Joy for What the Servant Has Won for His People

Isaiah 54. Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child, burst into song, shout for joy.

! You who were never in labor, because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your clothes, record, strengthen your stakes, for you will spread out to the right and to the left.

Your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid. You will not suffer shame.

Do not fear disgrace. You will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your maker is your husband.

The Lord Almighty is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit.

A wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God. For a brief moment, I abandoned you. But with deep compassion, I will bring you back.

In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment. But with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

To me, this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Oh, afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted. I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.

I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace.

In righteousness, you will be established. Tyranny will be far from you. You will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed. It will not come near you.

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing. Whoever attacks you will surrender to you. See, it is I who created the blacksmith, who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.

And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc. No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And this is their vindication for me, declares the Lord. 54 comes after 53.

You say, did you work all week just to tell us that, Pastor John? What I mean is this. What happens in chapter 54 of Isaiah is the result and fruit of what happened in chapter 53.

Chapter 54 speaks of glorious days for Zion, the people of God. Amazing blessings are coming. But all these blessings were won for her by the Lord Jesus Christ, that servant of the Lord, by what he did for her in chapter 53.

He was pierced for her transgressions. He was crushed for her iniquities. And the punishment that brought her peace was upon him. And by his stripes, she was healed.

So this sin bearing work of the Lord's servant has purchased amazing blessings for all of God's people. He suffers and Zion prospers.

Now, that's the method of grace. That's the way of salvation. And believers, that's how blessings have flown to us. Through Jesus being cursed for us.

So 54 comes after 53. Blessing comes to us on the back of Christ's sufferings. And that's the reason to sing.

That's the reason to burst into song. And to shout for joy. Now, before we start the choir singing this morning, we need to remember that this chapter was given to Israel when they were in a desperate and humiliated condition.

Israel's condition is here likened to a barren woman with a broken marriage in the first half of the chapter. And then in the second half, to an afflicted city lashed by storms.

Two graphic pictures of Zion's condition. A sad condition. And yet, they are commanded to sing for joy. And they're told why.

If barren women with broken marriages can sing. And afflicted cities lashed by storms can sing. Then whatever our condition. We too can sing.

As we rejoice in what Christ has done for us. So first, let's look at the barren woman with a broken marriage. She's told to sing for joy.

Sing, O barren woman. You who never bore a child. Burst into song and shout for joy. You who are never in labor. Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.

Says the Lord. So we're studying on Sunday evenings. Abraham. And it reminds us of Sarah, doesn't it? Abraham's wife. Barren. Old. Never bore.

Children. Dead womb. No chance of bearing children. And yet, through her is promised descendants more than the sand on the seashore.

Or stars in the heavens. How is this going to happen? Well, it will be by a supernatural birth. By God's almighty power. Now that's the condition of Zion.

Like a barren woman. The Babylonians had slaughtered her children. And some of her children they had taken away into exile. As slaves.

Leaving her desolate. Disgraced. And childless. But though Zion is barren now. She's told the time is coming when she will be transformed.

And give birth to a great multitude of children. Supernaturally born children. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.

Verse 3 says. Your descendants will dispossess nations. They will settle in their desolate cities. So barren Zion is going to become a huge rapidly growing family.

And it's going to have the problem of no room. Not enough space. We need more room, dad. More kids coming. More room. Bigger house.

Because their descendants will include the very nations. The Gentiles. And that's exactly what happened. And is happening. At Pentecost.

3,000 were born in a day. By the end of the first century. The church had children. In Asia.

Europe. And Africa. Chapter 54 is still unfolding in the world today. Here we are. Children of Zion. Clear over here in America.

America. Now in Galatians chapter 4. Paul quotes our text. Isaiah 54. 1. And he applies it to the church. The Israel of God.

He's writing to believers at Galatia. And he says to them. Jerusalem that is above is our mother. For it is written.

Be glad. O barren woman who bears no children. Break forth and cry aloud. You who have no labor pains. Because more are the children of the desolate woman. Than of her who has a husband. He's quoting our text.

