Trust in the King Who Saves

Isaiah 33, we'll read the entire chapter. Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed.

! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed.! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed. When you stop betraying, you will be betrayed. O Lord, be gracious to us.

We long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. At the thunder of your voice, the peoples flee.

When you rise up, the nations scatter. Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts, like a swarm of locusts men pounce on it. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high.

He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times. A rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Look! Their brave men cry aloud in the streets. The envoys of peace weep bitterly.

The highways are deserted. No travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken. Its witnesses are despised. No one is respected. The land mourns and wastes away.

Lebanon is ashamed and withers. Sharon is like the Arabah and Bashan and Carmel. Drop their leaves. Now will I rise, says the Lord. Now will I be exalted.

Now will I be lifted up. You conceive chaff. You give birth to straw. Your breath is a fire that consumes you. The peoples will be burned as if to lime.

Like cut thorn brushes, they will be set ablaze. You who are far away, hear what I have done. You who are near, acknowledge my power. The sinners in Zion are terrified.

Trembling grips the godless. Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning? He who walks righteously and speaks what is right.

Who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes. Who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil.

This is the man who will dwell in the heights. Whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied and water will not fail him.

Your eyes will see the king and his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. In your thoughts, you will ponder the former terror. Where is that chief officer?

Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers? You will see those arrogant people no more. Those people of obscure speech with their tongue, incomprehensible tongue.

With their strange, incomprehensible tongue. Look upon Zion. The city of our festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode. A tent that will not be moved.

Its stakes will never be pulled up. Nor any of its ropes broken. There will the Lord. There the Lord will be our mighty one. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams.

No galley with oars will ride them. No mighty ship will sail them. For the Lord is our judge. The Lord is our lawgiver. The Lord is our king. It is he who will save us.

Your rigging hangs loose. The mast is not held secure. The sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided. And even the lame will carry off plunder.

No one living in Zion will say, I am ill. And the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven. Well, we are in another national election year, aren't we?

When politicians are telling us how they will fix everything that is broke. And secure our national interests all around the world. Take care of our sagging economy.

And our moral problems. Our poor education. Whatever it is that ails us. And we are not the only people that do that.

We have seen it, haven't we? All over the earth. There is this sense that people look to their leaders and expect them to fix what is wrong. And if they don't, well, they will remove them and put somebody else in there who will fix our problems.

And it was the same that way 3,000 years ago in the nation of Judah. They looked to their kings to help them. To secure them from enemy nations.

And king after king disappointed them. Wasn't the perfect king who ruled and reigned in justice and righteousness. And so it's out of that context of Israel's failed kings.

Their failed attempts. Their shattered hopes that Isaiah speaks about a coming king. Now, in their first crisis, he spoke three times in chapters 7, 9, and 11 about the coming king.

And now again, as we're coming into chapters 30 and so on, we're seeing a second crisis in their national identity. And once again, their kings are failing them.

And so God, through Isaiah, is pointing them to this coming king. Chapters 32 and 33, again, we'll mention this king three times. And so Isaiah's message to the people is, trust in the king who will save you.

And if we belong to this kingdom that we've been singing about, that's the message to us this morning. Trust in this king who will save you. And if you're not in this kingdom, that's the message.

Trust in this king and he will save you and bring you into the kingdom. So where did you look this week when troubles bumped into you? The Bible says there's only two places to look for help.

There's the king, the true king, and there's the false kings and the false promises. There's the real savior and then there's the substitute saviors, the alternative helpers.

And we've been watching Judah when she was threatened by the mighty Assyrian army back in the 8th century B.C. And no one could stand before the Assyrians.

They had taken the northern kingdom of Israel and they were proceeding to march down into the southern kingdom of Judah. Last week we saw that as they came and were threatening them, rather than look to the Lord, the true king and helper, they went down to Egypt for help.

And Isaiah says that's like trusting Miss do nothing. It is utterly useless help that you'll get from man. And it's not only futile, it's wicked and it's unnecessary because Egypt disappointed them.

Egypt did not turn Assyria back. And so Assyria just keeps coming down. And Assyria attacks all the fortified cities of Judah and captures them.

And now this vast army is poised to take the last fortified city, the very capital city of Jerusalem. Hezekiah is king of Judah.

And he tries to buy the Assyrians off. Egypt hasn't helped us. Maybe money will. So he sends a message to the king of Assyria. Withdraw from me and I'll pay whatever you demand.

Well, do you know what Sennacherib demanded? Eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold. Now it's a king and he has resources, but he basically empties them.

Empties the temple treasury, God's money, of its silver. And the treasury of the palace. And then he acts to get the silver.

But then he actually strips the gold off of the doors to the temple, to God's temple. And so he pays off the Assyrians.

And out the doors of Jerusalem go the carts laden down with the treasure chests of gold and silver. But the double-crossing Assyrians break the treaty.

