land 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.619 of deep darkness, 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:18.179 a light has dawned. 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.619 Notice what Isaiah does here. 00:28:20.699 --> 00:28:21.759 He's speaking to the people. 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:22.679 He's speaking especially, 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:22.939 I think, 00:28:22.979 --> 00:28:23.559 to the remnant. 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.559 And he tells them, 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:24.699 listen, 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.859 there is a time, 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.139 I know you're waiting, 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:29.299 but there is a time coming 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.959 when the light will break 00:28:30.959 --> 00:28:31.879 through the darkness. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:34.859 But so confident is Isaiah 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.939 that this light will break 00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:36.559 through the darkness 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.619 that he speaks as if 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.699 it's already happened. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.359 The verbs are in the past tense. 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:40.699 And suddenly, 00:28:41.219 --> 00:28:42.719 Isaiah is so certain, 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:44.599 I can talk as if it's already here, 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.240 that in the humble territories 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:48.000 of God's people, 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:49.619 Zebulun and Naphtali and Galilee, 00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:51.179 a light will come from there. 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.619 The small remnant 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.899 will become a great nation 00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.579 in verse three, 00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:56.199 and there will be great rejoicing, 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:58.539 like people at a bumper harvest, 00:28:58.639 --> 00:29:00.139 like the kids in the sweet shop. 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.619 That day will be like 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:03.199 Gideon's victory over Midian 00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:04.000 in verse four, 00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:05.019 when the oppression 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:06.459 and the burden on God's people 00:29:06.459 --> 00:29:07.179 was lifted. 00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:09.079 In verse five, 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:10.399 the victory will be final 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.419 because no one will need 00:29:11.419 --> 00:29:12.939 warrior boots and clothes anymore. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.059 They will be burned. 00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.159 There will be fuel for the fire. 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:17.619 But the point here 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.599 is not so much about 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.480 the great victory. 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.299 The light is not 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.319 the great victory, is it? 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.759 The light is a person, 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.659 as it turns out. 00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:25.460 Not Isaiah's children, 00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.379 who in verse 18 00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.779 are just signs and symbols, 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.279 but the fulfillment 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.899 of those signs and symbols. 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.119 Not just a sign 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.559 that God is with us, 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:36.200 but actually God with us. 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.059 Verse six, 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:39.299 for to us a child is born, 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.839 to us a son is given, 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.619 and the government 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.759 will be on his shoulders. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.720 He will be called 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.059 Wonderful Counselor, 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.139 Mighty God, 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.480 Everlasting Father, 00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.519 Prince of Peace. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.460 Just think about those names 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:50.839 for a moment. 00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.559 This is the light. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.419 I know you're waiting, 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.619 but this is the light. 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.220 A Wonderful Counselor 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.619 is coming. 00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:57.179 It doesn't mean 00:29:57.179 --> 00:29:58.039 Counselor like the person 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.519 that you sit down 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:58.980 and talk to 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.679 and tell all your problems. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.379 That's not the kind 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:00.720 of Counselor. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.339 It's the Counselor 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.319 as in the person 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.559 who knows what they're doing. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.140 The wise one, 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:07.000 the wonderfully wise one 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.559 will come. 00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.620 He'll be Mighty God, 00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:11.440 God's power here, 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.720 Everlasting Father, 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.380 like a father 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.440 caring for his children, 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.940 Prince of Peace, 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.480 the Restorer 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.940 of the Remnants Peace. 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.200 Here's Isaiah's big point, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.759 the light you are waiting for. 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:24.500 This is the light 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.259 you are waiting for, 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.839 says Isaiah. 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:28.720 God will come, 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:31.240 and he will be your king. 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:36.799 The one that you are waiting for, 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.839 the one of whom's government 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.799 will know no end. 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:41.400 He will reign on David's throne 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:42.620 forever in verse 7, 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.940 establishing and upholding justice 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.920 and righteousness forever. 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.920 This is God. 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.380 This God, 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.460 the God whose glory 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.420 fills the earth 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.579 in Isaiah 6 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:53.120 is humble to a baby, 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:53.680 Emmanuel, 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:55.759 who's kind of mentioned 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.900 in Isaiah 7, 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:58.400 is now the warrior king 00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.360 of Isaiah 9, 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.160 come in the zeal of the Lord 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.680 to accomplish the plans of God. 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:05.220 Now Isaiah, remember, 00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:06.259 he's speaking as a prophet, 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.580 isn't he? 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.640 He's looking forward 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.980 to the coming of Christ. 00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:11.640 And Matthew 4 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:13.259 quotes Isaiah 9 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.820 at the start of Jesus' ministry, 00:31:15.280 --> 00:31:15.980 telling us that 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:17.160 Jesus' preaching 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.900 is the beginning 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.620 of the dawn 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.200 of the coming 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.980 of this light. 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.840 Jesus is the one 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.700 that Isaiah promised. 