And he's saying. You brothers. Are the children of promise. You are those children promised. To Zion. And back in chapter 54.

Of Isaiah. Children not born in the ordinary way. But children born in a supernatural way. Born of the spirit. And so this worldwide church.

Of many children. Is what he is referring to here. And it's not the work of Israel herself. She had failed. But it's rather the result.

Of the suffering servants work. The church is not something we create. It is his new creation. It is the Lord's will. That prospers in his hands.

Not in ours. And so his will for Zion. Was that she would bring forth. Many children. From all the nations. Such that there would be no room.

In the house. Well. We've just. Come through the study of. The suffering servant. Who by his sufferings. Will sprinkle many nations.

Chapter 52. Verse 14. And though he's cut off. From the land of the living. Who can speak of. His descendants. In 53. 10.

He will see his offspring. Descendants. Offspring. Who are these? Well they are the many. That he will justify. By bearing their sins.

53. 11. They are the spoils. Of his victory. The reward. The reward for his sufferings. Chapter 53. And verse 12. Christ will have. The prize. For which he died.

An inheritance. Of nations. So. He is talking here. About. This large family. Born to Zion. Is what we are a part of today. The church of Jesus Christ.

Now in. Many nations. All gathered. Unto. The Lord Jesus. So. The command. To sing.

Is not some. Sadistic. Fun. That God is getting. It's not some. Cruel. Mockery. Of. Zion's. Barrenness. Come on. Sing.

Israel. No. Rather. It's finding joy. In what God has promised. To do. Yes. Israel is barren. But Israel. Can you not. Rejoice.

In what God. Will do for you. They have reasons to sing. Because of what the Lord's servant. Of chapter 53. Will do. And the blessings. He will bring.

So sing. Barren woman. God's going to give you children. John Calvin. Writes. The church is the place.

Where the gospel is preached. Gospel is good news. Good news makes people happy. Happy. Happy people sing. But then to.

Unhappy people may sing. To cheer themselves up. And that's what. They're doing. That's what they're being commanded to do. They're very unhappy. They're barren. They're destroyed.

They're desolate. Their children are gone. But they are being told to sing. To cheer themselves up. Do you know what I'm going to do for you? Because Jesus. Has died. Or will have died.

That's that's the prophecy. So that's what we have here. Desolate Israel. Is to sing. Because of the promised work. Of the Lord's servant. And if. If desolate Israel.

700 years before. Calvary was to sing. Brothers and sisters. How much more should we sing. On this side of Calvary. As we look back. To a finished work of Christ. And we partake.

In all that. Christ has purchased for us. By his sufferings. Our greatest problem in life. Is solved. Our sins are forgiven. He's put them behind his back.

He's remembered them no more. We're. We're. We're justified. We have peace with God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hell is in the rear view mirror.

All heaven is before us. Christ is ours. And his blood guarantees it. Rejoice. Lift up your heart. Lift up your voice.

Rejoice. Again I say rejoice. So Christ. And what he has done. Puts a song in the hearts of his people. In any condition. But there's more to do than sing.

They are to sing. We are to sing. But there's more to do than sing. And that's the second thing. Actively prepare for this promised growth. Zion is to actively prepare for the promised growth.

Enlarge. Verse 2. Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch your curtain. Your tent curtains wide. Do not hold back. Lengthen your cords. Strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and the left. And so on. Your descendants to the nations. Growing families have ever found this need for more space.

More room. A bigger house. Even so as the family of God is going to grow and explode in growth. They are not to sit passively and just to wait.

They're not just to say wow. God's going to do a great thing. Now I'm just going to sit here and watch. No that's not the way it goes. They're called to much activity in this verse. They are to enlarge the place of their tent.

They need to cover more ground than what their tent presently covers. Your tent curtains are going to need to be stretched out wider to hold all the children. You'll need longer ropes to hold those tent curtains.

And if the ropes are going out further you'll need stronger stakes to hold them up. That's the picture he's using. So get busy and don't hold back. Worldwide conversions are promised to the church.