They don't keep their word. Their word means nothing to them. The witnesses, none of it means anything to them. And these liars take the silver and gold and then proceed to bring their large army against Jerusalem.

And so they're starting to assemble their siege works. Those tall towers that they push up against the walls. And the battering rams. And they're starting to assemble it all outside of Jerusalem's walls.

Inside of the city. All now realize that the Assyrians aren't going anywhere. They're here to stay. They're coming to get us.

We're done. The gig's up. There's no more hope. We've played our last card. And so with all efforts failed and all hope shattered and nothing more they could do, they turned to the king.

The real king. For help. And when all the other girls have broken up with this guy, he finally comes around and courts you.

Don't you feel honored? No, you don't. You're the last ditch. You're the last one left. That's the way they treated God.

And the wonder of wonders is even though they made God their last resort, when they had exhausted all their other helpers and turned to the Lord, he answered them.

Now where do you find grace like that? Only in this gracious king. He who deserves to have us turn to him in the first place as soon as we see our troubles.

Nevertheless, is willing to save us when we turn to him in the last place. He's more willing to help us than we are to be helped by him.

So Isaiah 33 is for people who haven't been trusting the Lord lately. They've been leaning on their own understanding, on other helpers, looking to God's substitutes instead of to him, seeking our own way rather than his, and finding that life is not working.

We're running out of options. And maybe you've got to the last option. This chapter shows that God is willing to meet us in the messes of our lives when we truly turn to him.

The Lord is our king. It is he who will save us. So let's dig in. Chapter 33. It begins with the Lord saying to Assyria, your time is coming.

In fact, it's arrived, as we'll see. It starts with a woe. Woe. And that's the sixth woe from chapters 28 to 33.

And all of the preceding five woes were aimed at the very covenant people of God. And now this woe we see is not aimed at Judah, but is aimed at Assyria.

Woe to you, O destroyer. You who have not been destroyed, O traitor. They broke the treaty.

You have not been betrayed, but when you stop destroying, you will be destroyed. And when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed. So though they were God's instrument of judgment upon Judah, yet God is going to pay back into their lap all that they have done to others.

They betrayed, they'll be betrayed. They destroyed, they will be destroyed. No one's getting away with anything. God is judge. The Lord is our king.

The Lord is our judge. And he will repay with perfect justice. Now, why the change in woes? Why five woes on Judah and the covenant people of God?

And now a change to the woe of judgment being aimed at their enemies? Well, Judah is now looking to the Lord for help.

And this is the Lord's help. He curses their enemies. When they turn to him, he saves them by destroying their enemies. And we get to hear their cry for help.

We listen in to them as they're praying in verse 2. Oh, Lord. We be gracious to us. We long for you. Be our strength every morning.

Our salvation in time of distress. Now, what a change in Judah. No longer are they looking down to Egypt for help. No longer are they stripping the gold and silver of the nation and trusting in their wealth.

No, they're done with their substitute saviors. They're asking the Lord to be everything that they need him to be in their present dilemma. To be their salvation in time of distress.

To deliver them in their troubles. And they're not thinking that he owed it to them. In fact, they're confessing that to do this, Lord, would be very gracious.

Did you hear them? Be gracious to us. And be our strength in salvation. Oh, we don't deserve it. But in your grace, come and help us.

There's been a change in focus. They were focusing on those towers going up around them. And on the mighty Assyrians.

And on their win list. And all the defeated nations. And now they start to look up at their king. There's this change of perspective.

They're not looking to their man-made helpers. They're not looking at the problem Assyria. Their eyes are on the Lord. And all that he is for them. And don't our troubles look differently.

When we actually look to the Lord. Rather than at our problems. Assyria is nothing with the Lord in view. They say in verse 3.

At the thunder of your voice, Lord. The peoples flee. When you rise up, the nations scatter. You're so great that all you have to do is speak. And the battle's over. Just stand up.

And the threat is gone. So they see the Lord differently. They see him as exalted. Verse 5. You're exalted. You're lifted up. You dwell on high.

In other words. You are exalted above all things that concern us. Whatever our troubles. Whatever our enemies. You are above them.

That's the view we need of our sovereign God. And looking to him. They find that he's all that they need. He's all I need.

He's all I need. Jesus is all I need. Have you got that? Have you learned that?

Is that not a lesson that we need to keep learning and relearning? And it's a wonderful thing that the Lord is so patient to go on teaching us that same lesson.

I'm all you need, John. Look here again. Look to me again. Trust me again. I've not lost my faithfulness. I've not lost my power. I've not lost any of my sovereign rule.

He's all I need. And when Judah looked and saw him for who he was, they looked to him for all that they needed.

So whatever your need is, all that I need is in Jesus. Is it justice and righteousness we need? Verse five says he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

Is it solid ground to stand on in shaky times when everything seems to be moving about me? Well, he will be the sure foundation for your times.

