Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Evangelical
• Romans is to the New Testament as Isaiah is to the Old Testament
• Chapter 51
• The word righteousness comes up a lot
• It is linked to the doctrine of salvation
• God has provided a righteousness for us in Jesus Christ
• v1, v5
• God's righteousness is not far from us
• v6, v7
• To understand the main theme of the passage - look for repeated words
• The word righteousness is full of rich meaning
• Explanation
• All you will find in the person of Jesus Christ
• It is our need and the need of a nation
• Isaiah is prophesying 200 years into the future (chapters 40-66)
• God will restore the remnant
• The nation will see it
• Now is the time to restore the city - v17, 52:1
• During the 70 years of captivity there was none to guide Israel
• v18
• God will bring them back - cf Psalm 126
• The people felt they were under the judgment of the Lord - v20
• How do we feel this morning?
• Do we feel in Psalm 23, do we feel as though we have lost our way, do we feel under discipline or captivity?
• If so:
• Look at v1-8
• Look back (v1-2)
• Look forward (v3-6)
• Face the present (v7-8)

Look back (v1-2)

• Reading v1-2
• The people were is disarray in Babylon
• Look back to the beginning of the nation
• Look back to Abraham and Sarah
• Look back to the rock from which you were hewn
• Look back to his faith in God
• Look back to were he came from (the family of Terah)
• Look back to the miracle child Issac
• Look back to how God was faithful to His promises and grew the nation
• Look back to how God brought them out of Egypt
• Look back to Joshua and David
• As Christians today we can have all sorts of worries
• Look back to the Cross
• Look back to Jesus Christ
• Look back to the history of the Church
• Remember God is the same God today
• Remember your origins

Look forward (v3-6)

• Reading v3
• There will be thanksgiving and the joy  of melody
• It will be like Eden and Paradise
• Partially fulfilled [in history] but ultimately this passage speaks of heaven
• A direct application for the Israelites
• Isa 35:1-2
• Reading v1-2
• Is there fruit in your life or a barren wilderness?
• Do you know the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
• God is able to change your heart
• God is able to take away the anger, bitterness, sighing and sorrow
• God can save many souls
• Psalm 126
• Reading v1-6
• The Lord can do mighty things
• We need to look forward to better days
• Look at the promises to the nations
• v4-5
• 53:1 - "the arm of the Lord" - the Lord Jesus Christ
• v11
• 52:9-10
• v5
• The Righteous Servant
• The four servant songs
• What are we living for in the comfortable life we have?
• Examples
• O that we would know and live for the Lord Jesus Christ
• v6 - don't live for the temporal but live for God

Face the present (v7-8)

• Reading v7-8
• Temporal things will decay but eternal things remains
• How do we face the present?
• Listen to God - v7, v1, v4
• The first thing
• By having a meek and humble heart
• Listen to His word
• Be realistic about the present
• Pray for the government
• Pray to live a quiet life
• Proclaim Christ to others
• Jesus said there will be trials, division and conflict because of the gospel
• Think how UK society has changed - examples
• Do not fear the people - God is greater
• Example of 10K race
• Example of the apostle Paul

Closing Remarks