But this is not meant to make us passively wait. And sit back. Rather we're called to go and preach the gospel. To bear witness of Christ. To the ends of the earth. William Carey is called the father of modern missions.

And in May of 1792 there was an association of 24 churches that gathered together. To hold a general assembly.

Much like what our churches will do later this month. They met at a Baptist chapel in Nottingham, England. And on the second day of their general assembly at 10 in the morning. William Carey got up to preach to the messengers gathered.

His text was Isaiah 54 2 and 3. Enlarge the place of your tent. Carey applied the text to the church. Wisely so.

The church of his day. And he passionately poured out his soul. Calling for active efforts to enlarge the church. To broaden its reach by taking the gospel to distant lands.

To not do so was seen as delinquency of duty. Enlarge the place of your tent. Well the effect upon the group was electric.

The sermon became known as Carey's deathless sermon. Because it lived on and on and on. In the lives of those who heard it. And heard those who heard it.

Andrew Fuller was one minister who was present that day. And he wrote to a friend a year later. And he said I feel the use of his sermon to this day.

Let us expect more. Let us pray more. Let us give more. Let us go more. It was this text that gave birth to the modern missionary movement.

Around the world. To carry going to India. And from there. A multitude of missionaries that have been sent out. The burden of the sermon. Came home in two crisp points.

Expect great things. Attempt great things. And the order is significant. Expect great things. Expect great things.

Why should we have a high expectation level. When we go with the gospel. Because God promises. That he's going to give to Zion. A growing international family.

They're not going to have room for all the children. That are to be born. Christ's sufferings and death and resurrection. In chapter 53. Guarantees the promised blessing.

All that the father has given me. Will come to me. All for whom I have died. Will be justified. By believing on me. That's the grounds.

Of optimistic missionary endeavor. And such high expectations. Expect great things from a God. Who's given his son to die for sinners.

And who has promised such blessing. Expect great things. But if you're expecting great things. That ought to move you to attempt great things. Enlarge the place of your witness.

Where are you bearing witness for Christ? Are there any others. That need to know Christ. That could profit from you. Bearing witness to them. Enlarge the place of your witness.

Who else needs a track. An invitation to church. Stretch your prayers. Stretch your time of prayer. For evangelism and missions.

And people who are lost. And need to know Christ. Stretch your giving. Your going for evangelism. Invest your money. In this enterprise. That cannot fail.

What more can be done. To get the most. Of the saving truth of the gospel. To the most people. Expect great things.

And then attempt great things. We're not on a fool's errand. The forecast is sure. The family will grow. The will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

We know the outcome is secure. Christ shall have the prize for which He died. This inheritance of nations. So let that stir up in us.

As a church and as individuals. A greater expectation. As we pray. And as we witness. We expect to see God. Calling people to Himself.

Saving them. Let it stir us to attempt. Greater things. Missions then. Is the work of joyful people. Spreading the joyful news. Of Christ. Sing for joy.

Enlarge your. The place of your tents. Now as we read on through chapter 54. We find out that this barren woman. Zion.

Is also suffering the shame of a broken marriage. No children. But also no husband. Or so it seemed. She has been deserted and rejected.

Verse 6 tells us. Now we know the reason. God has deserted her and rejected her. It's not said right here. But we know it was for her sin. And unfaithfulness. She had gone after other lovers.

After idols. Other gods. Left God. The true God. For other gods. But that's why God rejected.

And deserted her. But now she's told not to fear. She will no longer be disgraced. Or humiliated. All of that is going to be forgotten.

And remembered no more. And the reason given. Is a person. For your maker. Verse 5. Is your husband. That's why. This is not going to be.

Shame and humiliation forever. Your maker. Is. Your husband. You do have a husband Zion. The Lord Almighty is his name. The Holy One of Israel.

Your Redeemer. The God of all the earth. And your husband. Is willing to wipe the slate clean. He is willing to put it all behind him.

And to have you back. The alienation is over and past. Full reconciliation is accomplished. By hot redeeming love. And so God proves to be.

A faithful husband. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness. By the way. That's the storyline of the Bible. Israel's unfaithfulness.