Something firm to stand on and with him at your right hand. You will never be moved. Do you need deliverance from temptation? Do you need wisdom and knowledge to know what to do next?

Do you need the fear of the Lord that casts out other fears? He's a cupboard. He's like a cupboard full of all of this.

And so you go to the cupboard and and he is a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

All these treasures and more are found in this cupboard who is our king, the Lord. He is. You see, when when he's all we have.

We find he's all we need. And that's what Israel, Judah, is here learning. So did where did you look then when trouble came into your life this week?

Did you see the Lord is high and exalted over your problem and everything about it? Did you draw from him strength for every morning?

Deliverance for every trial? Did you seek him for these things? Did you rest in him as the sure foundation for your time of need? Did you walk in the fear of him all the day long, recognizing that there is none like him?

You see, he's there for us to lean on. He's there for us to rest in, to draw upon and to walk with. So make use of your Savior in whatever troubles come your way.

Be they big like Assyria or small. He's there for you. Memorize verse 2 and pray it each week, each day this week.

And see if it does not change the way that you handle troubles when you early cry out for that help of the Lord. Secondly, the Lord knows how to break us and bring us to trust in him.

We get to see Judah trusting in the Lord. And before we put a pin on their chest and think what wonderful people these people are, where do you find such repentance and trust like this?

We've got to remember how God got them there. He had to take them down through a very deep, deep valley under a heavy, heavy judgment before they finally came to him as their last resort.

And it should teach us that there is no value. There is no saving merit in our repentance and faith. That's not what saves us. It's the instrument that saves us.

But the ground of our salvation is not that our repentance is so wonderful, our faith is so wonderful and valuable, that God says, oh, it deserves salvation. No, it's so pitiful that so often we only come to him as our last resort.

Is that something to be proud of? And yet even then, if our faith is looking to Jesus, he saves us. He delivers us. He deserves all the praise.

And so it was through the failure of all their preferred helpers that he broke them and brought them to trust in him.

Now, Isaiah walks us back through that process then of God breaking them. They've trusted in Egypt. No help. They've trusted in their money, their silver, their gold.

No help. The treaty's broken. They're starting to assemble their siege works. It's over for us. And we get inside the city and we get to see what it is.

It's a city of mourners. This is the city of festivals. There was to be a happy place where God and his people met with joy. And now it's a city of mourners.

And it's not just the women who are crying. Verse 7. Look, they're brave men.

Cry aloud in the streets. The envoys of peace weep bitterly. Even courageous soldiers can see there's no longer any hope for us. They're coming in.

It's just a matter of time. And they publicly bewail their helpless condition in the streets. And those diplomats who saw their peace treaty evaporate in front of their eyes.

They too are weeping bitter tears. And so with the Assyrian soldiers in the land, all the commerce grinds to a halt. Nobody's out and about now.

The streets aren't safe. So the highways are deserted. No travelers are on the roads. And the land itself mourns and wastes away. Verse 9. And we're given four locations in Judah.

Vacation spots where people would usually like to go that were lush and fruitful places. But now they're desert-like. Ashamed. Withered leaves fallen.

Like scorched earth under this Assyrian assault. Everything in sight is barren and hopeless. And it's a vivid picture of what happens.

Where does life end up when you try to make it on your own? Either in this life or at the end. It's a barren, barren place. It's darkness.

It's outer darkness. It's the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. But God is better than some parents who never let their little Johnny skin his knee.

You know, God lets us fall. He lets us feel the pain of disappointed saviors. He lets us feel the emptiness of having trusted in misdo-nothings.

And to bring ourselves into a heap of trouble. He lets us feel that. Why? Because he wants us to turn to him as our only trust.

Can you see it's a kindness for God to do that? It's a kindness. He's bringing us to repent of all of our alternative helpers. To seek our all in him.

He's up to something important. He's breaking us. Of those trusts that are worthless. To bring us to trust in him. So broken and humbled in the dust.

We turn to the only hope left. The Lord himself. And he does not despise a broken and a contrite heart. He rather delights in such.

And he meets us with mercy in our failed messes. I've heard many a testimony. Of people that didn't have a need for God.

Who's the Lord that I should trust in the Savior? I don't need him. Things are going well. And then the Lord let those crutches fall.

And brought them low. And showed them there is no hope. But in Jesus. And they turned to him. And he was willing to have them. And so many of you are here this morning.

And that's your testimony. He received me when I came to him. He's such a gracious Savior. And so Judah in their pain and brokenness.

Turned to the Lord. And the Lord said. Now I will arise. So we come to our third point. God often waits until things are most desperate.

Before working his deliverance. Now is the word of emphasis in verse 10. You see that three times. Now I will arise.

Now I will be exalted. Now I will be lifted up. There comes a time when God acts. In deliverance of his people.

