The Day of Yahweh

Brian Manning

Willetton Bible Baptist Church

Isaiah • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago • 48:40

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By looking at the state of Judah and Jerusalem during the time of Isaiah we see what happens when a society rejects God.

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Introduction

Have you ever seen those “How it started; How it’s going” meme’s

In the beginning things looked great but now not so much

I feel a bit like that with this passage

This passage today is the ‘how it’s going’ phase & it’s not good

Last week we looked at the ideal - the Kingdom of God that is to come

Next we’ll see the glory of God that will make the ideal a reality

This week we see the actual state of Jerusalem & it’s bad

READ ISAIAH 2:6-22.

We’re going to look all the way through Isaiah 3 today

God is addressing the actual state of Judah & Jerusalem

They are an illustration to us all of our natural state

Reading these verses is like looking at our own society

Today isn’t the cheery, pick me up sermon but it’s very important

If we listen and heed today’s message it will lead to a more joyous place

Today’s message from Isaiah helps us understand why young people don’t trust authority

Gives us understanding about why we can have children believe they’re dogs & adults encourage it

Why are we so fixated on careers and wealth creation

Today we see...What happens when we reject God?

When a society or individual rejects God?

We Raise Ourselves Up

Isaiah 2:6–11

We Forsake God

In our Strength

Isa. 2:6-8 describes a prosperous Judah & they were

Uzziah was mostly a good king (2 Chron. 26:3-5)

Despite difficult circumstances surrounding they grew strong & prospered (2 Chron. 26:6-15)

God helped overcome Philistines & others

He secured Judah’s place in the region & Ammonites even paid tribute

He became famous & exceedingly strong (2 Chron. 26:8)

He built a navy & grew powerful army of 300 000

Had catapults & ballistas (for arrows) on walls

These aren’t the things that caused them to forsake God

In fact, this strength & prosperity was by the blessing of God

2 Chronicles 26:5“5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.”

Problem came because too often in places of strength we become weak

David said, Psalm 20:7 “7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Unfortunately, Uzziah forgot about God and began to trust in the horses & chariots

He began to believe the fame around him

2 Chronicles 26:16 NKJV

16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

He immediately caught leprosy and was a leper until the day he died (2 Chron. 26:21)

In our Pride (Isa. 2:6-8)

Sadly, the pride that was in Uzziah’s heart had filled the land of Judah

That pride caused them, not just to trust other things, but to pursue those things instead of God

It caused them to think they were wiser than God

See if this doesn’t sound familiar

Things we take pride in when we reject God:

Took pride in their tolerance

Isa. 2:6 - are pleased with = shook hands, made bargains & deals with them

Were accepting of the ways of others

To be loving & accepting of people doesn’t mean we must accept all they do

Culture isn’t nuetral - every cultural has things that must be refused (even our own)

Their tolerance led them to embrace ways & lifestyles that are opposed to God

Opposed to God is the key - not about being different to me but not following God

God calls us to love our neighbour, in Christ we are one, family

That doesn’t mean we accept ungodliness in the guise of loving

Took pride in their wealth & prosperity

Almost everything is judged from a financial perspective

Wealth isn’t evil but wealth can very easily lead us to evil

Took pride in their military

Being able to defend yourself & fight when necessary is godly

When we trust our our SAS and Navy over the protection of seeking God we are in trouble

Tolerance of Isa. 2:6 quickly leads to the religious pluralism of Isa. 2:8

We’re not a theocracy like Israel was intended to be so I believe you have freedom to believe as you choose

Your freedom to believe what you want doesn’t make it right

Australia was never Christian in the same way USA was Christian

However, we have a very strong Christian history and foundation

Australia is like every other nation, including Israel, that has left God

Even much of what is called ‘Christianity’ today is simply pluralism

In our Worship (Isa. 2:8-9)

Uzziah was mostly a good king & nation prospered

However, he allowed the worship of pagan gods to continue

Here’s the crazy part

People who believe they are too strong for God & reject Him make their own gods

Even in our pride we are unable to face life alone

Things that gave us the confidence to reject God are unable to equip us to live life without God

Instead of admitting we need God we craft our own gods, gods made in our image & according to our will

In the west we don’t carve idols or build temples like the east, etc.

Our idols are more ‘sophisticated’ - so we think

Our idols are science & self among many others

We think we’re more clever, intellegent & informed than the past or 3rd world countries

By far & away most UFO sightings are in 1st world countries - why?

