Really Thankful
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 43:23
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The righteous man perishes,
and no one lays it to heart;
devout men are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
he enters into peace;
they rest in their beds
who walk in their uprightness.
1 Sam 8 tells of when the elders of Israel ask for a king
“Like all other nations.”
Samual complained to God.
God’s response, They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as their king.”
When we seek to be like the world, we will often achieve our goal at a terrible cost.
Saul , David, Solomon
Kingdom divided.
Now Isaiah has a word from God about how far they have strayed.
Culture had become so far removed from God
Righteous people had to die for relief
No one even realized the dwindling number righteous people.
But you, draw near,
sons of the sorceress,
offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
“Let’s have a chat, shall we?”
No need to wonder where this is going...
sons of the sorceress
offspring of the adulteress and loose women
Whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of deceit,
God get’s right to the point!
Hide-N-Seek
Two things I believe will still be here when Jesus comes is cockroaches and hide-n-seek.
Person on base thinks “I’m safe:
Gets cocky & starts acting a fool.
Same as many who have God.
I’m safe so I can act a fool.
God asks, “Whom are you mocking…?”
God asks a question (that is really an indictment) meant to be a reality check. (3 parts)
Indictment #1:
“…Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,”
Whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of deceit,
Well God chose to make Israel His children but they were acting as if He wasn’t.
John 8: Jewish leader proclaim God to be their father.
Jesus corrected them
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
They comforted themselves by believing God was their father.
But their actions told a different story.
What about us?!!!!
Who are adopted children?
I heard something recently (with Melissa at SBCV homecoming)
God is not our father until we accept His Son as our saviour.
you who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
Indictment #2
Worship Centers set up on hillsides in thick forests
linking it to the fertility that was being desired
Temple Prostitutes
Their departure from God brought on idolatry
Which led to immorality.
Solomon rightly observed, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
Our immorality may not be attached to worship of other idols
Sexual relations became a transaction.
I will do this thing and some god will give me something in return.
Sex today had become like a transaction.
Any combination is fine as long as you are satisfied with the deal.
you who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
Indictment #3
Another “bargaining chip” … their children.
Ritual of child sacrifice is gruesome and cruel.
Not difficult to imagine the parallel for today.
At least not when you consider the procedure of abortion.
“Thats too far!” abortion is nothing like child sacrifice.
“Idol of Self”
Consider this study
USA Today: Reasons for abortions. (May 24 2019)
74% - having a baby would dramatically change my life
73% - Cant afford it
Pew Research:
only 40% say abortion is important
How we treat our children matters to God.
I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
but they will not profit you.
Now reality sets in.
God will declare the righteous deeds
(insert sarcasm emoji)
Why would their wicked deeds not profit them in a wicked culture?
Because God doesn’t approve!!!
That’s really what matters!!!
From the time they ask for king, to “like everyone else” [1 Sam 8]
They have sought the approval of man
Ignored the only approval that matters…God.
Isn’t how it goes for us.
We try to find acceptance by turning away from what we know God hates.
But who ultimately is our judge? … God.
Your life (deeds) are like a banner hung above you.
Once day God will proclaim your righteousness (at judgement)
What does your banner say about you?
After showing us who we are. We are reminded of who GOd is...
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
High and lifted up
Inhabits eternity
whose name is Holy.
Even though we see these characteristics of God … We are most thankful because of the actions of God.
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Even though God is:
High and lifted up
He still CHOOSES to
be “with him who is of a contrite heart, and lowly spirit.
About 700 years after this ...
God would literally come down to us as a baby.
He would eventually be lifted up again
this time on a cross.