00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.519 You know that, don't you? 00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:24.519 Because we read this at Christmas, 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.240 you knew that already. 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.920 But Jesus is the one promised. 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.339 And it's transfiguration, 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.220 you see, don't you, 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.380 that Jesus' humanity 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:31.099 and his divinity 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.980 are in one person of the sun, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.039 two natures, 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.519 one not obliterating the other. 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:37.240 The God of glory 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:39.120 carried in humanity. 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.420 The mighty God 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:43.220 is the child of the virgin. 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:45.400 The everlasting Father 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:47.220 is on the throne of David. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:50.099 Emmanuel is with his people. 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:52.539 And then you go, don't you, 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:53.799 from the shining brilliance 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.700 of the transfiguration, 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:56.599 to the darkness of the cross. 00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.419 What's happened? 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.819 What has happened 00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.839 to Isaiah's light? 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.319 The darkness and gloom 00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.220 of a world of sin 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.399 is laid on the shoulders 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.519 of the light of the world. 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.680 The great light 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.899 is extinguished 00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:08.980 until three days later, 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.500 the light of the world 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.720 walks alive in flesh 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.279 from the tomb, 00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:13.899 victorious over sin and death, 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.339 leaving not so much 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.180 warrior's boots 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:16.799 and garments 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.740 as fuel for the fire, 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:19.319 but leaving grave clothes. 00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.419 I don't need those anymore. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.819 We don't need those 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.460 where we're going. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.859 And then he leaves, 00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:26.200 ascending into glory, 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.099 sending his spirit 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:28.200 and promising to return 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:29.859 so that you and I 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:32.059 are waiting for Christ's 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.879 second coming 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.460 in the same way 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:36.079 as Isaiah and his remnant 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.639 were waiting 00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:38.619 for his first coming. 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:42.200 So the Apostle John 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:45.039 does an Isaiah for us, right? 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.119 He says, listen, 00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:46.879 I know it's difficult. 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:48.579 I know you're in the tribulation. 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:50.059 I know life is hard. 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.740 I know you're waiting, 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:54.059 but picture this, 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.500 says the Apostle John. 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:57.240 Revelation 19, verse 11, 00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:58.039 he says this, 00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.919 I saw heaven standing open 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.579 and there before me 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.379 was a white horse 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:03.339 whose rider was called 00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:04.159 Faithful and True. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.759 With justice he judges 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.619 and wages war. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.339 His eyes are like blazing fire. 00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:10.179 On his head are many crowns. 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:12.259 He has a name written on him 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.720 that no one knows but himself. 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.980 He is dressed in a robe, 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:15.779 dipped in blood, 00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.559 and his name is 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.599 the Word of God. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.419 The armies of heaven 00:33:19.419 --> 00:33:20.119 were following him, 00:33:20.219 --> 00:33:21.139 riding on white horses 00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:22.299 and dressed in fine linen, 00:33:22.439 --> 00:33:23.139 white and clean. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.779 Coming out of his mouth 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.279 is a sharp sword 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.879 with which to strike down 00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:28.339 the nations. 00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:29.039 He'll rule them 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.980 with an iron scepter. 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.480 He treads the winepress 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.119 of the fury 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.299 of the wrath of God Almighty. 00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:34.419 On his robe 00:33:34.419 --> 00:33:35.059 and on his thigh 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:36.159 he has the name written 00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:37.619 King of Kings, 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:39.179 Lord of Lords. 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.639 Let me end with this. 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:46.340 I wonder whether in Isaiah's day, 00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:48.800 the problem for most people 00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:50.020 in Isaiah's day 00:33:50.020 --> 00:33:51.759 is that their hopes 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.800 were just too shallow. 00:33:53.800 --> 00:33:55.460 Most people were hoping 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.020 for just a better King Ahaz. 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:57.900 That's what they wanted. 00:33:58.660 --> 00:34:00.460 I just want a king 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:02.160 who basically doesn't sell out 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.880 to foreign nations. 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.440 I want a king 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:05.400 who has some kind of chance 00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:06.840 of ruling this nation 00:34:06.840 --> 00:34:08.180 with some kind of wisdom 00:34:08.180 --> 00:34:08.800 and intelligence, 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.740 who doesn't kind of 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:12.300 just trade our livelihoods 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.700 for his personal gain. 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.980 And Isaiah kind of says 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.560 to the remnant, 00:34:16.700 --> 00:34:17.120 doesn't he, 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.780 don't hope for that. 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.360 Let me tell you 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.120 what to hope for. 00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:22.180 Hope's made for something 00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:23.060 bigger than that. 00:34:23.580 --> 00:34:24.160 You don't want 00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:25.019 just a better King 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.539 than Ahaz. 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:27.400 You want God 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.720 to be King. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.780 That's what you want. 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.280 You want a divine King. 00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:32.720 You want God with us. 