And in saving them. God is being exalted. He is being lifted up. He's being glorified in the salvation of his people. Now the question comes.

Why does God often wait. Until things get so desperate. Before he acts. In deliverance. Why does he so often wait to the 11th hour.

To step in. And save. Well could it be in the first place. That we're just that slow to get around.

To get into the end of ourselves. To where we cry out for help. Why does he wait. Because as soon as they cried for help. He says now. Now I will arise.

And I think many times. The reason it's the 11th hour. Is that it takes us the 11th hour. To get through all of our helpers. Before we finally come and say. With desperation. Lord I have no other hopes.

In this problem. But you. Now I will arise. And then secondly. Why does he wait. Well. He waits for the best time.

To demonstrate his glory. Amen. When the Lord Jesus was on the earth. And he got news. That his. His dear friend Lazarus was sick.

Did he rush right away. Back to Bethany. No. The Bible tells us. He didn't leave. He waited. And he only shows up. When Lazarus has been in the grave.

Four days. And is stinking by now. Why? Why'd he wait? Why'd he wait. Till things got so desperate. Because now.

Now. If Lazarus lives. It's not a shenanigan. That's being pulled. It's not a trick miracle. It's nothing. Of that sort whatsoever. It's not man. It's not medicine.

It's a miracle. It's the Lord. And he'll receive all the glory. And so he stands outside that tomb. And says Lazarus. Come forth. And he comes forth. And he's glorified. And he. As he acts.

In the 11th hour. Of their need. So he waits. Until the Egyptians. Are right on top. Of the Israelites.

Before he opens up. The Red Sea. And they pass through. And he waits. To deliver. Those three Hebrew children. In Babylon.

Until the king. Throws them. Into the fiery furnace. Desperate. Situations. Are his. Favorite times. For demonstrating. His glory. And when all human.

Attempts have failed. He says. Now I will arise. When. When men. By their law. Keeping. Could not. Make themselves. Right. With God. Then he sent his son.

Into the world. To show them. That his. Righteousness. And his. Law. Keeping. Could. Do what. They could not. Do. And when. By their. When men. By their wisdom. Could not.

Find God. And. And Aristotle. And Plato. And all these. Philosophers. Had done their best. To try. To lift man. To God. Then. God. By the foolishness. Of the thing.

Preach. Saved. Those that believe. He waits. Until men's. Failures. Are scattered. Across. Human history. And then he acts. Now.

I will arise. And he receives. All the glory. How will it be.

At the end of this age. We've heard it on Sunday nights. Well it'll be the church. Surrounded. And just about to be. Devoured. And then he will arise.

And he will come. And save us. And he will receive all glory. For having done so. And so if it seems you're being made.

To wait long. Be encouraged. That there will come a time. When he says. Now. I. Will arise. And act. Your extremity.

Is God's opportunity. Wait. Upon him. Those who wait on him. Never. Wait in vain. Never lose your expectancy. That at any moment.

In your trouble. God. Would only need to say. Now I will arise. And it's over. It's over. Today.

Could be his now. Let your cry. Be heard. At the throne of grace. So now. Then. When Judah. Is about to be destroyed. By Assyria. God. Says.

I will arise. And what he does. Is he consumes. The mighty Assyrians. Like crackling. Thorn bushes. You ever. Cut thorn bushes. Let them dry in the sun. And then burn them. They crackle.

They. They just go up. Like chaff. That's what God. Did to the Assyrians. And he says. That was such a great. Thing. That. It. It deserves.

To be heard. Far. And near. Let those. Verse 13. Far away. And those near. Hear. What the Lord. Has done. His consuming. Power. And holiness. That devour.

His enemies. Is something. Not just for nations. Far off. It's something. For the people. Of Judah. To learn from. Those who are near. Everyone.

Who sees. Or hears. Of what God. Did to Assyria. Is to come away. Struck. With how. Holy. God. Is. The power. Of his holiness.

And I would say. That's one of the world's. Most forgotten realities. How holy. God is. That's what Isaiah.

Himself. Was gripped with. When he was called. To be a prophet. And he saw. The Lord. Exalted. And he fell.

Prostrate. He. He never. Got over. The holiness. Of God. He starts. Calling him. The holy. One.

Of Israel. Angels. Who are. Sinless. And they cry. Incessant. Incessantly. In wonder. Holy. Holy. Holy.

Is the Lord. God almighty. Folks. Our world. Does not think. God is holy. Holy. And when God. Destroyed. The Assyrians. He wanted. Everyone. Near.

And far. To shake. Before him. And to cry. Holy. He's holy. The Bible.

Teaches us. That our God. Is a what? A consuming. Fire. And that's what. Isaiah. Is reminding them. That means. He's so holy. That his presence. Consumes.

