Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Re-reading v21-23
• Rich imagery, difficult to know what to preach on
• Initially thinking of preaching on v24-28
• Wanted to speak on v22
• Desire is to bring the big texts from Isaiah
• We have been looking at a variety of texts:
  • Explanation
• The theme of the latter half of chapter 44: redemption (v23,24)
• Isaiah is a prophet writing before the exile into Babylon
• He writes how God will redeem them in Babylon
• 44:28-45:1 - the man who will bring them back: Cyrus
• Israel may feel that God has forgotten them
• Isaiah speaks both of judgment to come and redemption
• The theme of redemption is a picture of the greater redemption in Jesus Christ
• v22 should be applied to us today
• Overview:
• No greater privilege (v21)
• No greater work (v22)
• No greater joy (v23)

No Greater Privilege (v21)

• "O Israel you have not been forgotten by me"
• They could not sacrifice in Babylon
• They thought and felt that God had forgotten them
• Isaiah reminds Israel that they are still God's servant
• They are formed - chosen and fashioned
• A contrast to the idolaters previously referenced
• This is not a new thought - 43:1
• God has formed and fashioned us
• God has not left us in this dark world
• He tells us to stand up and be counted
• 44:1-2
• Israel were the smallest people group
• He carried them into the promised land
• They are still his children
• There is no greater privilege than to be a servant of God
• He reminds them twice in v21
• God has chosen us and called us by grace
• God has called us to be children of God
• If you are not a child of God - remember that God extends His hand to all people

No Greater Work (v22)

• No greater work that the work of redemption
• There is no greater problem that sin
• Isa 59:2
• There is no greater work than to remove sin
• Explanation of sin
• It prevents our prayers getting through to God
• It means God's face is hidden from us
• It means we cannot get to God
• There is no greater work that to remove sin and His judgment & wrath
• This is the gospel
• The work has already been done
• You are a redeemed people (v22)
• The Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world
• Isaiah had seen the sins were to be laid on Jesus Christ (and could not be dealt with through the temple)
• Have you ever thought of the weight of sin laid upon Jesus Christ?
• Example of lady in the flood - such love, but an awful thing to see
• Not just the weight of sin but the justice of God poured upon Him
• God smote His Son that the full face of His love might be upon us
• That we might be able to have a relationship with God
• Example of a ledger
• There is no greater work than this
• On the basis of such redeeming love - return to Me
• The backslider can return to God
• If you have never known Christ, look at the cross and believe

No Greater Joy (v23)

• Metaphoric language - all creation sings
• Nature praises God
• Isaiah says let the earth rejoice
• Why? Because the curse has been removed
• Repeated theme:
• Isa 49:13
• If creation rejoices, how much more should we rejoice!
• Isa 61:10
• Why? Because He has done it!
• Why? Because God is forever with us and will never forget us