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.180 You know, 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.539 most people, 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.560 I think to date, 00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:37.460 they're not interested 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:37.900 in Jesus 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:38.940 because they think 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.580 that they would be 00:34:39.580 --> 00:34:40.580 fully satisfied 00:34:40.580 --> 00:34:41.960 if only they just 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.000 could have the home 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.659 that they really wanted 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.380 or the friends 00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.039 that they really wanted 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.079 or the marriage 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.780 that they really wanted 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.099 or if only we could have 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:49.079 well-behaved children 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:50.280 or a bank account 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.820 full of money 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.900 or a decent reputation. 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.320 And then the tragedy 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.000 is that some people 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.960 sell Christianity 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:56.240 as if it's mostly designed 00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:57.659 to deliver those things. 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.780 But actually, 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.619 if those are the things 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.480 you're hoping for, 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.059 you're better off 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.880 going somewhere else 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.000 because you're not promised 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.019 those things in Christianity. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.539 The Bible says 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:10.019 you need to hope 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.559 for something better 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:10.980 than that. 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:13.179 There is something bigger 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.880 and better to hope for. 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.440 Your hope, 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.300 if you will trust 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.039 in God's promise, 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.400 is that you 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:21.139 will personally 00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:22.880 look into 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:24.500 the glorious face 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.880 of the God-man, 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:26.460 Jesus, 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.599 the one alone 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:30.259 who can truly satisfy you, 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.820 the one whose counsel 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:33.059 is wonderful, 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:35.000 the one whose power 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.840 is mighty, 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.860 the one whose very presence 00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:39.599 chases away evil 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.360 and death 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:41.519 and brings eternal 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.720 peace and glory, 00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:44.440 the one whose glory 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.559 and joy will last 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:47.420 not just for a lifetime, 00:35:48.240 --> 00:35:49.079 however long or short 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:50.200 that might be for us, 00:35:50.660 --> 00:35:51.680 but for eternity. 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.900 This is why it's okay, 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.200 isn't it, 00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:55.920 to be in the minority 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.559 this morning. 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.500 It's okay to be 00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.160 in the minority. 00:35:59.640 --> 00:36:00.019 In fact, 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:01.039 it's the best place 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:01.539 to be 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:03.620 because popularity 00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.480 now 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.940 is no substitute 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:07.039 for glory later. 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:10.099 Small hopes now 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:11.800 are no substitute 00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:13.119 for God with us. 00:36:13.720 --> 00:36:13.900 You know, 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.960 my plans now, 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:17.380 my popularity now 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.460 are no substitute 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:21.059 for eternal hope 00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:22.159 and glory in Jesus. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:23.820 And so we live, 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.159 don't we? 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.260 We wait, 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:27.440 listening to his word, 00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:29.320 waiting in the darkness 00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:30.639 for the light to return. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.260 Let me pray 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:33.320 as I close. 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.380 Amen. 00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:50.179 Heavenly Father, 00:36:50.260 --> 00:36:50.880 we want to pray 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.420 that you would 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:53.119 forgive us 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:56.139 for the times 00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:57.039 where we have made 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:58.059 decisions about 00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:59.559 the very most 00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.559 important things 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.159 in life 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:02.679 just based on 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.700 what those around us 00:37:03.700 --> 00:37:04.099 are doing. 00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:07.159 we want to be 00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:08.539 better at listening 00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.380 to what you say 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.079 in your word, 00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:12.460 trusting in you 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.839 and doubting 00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:15.000 what our eyes see 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:16.059 and what others say. 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.000 And so, Lord, 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.519 we thank you 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.380 for this wonderful 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:20.480 hope in Jesus, 00:37:21.319 --> 00:37:22.599 the one who conquered 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:24.019 sin and death. 00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.519 And we want to pray 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.440 that you would help us 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.380 to live our lives 00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:29.319 listening to him 00:37:29.319 --> 00:37:30.360 in your word 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.860 and waiting 00:37:31.860 --> 00:37:32.720 for his return. 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:34.440 Please, Lord, 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.220 keep us faithful. 00:37:36.120 --> 00:37:36.760 Keep us going. 00:37:37.680 --> 00:37:38.380 I pray especially 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.320 for those this morning 00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:40.400 who do find themselves 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:42.559 in a really significant 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.140 minority 00:37:43.140 --> 00:37:44.440 in their places of work 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.559 or school or home. 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.559 Please give them grace 00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:48.599 and courage 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.380 and strength 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.720 to keep going 00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:52.240 and keep trusting 00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:53.539 as we wait 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:54.440 for Christ's return. 00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:56.160 In his name we pray. 00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.460 Amen. 00:38:01.860 --> 00:38:02.860 Amen. 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:02.920 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:02.920 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:02.920 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:02.920