And God's. Faithfulness. As the husband. To her. He says. For a brief moment. I abandon you. But. With deep compassion. I will bring you back.

And in a surge of anger. I hid my face from you. For a moment. But with everlasting kindness. I will have compassion on you. Says the Lord. Your Redeemer. So God's grace is greater.

Than all of her sin. And infidelity. His compassion is deeper. And longer lasting. Than his anger. And it moves him.

To go after. His abandoned. Adulterous wife. And to bring her back. We sing. From heaven. He came. And sought her. To be his holy bride. With his own blood.

He bought her. And for her life. He died. You see. It was by the. The suffering. And death. Of the. Of the servant. Of the Lord. That this separation.

This breach. Was healed. That's chapter 53. That alienation. Caused by sin. And transgressions. Was taken away.

For their. Christ died for sin. Once for all. The righteous. For the unrighteous. To bring us to God. We were separated. And the death of Jesus.

Takes the separating. Sin away. So that. We can be brought. Back. To God. It's the work. Of the Lord's servant. The alienating.

Alienating. Sin. Is taken away. Therefore. God's anger. Is taken away. The cause of anger. Is gone. He bore the sin. And suffered. God's anger. Full force. For us. So there's none left.

For us. To endure. Not for a moment. Never. Never. He says. Now this brief moment. Of abandonment.

That was 70 years. In Babylon. That's not a brief moment. For us. People that live. Four score. Ten. Or whatever. But compared.

To eternity. It's a brief moment. And that's what God. Is comparing it to. With everlasting kindness. I have drawn you. To myself. Yes. It was just a brief moment.

God's love. Interrupted. Will never. Be interrupted. Again. For all. Eternity. God's. Unending. Love. Is enough. To make us. Forget. Our painful. Past.

There'll never. Be a time. Dear Christian. When you are not. Loved. Nothing. Can separate us. From the love of God. Through Jesus Christ. Our Lord. And so.

Our troubles. Here are just. Momentary. Troubles. Compared to the eternal weight of glory. That awaits us. This suffering servant of the Lord. Has changed things forever.

For his people. From a barren. Woman. With a broken marriage. To a loving.

Warm marriage. And a multitude. Of children. And God wants his bride. To be assured of his love. So you know what he does. He swears an oath.

He swears an oath. He's already told us. He gave his one and only son. To die for her. Said that in chapter 54. But now. Or 53. But now. He swears an oath. He wants her to know.

That the past. Is indeed behind her. And she's fully loved. Forevermore. Verse 9. To me. This is like the days of Noah. When I swore. That the waters of Noah. Would never again. Cover the earth.

So now. I have sworn. Not to be angry with you. Never to rebuke you again. When God swears something. It's meant. To assure us. Of how certain it is.

We should have that certainty. Whatever he says. But when he adds an oath to it. It's meant to double assure us. Now God. Showed his anger.

Against sin. In Noah's day. By flooding the whole earth. You ever want to know. What does God think of sin? Go back and read. Genesis 6. 7 and 8.

And you'll see. God destroyed the whole earth. All but eight people. So great is his wrath. Against sin. But after the flood.

Of his wrath. He made a covenant. With Noah. In which he swore. A promise. A promise. To never again. Flood the entire earth. With water.

Now a covenant. Is an oath bound. Commitment. And God swore. An oath. In making that covenant. With Noah. And his offspring. And the whole earth. I will never again. Flood the earth.

The whole earth. As I have done. And even put a. A sign in the sky. A sign of that covenant. A bow. And some theologians. Think that it's the war bow. The bow and arrow.

And it's. It's meant to be shown. As if it's hanging up. God has hung up. His war bow. He was an enemy. Of Israel. Now he's hung up. His war bow. Never again. Or not Israel.

But he was angry. At the whole human race. And now he's hung up. His war bow. He'll never bring down. That bow again. And use it. To flood the whole earth. He swore it. So after the pouring out.

Of his wrath. On Calvary. Chapter 53. They will never know. His wrath again. This is a permanently. New situation.