Sin. Wherever. It is found. Now. Judah. Enjoyed it. When God. Came. And. As a consuming. Fire. Devoured. Their enemies. The Assyrians.

But. Isaiah. Is saying. This holy. God. Who is a consuming. Fire. Is no. Respecter. Of persons. He's no. Respecter.

Of persons. It's not. It's not. Just. Assyrian. Sinners. Out there. That he. Devours. It's. Israelite.

Sinners. In here. That he. Devours. As well. And so. These careless. Sinners. In Zion. Who took. God. For granted.

They have. A reason. To be. Terrified. Verse 14. The godless. In Zion. Who. Who just. Go on. Breaking. God's law. And. Do not. Repent. They're.

Rightly. Gripped. With. Trembling. And the. Burning. Question. That all. Should be. Asking. At a time. Like. This. Is. Who. Of us. Can.

Dwell. With. The consuming. Fire. Who. Of us. Can. Dwell. With. The everlasting. Burning. Have you. Asked. That question.

It's. An. Important. Question. Who. Of us. Can. Dwell. With. The consuming. Fire. That. God. Is. Now.

Isaiah's. Answer. To the question. Is. Given. Verse 15. He. Who. Walks. Righteously. And. Speaks. What. Is. Right. Who. Rejects. Gain. From. Extortion.

Keeps. His. Hand. From. Accepting. Bribes. Stops. His. Ears. Against. Plots. Of. Murder. And. Shuts. His. Eyes. Against. Contemplating. Evil. This. Is. The. Man.

Who. May. Dwell. On. The. Heights. With. God. He. Who. Walks. Righteously. That. Means.

You. Walk. In. Line. With. God's. Righteous. Holy. Commandments. That's. What. It. Means. To. Walk. Righteously. Not. Just.

Hearers. Of. It. But. Doers. As. James. Says. And. Those. Who. Speak. What's. Right. They. Don't. Lie. To. Mom. And. Dad. They. Don't.

Lie. To. The. Customer. They. Don't. Lie. To. The. Government. They. Speak. What. Is. Right. Because. God. Is. True. They. Reject. Doing. That. Means. There's.

All. Sorts. Of. Thoughts. That. Come. Down. The. Assembly. Line. In. The. Course. Of. The. Day. That. They. Reject. Nope. That's. Not. Worthy. In. Here. There's. All. Sorts. Of. Temptations.

They. Reject. No. I. Will. Not. Give. Myself. To. That. And. It. Means. Keeping. Your. Hand. From. Touching. Things. That. Are. Forbidden. It.

Means. Stopping. Your. Ears. From. Listening. To. Things. That. You. Shouldn't. Be. Hearing. Maybe. Music. Maybe. Gossip. Maybe.

All. Sorts. Of. Evil. Plans. And. It. Means. Shutting. Your. Eyes. From. Things. That. You. Should. Not. See. That. Are. Evil. This.

Is. The. Man. Who. May. Dwell. With. The. Consuming. Fire. Now.

Isaiah. Is. Saying. What. Hebrews. 12. 14. Says. That. Without. Holiness. No. Man. Will. See. The. Lord. No. Man. Can. Live. With. The. Lord. He. Is. Holy. And. Only. The. Holy. Will. Live.

Him. Now. Isaiah. Knew. The. Gospel. Isaiah. Knew. The. Gospel. I. Don't. Need. To. Teach. You. That. Because. We. Bumped. Into. It. All. The.

Way. Through. Isaiah. Haven't. We. Though. Your. Sins. Are. Like. Scarlet. They. Shall. Be. As. White. As. Snow. How. Let. Me. Take. You. To. The. Cross. And. Show. You. One. Who. Received. Punishment.

For. You. By. His. Wounds. You. Are. Healed. There. Was. No. Prophet. In. Israel. Or. Judah. That. Preached. That. Message. More.

Than. Isaiah. That's. Not. His. Answer. Here. Is. It. No. It's. Not. You. See. He's. Not. Answering. How. Is.

It. That. We. Can. Live. With. Consuming. Fire. That's. Only. Through. The. Merits. Of. Christ. Death. And. Life. Not. How. It.

Is. We. Can. Live. With. Consuming. Fire. He's. Answering. Who. Who. Who. Are. These. People. That. Can. Live. With. The. Consuming. Fire. What.

Are. They. Like. How. Would. I. Know. Them. How. Would. I. Know. If. I. One. Of. Them. They. Walk. Righteously. And.

He. Spells. That. Out. In. All. The. Various. Things. We. Do. With. The. Members. Of. Our. Bodies. There. Those. Are. Not. Only. Hear.

God's. Law. But. Put. It. Into. Practice. They. Live. Holy. Lives. As. Defined. By. God's. Law. That's. How. You. Can. Notice. Them. Those.

Blood. Washed. Those. Blood. Bought. Children. Of. God. You. See. There's. Two. Damning. Heirs. That. People. Fall. Into.

