Isaiah’s Concern for Today’s Churches
What a tragedy it is to see chapels and churches across the British countryside closed down or being converted into domestic houses or storerooms for business. They illustrate the spiritual barrenness in Britain. In a recent survey, 51% of those questioned said they were Christians, but only 6% read the Bible, prayed and attended church at least once a week. Of those who called themselves members of the Church of England 60% admitted that they never read the Bible, 36% never go to church and a third never pray. There is an inevitable effect on society when so many have lost any respect for God.
Chuck Colson was President Nixon’s ‘hatchet man’. Just before he went to prison over his involvement in the ‘Watergate Affair’ he became a Christian and over the following years he became a Christian leader. On one visit to England he was invited to Buckingham Palace where Prince Philip asked him,
“What can be done about crime here in England?”
“Send more children to Sunday School,” Chuck replied.
The prince thought he was joking at first, but Chuck went on to tell him about a study by sociologist Christy Davies, which found that in the first half of the 18th century British society was marked by high levels of crime and violence which dropped dramatically in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They discussed what had brought about such a change in the entire nation’s national character. It was during that same period that attendance at Sunday Schools rose steadily until, by 1888, 75% of children in England were enrolled. Since then attendance has dropped of, with a corresponding increase in crime and disorder. Chuck Colson finished by suggesting,
“If we fill the Sunday Schools we can change the hearts and restore society.”
The great need is for all people to be taught the gospel.
Isaiah noted a similar desperate situation in Israel in the 8th and 7th centuries BC but he also recognised that there was hope in God’s message,
“The desert and the parched land will be glad, the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.” Isaiah 35:1-2
Hope for a spiritually dry country
Isaiah’s message was that a Saviour would come and deliver his dispirited people and inspire them to become robust again.
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear, your God will come, he will come with vengeance; and with divine retribution he will come to save you.’” Isaiah 35:3-4
Isaiah foresaw a spiritual revival when many would find a reality and vivacity in their relationship with God.
“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 35:5-6
This revival will not be just a superficial enthusiasm, underlying will be a deep personal concern for holiness.
“And a highway will be there: it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk on that Way.” Isaiah 35:8
It is no coincidence that the first name for the Christians was ‘Followers of the Way’. Just before Saul became a Christian, and changed his name to Paul, he was sent to Damascus,
“. . . so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” Acts 9:2
The Bible teaches that only those who have a personal experience of being forgiven their sins, through having a commitment to Christ, that will be on this narrow highway.
“But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:9-10
What a wonderful vision of a vibrant, God-centred church this is.
The Role of the Church
In chapters 61 and 62 of his book, Isaiah describes the priorities of the members of God’s community. It begins,
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Isaiah 61:1
The word ‘poor’ is undoubtedly used in its widest sense to include the social, spiritual and psychologically poor. This proclamation of a message of deliverance will be combined with practical support. Note how proclamation and caring are both key features of this vision.
“He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion.” Isaiah 61:1-2
These blessings are for those who are ‘in Zion’, who are true believers in Christ. They are members of God’s royal family. As a result of this relationship God’s people will become strong and upright - like oak trees.
“ - to bestow on them a crown instead of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his righteousness.” Isaiah 61:3
This is a beautiful description of God’s holy people, a robust people, who are unshaken by what goes on around them, they are like oak trees. Their ambition is to reveal their righteous Lord to those around them. They are not in heaven yet but are acting as God’s privileged ambassadors in a fallen world.
Although God’s people will be a spiritual people they will also take on leading roles in society, they will rebuild society so that it behaves in ways that God approves of,
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated.” Isaiah 61:4
“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.” Isaiah 61:8
God’s people must not be isolated from their society. How will they have the time to be proclaimers and rebuilders of society? Isaiah gives the answer. Other people will help with the everyday matters to free up God’s people for the priority of acting as his representatives.
“Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work you fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.” Isaiah 61:6
This vision reflects what the Lord said to Moses on Mount Sinai seven hundred years earlier,
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:6
Like priests in Old Testament times, God has always intended that all his people should be wholly consecrated to his service. It does mean hard work. Different people view work in various ways. Jerome J. Jerome wrote in ‘Three Men in a Boat’,
“I like work, it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
The Lord wants all his people to be devoted to working hard for his cause. Many churches have a term card giving the sermon titles, the church activities and the staff of the church. Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon had such a church card and on the back were listed the ministers of the church. At the top was written ‘Ministers - the whole congregation,’ lower down came ‘Incumbent - Rev Jonathan Fletcher.” In the New Testament this emphasis is repeated - all God’s people are priests, the intermediaries between God and others outside His kingdom. Peter wrote about this status and role of all Christians,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
The Role of Jesus
It is highly significant that Jesus chose these opening verses from Isaiah 61 to be read in the synagogue at Nazareth when he began his earthly ministry. He was saying that these verses were about him and his coming ministry,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has appointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18-19
He continued,
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21
So the message all Christians have to pass on is that Jesus Christ is the Lord’s appointed king and that everyone must bow down before him. All of us Christians are to be priests and ministers of the king. In order to do this we have been credited with the status of being forgiven, or saved, and have been given the title of the ‘righteous ones,’ a status that we are now committed to living out in practice. All Christians have been chosen to show God’s salvation and his offer of righteousness to those around us. We can echo our Lord and Saviour and say with him and Isaiah,
“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvationand arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10
These clothes, that characterise God’s people are a gift of God, but he expects us all to try to live up to the family’s standards. Forgiveness and the need for godliness go together. Paul wrote a short letter to Titus who was commissioned to establish churches on Crete. He wrote of,
“ . . . the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.” Titus 1:1
The Christian life has been compared to a seedling growing out of a seed. The two leaflets represent a life that is both holy and committed to sharing the gospel with others, so that they too may be saved.
“For as the soil makes the young plant to come us and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before the nations.” Isaiah 61:11
These two priorities are again highlighted in the next chapter. The first emphasis is this need for God’s people to speak out. This helps other Christians understand the immensity of the salvation Christ has won for them and so encourages them to behave in a way that pleases their Lord. Our emphasis on the Lord Jesus reminds others of the need to live so as to please our Saviour.
“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” Isaiah 62:1
People outside the church will also realise how much the Lord means to us when they see the righteous lives lived by Christians and hear them talk about their Lord. As a result some of them will be drawn to the Lord.
“The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.” Isaiah 62:2
This is a glorious picture of God’s church faithfully representing their Lord.
“You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Isaiah 62:3
The relationship between the Lord and his people will be as close as a good marriage.
“As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
There is a wonderful proverb that describes the effect that teaching God’s word has on a society,
“Where there is ignorance of God, the people run wild; but what a wonderful thing it is for a nation to know and keep his laws.” Proverbs 29:18 (Living Bible)
Our Priorities - Holiness and Evangelism
Isaiah forces God’s people into having an urgent agenda. The church is being reminded about its priorities. Nothing matters as much as the establishment of God’s kingdom - our creator and Saviour must be recognised and followed.
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. you who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of all the earth.” Isaiah 62:6-7
This is the sort of people God wants, people who persistently pray and who behave as sharers of the gospel. It is only then that we will experience his blessing.
We must never forget that God’s people, who will be living all over the world, have both a Saviour and a message. God longs for all his people to be set apart for His service by being obedient to Christ and this will make God’s church very attractive to outsiders. We are attracted to the idea of influencing the world but what God primarily wants is a holy people. Leo Tolstoy wrote’
“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no-one thinks of changing themselves.”
The 6th century pope, Gregory the Great, was a fine Christian who wrote a book about pastoral care that became a classic for the next thousand years. He wrote,
“No-one does more harm in the church than he who having the title or rank of holiness acts evilly.”
The nineteenth century American preacher made a similar comment referring to the church as a ship,
“The ship is in the sea but woe betide the ship if the sea gets into the ship.”
As the Lord never stops proclaiming his message of salvation, so His chosen people should not stop speaking about the Saviour either,
“The LORD has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth; ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes! See his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’ They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.” Isaiah 62:12
Christians are called ‘The daughter of Zion,’ we are God’s chosen people. With this comes responsibilities to be a different people, a holy people, who long to share with others the message of God. The great twentieth century preacher, Martin Lloyd jones stressed this,
"The preacher must be a Godly man. It is only after emphasising such qualities that we come to the question of ability. It seems to be one of the tragedies of the modern church that we tend to put ability first.”
To live as holy sharers of the gospel will be very rewarding in this world but especially in the next when we will have the joy of seeing some of those we have talked with standing there as well as hearing our Lord say to us,
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
BVP