Brought in by the servant. Of the Lord. And it's more secure. Than the unmovable. Ever standing. Mountains and hills. Verse 10. Though the mountains. Be shaken. And the hills.

Be removed. What. What's more. Strong. And enduring. Than mountains and hills. They're used that way. In the scripture. As things that are unmovable. But even though. The mountains.

Be shaken. And the hills. Be removed. Yet my unfailing. Love for you. Will not be shaken. Nor my covenant. Of peace. Be removed. Says the Lord. Who has compassion.

On you. My covenant. Of peace. Just as the outpouring. Of God's wrath. On the earth. In Noah's time. Was followed. By a covenant. Never.

To flood. The whole earth. So the outpouring. Of God's wrath. Upon his servant. At Calvary. Is followed. By an unending. Covenant. A covenant. Of peace. Securing.

God's. Unfailing. Love. Now covenants. Have always. Been closely. Associated. Associated. With. Sacrifices.

So after Noah. Came out of the ark. After the flood. Waters. Had receded. From the earth. He built an offer. An altar. And he sacrificed. Animals. Upon that altar. And the Lord.

Smelled. That aroma. And was pleased. And swore. An oath. Never again. Will I destroy. All living creatures. As I have done. He established.

His oath. With Noah. By swearing. He established. The covenant. With Noah. By swearing. That oath. To him. The covenant. Peace.

Is brought about. By the sacrifice. And so here. We hear of a covenant. Being made. Because of a sacrifice. Chapter 53. Is the sacrifice.

Jesus Christ. Was sacrificed. God now. Is able to come. To those. Who. For whom. That sacrifice. Was made. And say. I make a covenant. Of peace. With you. That will never.

Be removed. Never. My unfailing love. Will never. Be taken away. From you. The blood. Of the covenant. Secures.

The unending. Peace. With God. This is God's. Compassion. For his people. He wants them. To know. For sure. How. Settled. And secure.

They are. In his love. It's your husband's. Unfailing love. That guarantees. A wiped slate. And a new future. He wants you to rest. Secure.

In his love. So you can know. And rely. On the love. God has for you. Sworn love. Self-sacrificing love. So what have we seen? Well the barren woman.

With a broken marriage. Finds a restored marriage. And a huge family. All because of what. The servant of the Lord. Did in chapter 53. He was sacrificed. In her place.

People of God. That's your peace. With God. That's. God's love for you. This is your family. The worldwide family of God.

And that ought to be enough. To give you a glad song. To cause us to be. Joyfully expectant. In evangelism. In missions.

And to. Be. Confidently assured. Of God's love. For us. But secondly. Israel is compared. To an afflicted city.

Not only a barren woman. With a broken marriage. But also to an afflicted city. Lashed by storms. Oh afflicted city. Verse 11. Lashed by storms.

And not comforted. Can you think of. Of cities that have been. Lashed by storms. And not comforted. I think of the. The super dome. Down in New Orleans. After Katrina went through.

And these people. Are just milling around. Hopeless. Not comforted. Lashed by storms. That's the picture. Or perhaps the Jersey shore.

After Hurricane Sandy. Totally devastated. Left in ruins. That was Zion. When this message. To rejoice. Is delivered to her.

Oh afflicted city. Lashed by storms. The storm was the Babylonians. Just as it was. In the. The barren woman. That's.

That's where all her children went. So that's what. Devastated her city. They came in like a flood. And they totally destroyed. Their city. Jerusalem. It tore down its walls.

And torched it. Leaving it a city. Without walls. You know that a city. Without walls. In those days. Is just. Completely exposed. There's. There's no security. At all. Any walking by.

Passerby. Can just. Come right on in. And help themselves. How can this city. Possibly sing. For joy. Well again. It's not because of present circumstances.

It's because of what God promises. To do. For this. Lashed. City. It's because of what the servant. Has won for her. The glorious future promised.

And in this again. We see. What Christ has purchased. For his people. The church. First of all. God promises. To protect. And beautify. His people.

To protect. And beautify them. Verses 11 and 12. I will build you. With stones. Of turquoise. Your foundations. With sapphires. I will make your battlements.

