Isaiah 56:1-8

 

 

 

The Skit Guys - A Time to rest  (1:45min)

 http://skitguys.com/videos/item/a-time-to-rest

 

 

 

Work and Rest have always been part of God’s plan.

 

 

 

As we watched this video

 

 

 

I’m struck with the question of where in my life do I find rest

 

how can we honour God

 

with a strong work ethic and by resting well.

 

 

 

I like the line we are not created by God to be

 

            Human DOings but Human BEings

 

 

 

It all flows on from what we were looking at last week

 

 

 

God reaches out to bring surprising salvation

 

Isaiah is a book all about God’s Scandalous generosity

 

 

 

The captivity of Judah, the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian Empire can make us feel as if there is no hope for the future of God’s people

 

 

 

If that’s all we cling to

 

 

 

things we thought were secure come adrift

 

            We are left wondering what will there be

 

                        When all we had now is gone

 

 

 

So we step into the world of the recreating God

 

 

 

God who can achieve salvation that is nothing less than a new creation

 

 

 

In the story of God’s people

 

So many of Israel Kings we read in 1 & 2 Kings tell us a story of unfaithfulness, broken sinful rebellious leaders

 

 

 

Unfaithful, wandering people from God who we are just like ourselves

 

 

 

We feel the full force, the effect of the fall that presented with the truth of God’s grace and promise

 

            We think we can do a better job of it

 

at coming at life on our own terms and not God’s

 

 

 

look at Isaiah – Isaiah says look to God

 

For God’s people in the captivity of Babylon

 

He’s about to do something that will take people’s breath away

 

 

 

As Isaiah 55 closed we come to the point where the assurance is

 

            God will achieve salvation

 

                        Through nothing less than a new creation

 

 

 

In Isaiah 56 we meet the surprising saviour who is to mark our lives

 

            With humility and holiness

 

 

 

For God’s people taken into captivity they were to get glimpses of the new creation to come

 

 

 

the captive people of God slaves in Babylon

 

 

 

A small expression of God’s promises and plans of his surprising grace is seen in the return of the small remnant

 

 

 

Look back at Isaiah 55:12-13

 

 

 

12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field  will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’S renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

 

 

 

coming home from Babylon will be for God’s people a small expression of what it means when the weeds of human sin look like they keep on winning

 

We learn from Isaiah we have much to learn about life