When God Glorifies His People
Isaiah 60
Introduction: Romans 8:19, 23 “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. In this hope we are saved.”
What do you think about the words, “eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God?”
What about the words, “grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons?”
Do you relate? Is that the way you think about your salvation? I would say that in order to have that desire there must be a dissatisfaction with the present life. We should be content with what God has give us, but certainly not a strong desire with what we presently have.
Consider Paul’s message in this context:
- First, this is Paul’s answer to suffering/trials. But is that how we handle our trials and suffering? For most of us, that is not our likely response when we are struggling. Am I right? Would you admit there is a major flaw in our lives when we do not see the insignificance of the present suffering in comparison to the glory that will be revealed?
- Second, to reinforce the danger of our flaw, Paul’s concluding words are, “in this hope we are saved.” In other words, if we are not eagerly longing for the freedom of the glory of the children of God, our adoption as sons and daughters, and the redemption of our bodies, we can lose a primary motivation for salvation! Why? Because trials will crush us. These trials may not crush us enough that we quit, but they will crush us enough that we become so swallowed up in disappointment that we are not really not desiring God and the glory he wants for us. That state of mind is simply not pleasing to God.
The more I learn about how God teaches us about “glory,” both for him and us, the more concerned I am about how we view ourselves as disciples. While we have many spiritual responsibilities of the here and now, I am afraid that we fall far short of the belief “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (vs. 18).
So what could God promise you so that you would up your game and give God the kind of effort “worthy of your calling” (Ephesians 4:1)?
- God’s Unique Promise to Glorify His People
- Isaiah 55:3-5
- We talk regularly about our purpose to bring glory to God. But in this text, God talks about glorifying us. We read it quickly without much thought, but this is not the only place God makes this promise.
- One other point from the text, did you notice one of the reasons God has glorified us? He has glorified us so that like David, we can be a witness to the peoples, and that those who are lost will run to us because God has glorified us.
- Before we go further, what does it mean to be glorified? The Hebrew and Greek words suggest a number of meanings: “to praise, to magnify, honor, or be honored, to beautify, or give weight and importance to someone.”
- “…when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 ESV)
- Isaiah 55:3-5
- Introduction: Isaiah 59:15-17, 20
- Our text is introduced in the previous section by our helpless condition. We were deep in sin and there was no one to intercede. That must always be our beginning point! If we do not feel the weight of our condition and our helplessness, God’s rescue is practically meaningless.
- Our sin problem was more importantly God’s sin problem. We look at sin from our point of view, but when we think of it in light of God’s purposes, it is even more significant. Before time began, God made promises of what he would do for his creation. When Satan entered the picture and we sinned, everything was fractured. Nothing that God promised could come to pass without the defeat of Satan and bringing us back to innocence and righteousness.
- Therefore, God sent a Redeemer (59:20). As we will see, God’s purpose was much greater than forgiveness, but redemption from sin had to happen before God could fulfill any of his promises. But what were the promises?
- God’s Poem of Coming Glory, Isaiah 60
- Throughout this text, you will repeatedly see the words, “glory, glorified, beauty, beautiful, and beautify.” In connection to these words, we see God lighting us up and causing us to shine. Surprisingly, although these words are often used of God, in this text they are especially used to refer to what God is doing for us.
- 1-3 In spite of the “thick darkness”of sin that covers the earth, God causes us to shine as his glory is seen in us. The result is the nations seeing that light/glory, which causes them to come to the light. The importance of this for us is that the primary key to bringing others to Christ is us shining with the glory of the Lord.
- 4-9 God calls upon his people to lift up their eyes and enjoy the excitement of seeing people from all nations coming to God’s restored city of Zion.
- The nations listed are from all over the world from far east beyond the Persian Gulf, to the far north and south in Africa and Arabia, and then West all the way to Spain. [Please remember, Isaiah has already told us that this is a remnant of all the nations, not every person (11:11, 16)].
- Notice especially verses 7 & 9: the “wealth of the nations” is brought and God accepts their offerings on his altar, and then the Lord “beautifies my beautiful house.” And again in verse 9, the people come for the name of the Lord…the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful. They come because they have been taught about the wonder of who God is and what he has done in making his people beautiful.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
- 10-16 Further description of beautified Zion:
- 10 Foreigners, those who formerly tore down the walls are now zealously rebuilding the city of God. [a repeated message in Acts] They had been used by the Lord to punish Israel, but now have returned to help build it into a beautiful city.
- 11 The gates of the city are open continually, not simply a symbol of its security, but in order to allow the continuous influx people. Everyone is invited!
- 12 In the midst of the wonder of the building of Zion, there is a contrasting warning. God’s city is the only place where God dwells and where God gives grace and where God beautifies his people. All who will not come to the city and serve the Lord, will perish and utterly be laid waste.
- 13 Immediately, the Lord’s poem turns back to glory. The beauty of Lebanon (cedars/lofty height) will be brought to beautify God’s sanctuary (God’s place of holiness) where his people dwell. Remember the Lord saying, “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool?” The Lord references this by saying that he will “make the place of my feet glorious.” Again, God is glorifying/beautifying his people.
- 15 Further emphasizing how great God is making his people, they once were a forsaken people (which is what happens when God is not dwelling with them), now God makes them majestic forever, which highlights the total transformation of his people.
- 16 The restoration of God’s people is described as a kingdom with both Jew and Gentile sharing the spiritual riches of God’s blessings together in an intimate and transformed relationship. This is only made possible because God is both Redeemer and the Mighty One.
- 17-18 Where as in the days of Rehoboam the nations took the gold and silver from Jerusalem and it was replaced with bronze, now gold and silver is brought in because the city is a place of peace and righteousness. There is no violence, devastation, or destruction. Instead, it is named Salvation and Praise.
- 19-22 What is it like to live in the beautified city of God?
- 19-20 Every day is light and every night is light. There is no night (wickedness) there because the Lord is an everlasting spiritual light. God will be your glory! The implication is, joy and gladness forever. And since sin will be no more, mourning for sin does not exist.
- 21 Then we are given the most exciting assurance: all the people will be righteous. They will possess their “land” inheritance forever. No one can take it away. How can that be so? Because this is “God’s planting.” It is the work of God’s hands (Ephesians 2:10) so that God’s eternal purpose might be realized, that I might be glorified—NIV, “for the display of my splendor.”
- 22 And how is God glorified? He is glorified by glorifying us. The least shall become a clan and the smallest a might nation.
Conclusion:
- The NLT translates Romans 8:20-21, “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”
- Isn’t it amazing? This cursed creation is eagerly waiting to be set free from corruption, a freedom that will be obtained when “the glory of the children of God” is revealed and we receive the redemption of our bodies.
- Lift up your eyes, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)
Berry Kercheville
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