Of rubies. Your gates. Of sparkling jewels. And all of your walls. Of precious stones. Now when we talk about. Foundations. Walls. Gates. Battlements.

All being rebuilt. We're talking about. Great protection. Remember. They've been lashed. And everything's. Flat and ruined. And he's talking about. I'll rebuild you.

You'll have great protection. But with great beauty. Not just protection. But. Such beauty. Far more beautiful. Than it had ever been. In all of its glory. And that's the picture.

Of the church. Zion. As she will be. Under the blessing. Of Christ. Now as I read this. You should have thought. Of Revelation. 20. 21. And what. John sees there.

Of the bride. Of Christ. The church. This city. That was battered. By storms. Is there. Shown. To be. In beauty. Glorified. John writes.

In Revelation. 21. I saw the holy city. The new Jerusalem. The new one. Coming down. Out of heaven. From God. Prepared as a bride. Beautifully dressed. For her husband. It's shown.

With the glory of God. And its brilliance. Was like that. Of a very precious jewel. Like a jasper. Clear as crystal. Had a great high wall. With twelve gates. And then it lists. All the different gemstones.

On her walls. The wall was made of jasper. The city of pure gold. As pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls. Were decorated. With every kind of precious stone.

The twelve gates. Were twelve pearls. Each gate. Made of a single pearl. The great street of the city. Was of pure gold. Like transparent glass. John says. This is the bride.

The wife of Christ. The wife of the lamb. This is Zion. The people of God. This is the church. The ugliness.

That sin had made her. The lashing. By the storms. And ruin. And destruction. Has all been replaced. By the greatest beauty. A transformation.

That begins in this life. And is completed. At the coming of Christ. What is the beauty. Of the church. It's the glory of God. Shining within. It's God's own character.

That shines. Out from the church. That's the glory. Of the church. The Christ likeness. That is. Seen in the church. Christ. Shines out.

Of his church. She is resplendent. With the moral likeness. Of Jesus. She's dressed. In his righteousness. And she's not made herself.

Beautiful. Again. It's the Lord. Who says. I will build you. I will. Beautify you. It's what he's done. Through his wonderful servant. And this is the cause.

For joyful song. He promises. To protect. And beautify. His people. And then. Some of the beauties. Of Christ's church. Are further spelled out.

In the verses. That follow. The second. Point. Is that all. In God's family. Will be taught. By God. This is one of the beauties. Of Zion. The people of God. That all. In God's family.

Will be taught. By God. Verse 13. Says. All your sons. Will be taught. By the Lord. Now he's talking. To this afflicted city. And he's saying. All your sons.

Will be taught. By the Lord. Now that's a hallmark. Of all who belong. To the Lord. All the children of God. Have this. Set of them. They're taught. By God.

Everybody who belongs. To God's family. Is taught. By the Lord. Do you know. That God can teach. Like no one else can. He has access.

To the heart. And mind. Like no one else does. He teaches. In a way. That people understand. He opens eyes. That we're blind. To the truth.

He gives sight. To the blind. It's in his light. That they see light. He puts the truth. In the inward parts. He gets the truth. Past the ear gate.

Past the eye gate. He puts it. In the inward parts. Into the heart. He teaches them. In a way. That they actually. Embrace the truth. And love the truth. Even difficult.

Truths. He teaches them. In a way. That they obey. The truth. They hear the voice. Of the shepherd. And they follow him.

And as they do. His teachings. Are making. These glorious. Beautifying. Changes. In their lives. This is where the glory. Shines out.

Because they're being. Taught by God. For the grace of God. That brings salvation. Has appeared to all men. And it teaches us. To say no. To ungodliness. And to worldly passions.

And to live self-controlled. Upright. And godly lives. In this present. World. That's taught. By God. It's the word of God.

Being taught by God. That brings about. Such sanctifying. Beautifying. Changes. In all the children of God. And makes them shine. With the glory of God. Is that really.

What this means. John. Well listen to Jesus. Remember John chapter 6. He's preaching. To a vast multitude. Many of them disciples. Professed disciples. And they start grumbling.