And. Isaiah. The. Lover. Of. Souls. And. Winner. Of. Souls. Attacks. Both. Of. Them. There's. The. Damning. Air. That. Thinks. I. Can. Be. Saved. Because.

Of. My. Holy. Life. And. Isaiah. Is. Forever. Leveling. Against. That. Argument. That. Because. I. Do. So. Many. Good. Things. I. Thereby.

Merit. Eternal. Life. By. My. Holy. Life. And. Isaiah. Will. Say. Oh. Your. Righteousness. What. Are. What. Are. Your. Righteousness. Is. All. Of. Them. Are. Filthy.

Rags. In. The. Sight. Of. The. Holy. One. You've. Never. Done. One. Thing. Absolutely. Holy. In. His. Sight. And. As. Long. As.

Men. Are. Hanging. On. To. What. They. Do. To. Save. Themselves. They. Can't. Be. Saved. The. Devil. Is. Taking. Many. To. Hell. Believing.

They're. Saved. Because. Of. Their. Holy. Life. But. That's. Not. The. Only. Way. Satan. Gets. People. To. Hell. There's. A. Second. Lie.

And. It's. Thinking. That. I. Can. Be. Saved. Without. Living. A. Holy. Life. Now. Listen. To. Me. Before. You. You. Draw. Conclusions. It's. The. Guy. Who.

With. His. Lips. Claims. To. Be. Trusting. In. Jesus. He'll. Tell. Us. Christ. Has. Forgiven. All. Of. His. Sins. Christ. Is. All. His. Righteousness. But.

His. Life. Is. And.

Don't. Have. To. Obey. God's. Laws. Because. Jesus. Obeyed. Them. For. Me. And. I. Don't. Need. To. Put. My. Sins. To. Death. Because. Jesus. Died. The. Death. For. My. Sins. And.

That. Air. Will. Take. A. Man. To. Hell. Just. As. Certainly. As. Trusting. In. His. Life. To. Save. Him. And. Here. Isaiah. Is. Found.

Pleading. With. Sinners. Not. To. Fall. Into. That. Ditch. Anymore. Than. The. Other. Ditch. Yes. Only. Jesus. Can. Forgive. Our. Sins. But.

How. Do. We. Know. Those. People. Whose. Sins. Are. For. For. For. Yes. It's. The. Thing. That. Causes. The. Fire. To. Devour. Us. Sin. We. Got.

Book. He. Said. How. Do. We. Know. Those. People. Who. Have. Had. Sin. That. That. Combustible. Fuel. That. God. In. His. Consuming. Wrath. Consumes. How. We. Know. Those.

People. For. Given. By. Christ. Well. You. Know. Them. Because. They. Bear. The. Stamp. Of. Righteousness. In. Their. Life. Because. The. Same. Lord.

Who. Gives. Them. His. Perfect. Righteousness. In. Heaven. Gives. Them. A. New. Heart. That. Loves. Righteousness. And. Hates. Iniquity. And.

He. Gives. Them. His. Own. Spirit. Who. Works. In. Them. A. Desire. To. To. Do. The. Things. That. Please. God. With. Their. Hands. And. Eyes. And. Ears. And. Mouth. And. Feet. And.

Who. Makes. Them. Careful. To. Obey. His. Commands. You. See. Just. How. Great. The. Grace. Of. God. Is. Yes. It. Brings. Righteousness. In. Heaven. To. Us. Through. Christ. And. That's.

What. Justifies. Us. On. The. Throne. Before. God. But. He. Does. More. Than. That. He. Comes. And. He. Puts. A. Righteous. Heart. That.

I. Command. And. He. Provides. It. All. And. So. Isaiah. Is. Telling. Us. How. We. Can. Identify. The. Forgiven. Man. It's. The. Same. Warning. Jesus.

Gives. On. The. Sermon. On. The. Mount. When. He. Preached. God's. Holy. Law. And. Then. Said. Not. Everyone. Who. Says. To. Me. Lord. Lord. Will. Enter. Into. The. Kingdom. But. Only. Those. Who. Do. The. Will. Of.

My. Father. Who. Is. In. Heaven. Not. Just. Those. Who. Hear. But. Those. Who. Put. Into. Practice. That's. Not. The. Way. You. Get. Into. Heaven. It's. Not. What. Jesus. Is. Saying. He. Says. That's. How. You. Know. If. You. On. Your.

Way. To. Heaven. And. There's. A. World. Of. Difference. This. Is. The. Man. Then. Isaiah. Who. Says. Who. Will. Be. Able. To. Dwell. Safely. With. The. Consuming. Fire.

He. Will. Dwell. On. High. With. God. And. The. Rest. Of. The. Chapter. Isaiah. Spells. Out. The. Blessings. Of. Salvation. That. Are. One. By. Our. King. When. Is.