We no longer believe in supernatural but we will believe in interstellar technology

Our land, Australia, is full of idols of our own making

We are Forsaken by God (Isa. 2:6, 9)

Left in our Pride

We talk a lot about Romans 1 in regards to our society today

Isaiah 2-3 is the Romans 1 of the OT

Having rejected Him God lets us go to read headlong into His judgment

Left in without Forgiveness

To reject God & to be rejected by God leaves us in a wholly terrible place

Rather than find forgiveness they will find terror and judgment

Ironically, those that boasted in their mighty armies & power will flee to the caves to hide

The earth will not protect them

Nothing stands in comparison to the unveiling of God’s glorious majesty

God will treat us and our gods like Hulk does Loki in Avengers

After smashing Loki, Hulk remarks, ‘Puny god’

We are Rocked by God

Isaiah 2:12–22

He Wrecks our Might (Isa. 2:12-18)

Falls on Everyone

Picture drawn here is like a great earthquake & storm

Perhaps because an actual earthquake is still in their memory

God isn’t intimidated by our sophistication & rebellion

Our elite soldiers don’t frighten Him

Our bunkers & tunnels aren’t hid from Him

Our good deeds don’t hinder Him

God’s judgment will come to everyone who rejects Him

Israel tended to look at God’s judgment as being for others

God says His judgment is for all who rebel

God doesn’t care if you’re a member of this church (or any church)

Doesn’t care if you’re a good person

This is a warning: stop trusting in man, in yourself (Isa. 2:22)

No matter who you are you must trust in God alone for salvation

Brings us Low

In our pride we will be crushed

God will not praise us for our ingenuity, our power or success

At the end of the day God & God alone will stand above all

He Ruins our Religion (Isa. 2:19-22)

He Terrifies Us

Right now you can pretend to be strong

You can mock God living in your own prideful ways

When He comes you won’t be so strong

You will look for any place you can to hide from Him

There won’t be any place to hide - He will shake open every hiding place

He Trashes our Idols

All those things you trusted in you will quickly realise are empty & useless

Your science isn’t going to save you from God

‘Your truth’ won’t stop God from acting in truth

We Ruin what is Beautiful

(Isaiah 3:1-26)

We Become Weak Men

(Isaiah 3:1-15)

Corrupt Leaders

Famine is on it’s way

Anticipates an actual famine through seige - first by Assyria & finally Babylon

Isa. 3:1 - stock and store = totality

Given what is to follow I think it represents more than just food but famine of character and godliness that leads to complete destruction

Isa. 3:2-3 speaks of corruption of leaders at every level & every form

Final step of calamity is corrupt, inept incompetent leaders

Leaders that act like children, who are not stable, wise or godly

Leaders that are immature, short-sighted and weak

Collapse of Society

Isaiah 3:12“...O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.””

Because people of Jerusalem have abandoned God they follow thier leaders into destruction

Today we are watching the same happen

We hope it means Christ is returning soon

Either way we are watching a society crumble

Isa. 2:5 - Leaders oppress in every way

Government, corporate, social

People will look for anyone to lead

No-one wants to lead because there is no hope

Moral order collapses as respect and honour are disdained

This is not a time for the true people of God to dispair and give up

Isa. 3:10 - Not promised ease but we are promised goodness of God

Isa. 3:13 - God has not abandoned His purpose

The collapse of their society is His judgment

We Become Wicked Women

(Isaiah 3:16-26)

Pride Ruins Lives

Pride & arrogance isn’t just in the men with their armies

Women too draw attention to themselves because of their pride & arrogance

God turns their attractiveness into what repulses

Rather than joy God brings shame to them

What once held beauty now disgusts

Result is women find themselves objects of abuse, captivity & loss

I’m not saying it’s women’s fault men do bad things

I am saying the suffering is both their fault & not their fault

2 things are true at the same time: Women must act modestly and men must control themselves

Sign of society collapsing is the ruin of the beauty of true womanhood

Beauty is Ruined

And so, in every part of society, from top to bottom, men, women, children

Everything that God created with beauty is ruined

Conclusion

The day of Yahweh is about judgment - God’s judgment on our rebellion

For Jerusalem & Judah judgment came with Babylon but a greater is still to come

This is the first part - judgment

Isa. 4:2-6 is about salvation

This is the warning that judgment is coming

This is the call to come & walk in the light of Yahweh

Call to stop trusting in men, in yourself & turn to God

What happens when a society rejects God? Look around you

We put our trust in things that can’t save us

We make gods to worship that only feed our selfishness

Our leaders betray us & our men abandon us & are killed

Our women chase anyone that will give them attention

Everything that once carried beauty is ruined

What happens when a person rejects God? (Isa. 3:11)

A life created to bear the image of God is ruined by sin

Things we trust in vanish and we are left empty, alone and condemned

Our pride leaves us exposed and ashamed

I don’t want that for you, I want you to know joy & beauty

I want it to be well with you (Isa. 3:10)

Here the call to repent, understand your position with God

Turn from your rebellion, trust Jesus as your Saviour

Believer, now is not the time to back down but to stand up

Now is the time to plead on God’s behalf

Maybe, God is calling you to be a preacher in dark times

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