About his teaching. And Jesus says. Stop your grumbling. Stop grumbling. Among yourselves. No one can. Come to me.

Unless the father. Who sent me. Draws him. And I will raise him up. At the last day. It is written. In the prophets. And here he quotes our verse.

In Isaiah. They will all be taught. By God. That verse explains. Your behavior. He's saying to the crowd.

That day. You're lacking. The hallmark. Of all God's. Children. The reason you're. Complaining. About what I'm saying. Is because you.

Are not. Taught. By God. You're not. Coming to me. For life. Shows. That you're not. One of God's people. He goes on. To say. Everyone.

Who listens. To the father. And learns. From him. Comes. To me. And your resistance. And refusal. Of what I say. And refusal.

To embrace. Me. As your only hope. For heaven. Is simply. Showing. That you are not. One of those. That Isaiah. Spoke of. When he says. They will all. Be taught.

By God. This was the perennial problem. Of Israel. Of old. Wasn't it? They. They kept turning away.

From God's word. God sent his prophets. Preached his word. And they turned their backs. And so God would devastate them. Bringing in the Assyrians. The Babylonians.

The Egyptians. But in the new covenant. Established by Jesus blood. God's grace. Will guarantee. That all of his children.

Will be taught. By God. His grace. Guarantees. Their allegiance. To his word. That when. He speaks. To them. They will listen.

They will obey. They will embrace. They will walk. In the truth. Truths. Because he will. Write his law. On their hearts. And put his law. In their minds. He says.

I'll put my spirit. In you. And I'll move you. To follow my decrees. And to be careful. To keep my laws. It's the new covenant. Sealed in Christ's blood.

The work of the servant. Of the Lord. That secures. The fact. That all true children. Of God. Are taught. By God. And what beauty. God builds.

Into his people. As he's transforming them. By the renewing. Of their minds. With his word. Are you getting. Your regular. Daily beauty treatments.

With God's word. How in the world. Does Christ likeness. Shine out. From the church. It's by God. Teaching you. Through his word.

That's it. What beauty. God. Builds into his church. As he teaches. All of his children. Another beauty. That.

That beautifies. The church. Is found. In the last half. That all in God's family. Will have great peace. Great peace. Not just. Taught by God.

But. Great will be. Your children's. Peace. How great. Is that peace. With God. That we have. Through the blood. Of Jesus Christ. Christ. The controversy.

Between God. And his people. Is over. We're reconciled. To God. We have peace. With God. But then. There's also. The peace. Of God. That guards. Our hearts. And minds. In Christ.

Jesus. A peace. That comes. From knowing. Our God. And knowing. His word. His promises. Isn't it. A beautiful.

Thing. To see. The people. Of God. Buffeted. And beaten. Beaten. And lashed. By storms. Still. Enjoying. The peace. Of God. God.

Is with me. God. Has made promises. To me. I am not. Deserted. His love. Is better. Than life.

The peace. Of God. The beautifying. Peace. Of God. You will keep. In perfect. Peace. Him. Whose mind. Is steadfast. Because he trusts. In you. And so.

The security. And peace. Of the people. Of God. Is symbolized. In this passage. By the walls. And gates. And battlements. All God's people.

Enjoy. Peace. And security. In Christ. It's a peace. Rooted in righteousness. Verse 14. In righteousness. You will be established. And because of that.

Tyranny. And terror. Will not come near you. Even now. The fruit of righteousness. Will be peace. The effect of righteousness. Quietness.

And confidence. Forever. Great peace. Have they. Who love your law. And nothing. Will make them stumble. You see. It was Israel's. Continual. Drifting away.

Away from. God's. God's. Righteous. Righteous. Righteous. Righteous. Laws. That led to their peace. Being shattered. God would say to the Assyrians. You go disrupt their peace. Babylonians. You go there.

And take away their peace. And prosperity. Bringing it to an end. But in the gospel. Because of what the servant. Does in chapter 53. God would establish them.

In righteousness. That is impeccable. That would guarantee. The peace of God. Forever. And ever. What is the peace. Of the child of God.