That. We. Get. To. Dwell. With. Him. Just. Just. That. Itself. We. Get. To. Dwell. With. Him. Your. Eyes. Will. See. The. King. In. His. Beauty. And. View. The. Land. That.

Stretches. Before. You. Just. To. Know. Christ. And. To. Be. With. And. That. Is. Life. Eternal. And. Verse. 18. Says. All.

That. Used. To. Threaten. And. Trouble. You. Will. Be. A. Distant. Memory. You. You. Ponder. The. Former. Terror. Asking. Where. Is. That. Chief. Officer. Of. Assyria. The. One. Who. Was.

Outside. Collecting. All. The. Taxes. Where. Is. The. Officer. In. Charge. Of. Building. Those. Towers. Outside. The. City. Where. Is. He. Where. Have. Have. They. Gone. You.

Will. See. Those. Arrogant. People. No. More. Those. People. Of. An. Obscure. Speech. With. A. Strange. Incomprehensible. Language. We're. Being. Told. That. One. Of. The. Sources. Of. Wonder. In. Heaven.

Will. Be. The. Complete. Absence. Of. Sin. And. Its. Consequences. Those. Troubles. That. Kept. You. Awake. At. Night. Stewing. About. Them. You're.

A. Syrian. Outside. The. Wall. Those. Troubles. You. Woke. Up. To. Every. Morning. There. They. Are. They. Didn't. Go. Away. Nighttime. Didn't. Change. Things. They're. Here. Again. They'll. Be. Here. Probably. The. Rest.

Of. My. Days. All. Those. Troubles. That. That. Haunted. You. That. Seemed. So. Much. Where's that.

Troublesome. Flesh. And. And. That. Besetting. Sin. Where's that. Proud. And. Selfish. Heart. Of. Mine. That. I. Thought. Every. Day. Of. My. Life. Where's. That. Threatening. Problem.

That. Long. Illness. Gone. You. Will. See. Them. No. More. They'll. Only. Be. A. A. Distant. Memory. In. Your. Mind. And. You'll. Think. Back. Upon. Them. And.

The. Things. Of. Earth. That. Caused. The. Heart. To. Tremble. Remembered. There. Will. Only. Bring. A. Smile. As. You. Remember. Where. Are. They. They're. Gone. And.

Instead. Of. The. Besieged. Jerusalem. Surrounding. Surrounded. By. Enemies. Your. Eyes. Will. See. Jerusalem. A. Peaceful. Abode. Secure. Unmoved. Every. Threat. With.

His. People. For. The. Lord. Is. Our. Judge. The. Lord. Is. Our. Lawgiver. The. Lord. Is. Our. King. It. Is. He. Who. Will. Save. Us. So.

You. See. The. Big. Question. Of. The. Of. The. Whole. First. Thirty. Nine. Chapters. Of. Isaiah. Indeed. The. Big. Question. Of. Your. Life. Is. This. Can. You. Trust. In. The. Lord.

For. Your. Security. Your. Safety. Your. Prosperity. Your. Blessing. Or. Or. Will. You. Turn. To. Other.

Know. Nothing. Helpers. And. Isaiah. Is. Shouting. To. Us. In. The. Pages. Of. Of. His. Prophecies. You. Can. Trust. Him. He. Is. Our. King. It. Is. He. Who. Will.

Save. Us. You. Can. Go. To. The. Bank. With. That. He. Will. Save. Us. There. Is. None. Other. Savior. We. Need. None. Other. So.

Put. Your. Trust. In. Him. And. Live. And. The. Chapter. Concludes. With. A. Picture. Of. Zion. As. A. Ship. All. Right. We're. Going. To. Look. At. The. Nation. State. Of. The.

Nation. Address. She's. A. Ship. But. Oh. She's. A. Ship. In. Bad. Shape. Verse. Twenty. Three. Her. Ropes. Are. Hanging. Loose. Her. Mast.

Is. Wobbly. Her. Sail. Is. Not. Spread. That's. The. Present. State. Of. Jerusalem. As. Isaiah. Is. Preaching. To. Them. It's. In. Critical.

Condition. But. That. Does. Not. Change. One. Bit. The. Fact. That. She. Has. A. Glorious. Future. That. Is. Coming. Not.

Because. We're. In. Such. Great. Shape. We. Aren't. And. God. Acknowledges. That. We're. We're. Poor. And. Needy. We're. Threatened. We're. Harassed. We're. Often. Wobbly. We're. Coming. Apart.

We're. Barely. Afloat. We're. Like. A. Battered. Ship. In. Disrepair. But. Our. Glorious. Future. Does. Not. Depend. On.

That. In. The. Least. We. Will. Make. It. Into. That. Glorious. Harbor. Of. Heaven. Because. Of. Our. King. Who. Is. Mighty. For. Us. It. Is. He.

