Isaiah 46-49
Salvation is beautiful, God chose to suffer with His creation in order to redeem it, why would
people not take it?
1) idolatry leads to self-righteousness and stubbornness--Is. 46 all about idolatry
Isaiah 46:12, 13
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13I bring near my
righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in
Zion for Israel my glory.
God is always able to save, man’s stubbornness keeps him from God’s provision. If you’re
already righteous, why do you need God’s righteousness?
2) Too much worldly wisdom
Isaiah 47:10
For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy
knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside
me.
3) Astrology and sorcery
Isaiah 47:12,13
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast
laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
13Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the
monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
MAIN REASON--People don’t listen to God, all these other things keep people from hearing
God, hearing Him is the foundation of salvation
Isaiah 48:8-11
Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not
opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor
from the womb. 9For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for
thee, that I cut thee not off. 10Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen
thee in the furnace of affliction. 11For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for
how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
The only reason we’re not all dead is because of God’s patience, because He is looking out for
His own glory, He’s keeping His promise, He has to do it or else His glory will be dampened.
Ephesians 1:11-13--Salvation is according to God’s choosing and it is absed on your ability to
hear! All of this is to the praise of His glory.
--Hearing is crucial in salvation
Isaiah 48:12--Hearken (listen) unto me, O Jacob and Israel
Isaiah 48:13--Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath
spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
All of creation, except for man, listens when God talks! Our rebellion is stunning to the chair
you are sitting on!
Isaiah 48:14--All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear;
Isaiah 48:16--Come ye near unto me, hear ye this;
Isaiah 48:18--O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!
Isaiah 49:1--Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people,
God really wants us to listen to Him, seriously, that’s what He wants.
Isaiah 49:8-10
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I
helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the
earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 9That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go
forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their
pastures shall be in all high places. 10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor
sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water
shall he guide them.
God listens to us! He is always willing to save. His salvation is wrapped up in His Servant, the
Messiah
Isaish 49:5,6
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob
again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God shall be my strength. 6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my
servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give
thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
The servant is both the Messiah and those who follow Him. We become light because He is
light. God’s plan incorporates Israel’s failure and it results in the saving of the nations.
Don’t mess around with anything that gets in the way of you hearing God.
2 Corinthians 6:1-3--6:2 quotes Isaiah 49:8a. Salvation results in us being light--6:14