That is. Resting upon the righteousness. Of Jesus Christ. They already begin. To experience it now. And then. Forever and ever. In the new heavens.

And new earth. Where only righteousness. Dwells. God's people. Enjoy peace. Because God is for them. And all the powers of evil.

Are under. His control. Now that's the formula. For peace. Having God. For you. And all the powers. Of evil. Under his control.

And that's what he tells them. He won't be. Signaling anymore. For destroyers. To come against them. He took out his wrath.

On Christ. His sacrifice. So if anybody. Does attack you. It won't be my doing. He's saying. Whoever attacks you. Will surrender to you. And it's all. God's doing. See it is I.

Verse 16. I am the one. Who rules over. All that I have created. I have created. And rule over the blacksmith. I have created. And rule over the weapons. That he forges.

And I have created. And rule over the destroyer. Who uses those weapons. To wreak havoc on the earth. I control it all. And I'm for you.

My people. Therefore. No weapon forged against you. Will prevail. And you will refute every tongue. That accuses you. You see what he's saying.

God himself. Stands as our protector. Our security. Our peace. The Lord is our peace. He died for us. We say. He protects us from our enemies.

The world that would. Allure us. To follow it to hell. The flesh. That still cries out. For some of that. That would take us to hell. The devil himself.

Who's behind it all. Seeking to damn us. We have. A protector. He is the Lord. Our peace. And. He rules over all things.

For his people. And he concludes with this statement. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. This is their vindication from me. Declares the Lord. This is the heritage.

This is the inheritance of all God's people. To have me as their protector. To have me. Teaching them. To have me. Giving them peace. Me.

Beautifying them. Giving them joy. And so the city. That was. Lashed by storms. Destroyed. Defiled.

It's promised to be rebuilt. And beautified. And protected. And taught. By the Lord. And to enjoy. Perfect peace. So remember.

54. Comes after. 53. This restored. Marriage. Relationship. To God. Wherein. I know. That I'm at peace. With him.

And he loves me. With an everlasting love. Where does that come from? That comes from what Christ. Bought for me. At Calvary. This.

This joy. Of. Of having God. As my teacher. Having God. As my protector. Father. It's all. It's all. What Jesus. Bought for us.

So let us. Offer ourselves. Up afresh. To God. Do you notice. What. The people of God. Are called. In that last verse. This is the heritage.

Of the servants. Of the Lord. The servants. Of the Lord. Are you one of his servants? What's. What's peculiar about that. Is chapter 53. Is just talked about.

The servant. Of the Lord. Hasn't it? The servant. And what we see. Is that the work. Of the servant. Of the Lord. You know what that accomplishes? The work of the servant.

His atonement. He creates. A family. Of servants. Of the Lord. Who are just like him. In that sense. Of serving the Lord.

So let us. Offer up ourselves. Afresh. To be servants. Of the servant. Of the Lord. To be taught by him. To be protected.

And loved by him. And to rejoice in him. All the days of our life. Let's do that. Even as we have a moment. Of silent prayer. Offering ourselves up. As servants.

And if you haven't trusted. In this savior. There's only peace with God. There's only protection. From the wrath of God. Found. In the Lord Jesus.

Revealed. At Calvary. Let's pray together. Oh Lord. Thank you for sending your servant. Thank you for. Putting him to grief. For us. And crushing him.

For our transgressions. That we might. Have peace. The punishment. That bought us peace. Was upon him. And so we thank you. For this peace.

That we enjoy. To know that. You will never again. Pour out your wrath. Upon us. That there is only love. For those. For whom Christ.

Has died. He's taken all the wrath. That we might have. All the love. Help us then. To rejoice. And delight. In that love. Help us to. So rejoice.

That we can't contain. This message. Ourselves. But to. To take this message. To the world. Thank you. That you've given us. Every reason. To expect. Increase.

In the church. Increase. In this. Great work. Of expanding. Our tent. The tent of God. The city of God. Expand it.

Even here. In this place. And around the world. Today. For the glory. The beauty. Of Jesus Christ. We pray. Amen. Amen.