Who. Will. Save. Us. Our. King. Who. Reigns. Over. Everything. For. Our. Good. He. Will. Save. Us. Our. King. Will. Forgive. All.

Of. Our. Sins. And. Heal. All. Of. Our. Diseases. Verse. 24. And. No. One. Living. In. Zion. Will. Say. I. Am. Ill. Won't. That. Be. Nice. No.

One. Will. Ever. Say. Those. Three. Words. I. Am. Ill. Where. They. Go. It. Gone. Christ. Has. Taken. It. Away. And.

Then. These. Words. And. The. Sins. Of. Those. Who. Dwell. There. Will. Be. For. Given. Indeed. This. King. Will. Save. His. People. From. Their. Sins. And.

This. Closing. Reference. To. The. Forgiveness. Of. Sins. Reminds. Us. That. Our. Greatest. Problem. In. Life. Is. Not. The. Assyrians. Banging. On. Our. Gates. It's. Not. The. Outward. Troubles. That. We. Face. Every. Day.

Our. Greatest. Problem. Is. Sin. Sin. The. Thing. That. Separates. Us. From. God. In. Time. And. Eternity. That's. Our. Greatest. Problem. And. My. Greatest. Need. Is.

Not. To. Have. This. Or. That. Trouble. Taken. Away. From. My. Life. But. It's. To. Have. My. Sins. Taken. Will.

Be. For. Given. I. Have. Received. Many. Many. Blessings. In. My. Life. From. The. Lord. But. None. Greater. Than. This. That. My. Sin. Not. In. Part. But.

The. Whole. Was. Nailed. To. His. Cross. And. I. Bear. It. No. More. Praise. The. Lord. Praise. The. Lord. Oh. My. Soul. I'm.

For. Given. There's. The. Gospel. That's. How. We. Get. Into. The. Kingdom. That's. How. We. Enter. That. Harbor. At. Last. It's. Through. The. Merits. Of. Jesus.

Blood. For. Us. Are. You. For. For. Do. You. Know. That. If. You. Should. Show. Up. In. Judgment. Today. Not.

A. Sin. Would. Be. Held. Against. You. Because. Your. Faith. Is. In. Jesus. Do. Know. That. No. Sinner. Can. Perish. Who. Is. Trusting. In. The. Blood. Of. Jesus. No. Sinner.

Can. Be. Sent. To. Hell. Who. Is. Looking. To. Jesus. As. Their. Only. Hope. For. Eternal. Life. Look. And. Live. Even. Today.

If. You. Quit. Trying. To. Save. Yourself. Look. And. Live. He's. More. Ready. To. Save. You. Than. You. Are. To. Be. Saved. And. So. We.

Come. To. The. End. Of. Isaiah. 33. Do. You. Know. The. Purpose. For. The. Preaching. Of. The. Word. Of. God. It's. To. Bring. Us. To. Have. Heart. To. Heart. Dealings.

With. God. He. Has. Spoken. To. Us. We've. Been. Listening. He's. Now. Listening. To. Hear. Our. Response. To. What.

He. Said. Would. You. Take. A. Moment. And. Respond. To. Him. There. In. Your. Seat. To. What. He. Said. Maybe. Need. To. Tell. Him. And. Praise. Him. For. For.

Your. For. For. For. For. You. You. Need. To. Ask. Him. To. Forgive. Whatever. You. Need. To. Submit. To. This. King. To. Turn. Your. Future. Over. Into. His. Hands. And. Oh.

Lord. I. Trust. You. I. Trust. You. Do. It. Now. As. We. Pray. Quietly. Have. Dealings. With. The. Lord. And. I'll. Close. In. Prayer. We.

Do. Bow. Our. Holy. Holy. King. And. We. Confess. That. We. Have. Sinned. Against. You. And. Looking. To. Other. Helpers. We. Confess. How.

Gracious. You. Have. Been. To. To. Let. Us. Hit. The. Bottom. And. To. Show. Us. The. Worthlessness. Of. Other. Saviors. We. Confess. There's. No. Grace. Like. Yours. That. Even.

When. We. Turn. To. You. As. Last. Resort. And.

So. We're. Here. To. Praise. Your. Name. We're. Here. To. Ask. You. To. Hold. Yourself. Before. Our. Eyes. And. To. Not. Let. Us. Forget. You. Be.

Our. Strength. Every. Morning. Be. Our. Salvation. In. Time. Of. Distress. Be. The. First. One. We. Run. To. In. Our. Troubles. And. Lord. Be. Glorified. By.

Showing. Yourself. As. The. Powerful. Mighty. Gracious. Redeeming. King. That. You. Are. We. Offer. Ourselves.

Up. To. You. Afresh. Glad. To. Be. In. Your. Hands. Glad. To. Be. In. Your. Side. And. We. Pray. In. Jesus. Name. Amen.