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[0:00] Our scripture reading will be Isaiah 66, verses 1-6. He who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

[0:36] But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man. Whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck. Whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood.

[0:52] And whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations.

[1:03] So I also will choose harsh treatment for them, and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I call, no one answered. When I spoke, no one listened.

[1:15] They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me. Hear the word of the Lord. You who tremble at his word. Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said, Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.

[1:35] Yet they will be put to shame. Hear that uproar from the city. Hear the noise from the temple. It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve.

[1:48] Did you think about the new world coming this week? Was there anything in this world that you bumped up against this week in the way of death and suffering and sorrow and frustration that won't be in that world?

[2:06] And therefore, remember what it is you're looking forward to. Here at the end of his book, Isaiah is speaking of the wonderful things that God has prepared for his people.

[2:20] A whole new world. Behold, I will create. A new heavens and a new earth. A whole new environment. A whole new quality of life.

[2:31] Eternal life in a perfect society. Where God himself will dwell with his perfected people forever and ever. Now in this last chapter, chapter 66, God through Isaiah is calling us to make sure that we will be there.

[2:49] This is not a place you want to miss. The alternative is as horrible as the new heavens and new earth are wonderful.

[3:00] So be sure you are one of those who will enjoy this forever. That's the thrust of God. And I wonder if we can't even sense something of the heart of God then towards us in that.

[3:15] I take no delight in the death of the wicked. Why will you not rather turn and live? We see his heart. Make sure you will be there.

[3:27] Now, what is the identifying mark? Of all who are destined for the new heavens and the new earth. What do all God's people have in common? That marks them as people for the new world.

[3:41] This is important. It may surprise you. It may not be what you think God would say. But it is trembling at his word. That's the identifying mark.

[3:52] That's the first point. And it's the main point in this whole section. Trembling at God's word marks all true people of God. It's how they're described in verse 5.

[4:04] He talks to them and describes them. You who tremble at my word. That's another name for them. A description of them. And then in verse 2 especially. He says, This is the one I esteem.

[4:16] This is the one I look upon with favor and high regard. This is the one where I focus my gaze. He who is humble and contrite in spirit.

[4:27] Who trembles at my word. What is this? Trembling. Notice it's joined with humility and contrition in spirit.

[4:40] So right away we're talking about the heart of man. The core of man. The place where only God can see in our spirits. And when God looks into these hearts. What he sees is humility.

[4:53] Humility. Humility is always the result of right views of God and of self. One who's been confronted with God's greatness. Feels one's own smallness.

[5:06] And one who has been confronted with God's holiness. Feels one's own sinfulness. And it lays him low. And makes him humble in spirit.

[5:17] Low. Before the Lord. A humble awareness of who we are. Before this awesome God of the Bible. They're humble in spirit. But they're humble and contrite in spirit.

[5:29] That's a word we don't use much today. What does it mean to be contrite? Well in the physical realm. Contrite. Is a word. That refers to lameness.

[5:41] Being unable to walk. The same word. Contrite. Unable to walk. Lame. And so to be contrite in spirit. It's to feel your spiritual lameness.

[5:55] It's to feel. To be aware of your spiritual weakness. And inability to walk before the Lord. In a way that's pleasing to him. Your helplessness. To obey him with your own resources.

[6:09] And being broken because of it. You're contrite. You're broken. Because of your weakness. And inability. Humble.

[6:21] And contrite in spirit. It's interesting that according to the Lord Jesus. The very first beatitude. That marks all who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Is blessed are the poor in spirit.

[6:34] For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. That's the same identifying mark. That Isaiah is talking about. This humility. And contrition. A lowliness of spirit. Before the Lord.

[6:46] That knows our smallness. Our sinfulness. Our inability. And need of his mercy. And his grace. That described Isaiah himself. You remember in chapter 6.

[6:57] When Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up. He gets very low. Doesn't he? God's glory not only shook the temple. It shook Isaiah to the core.

[7:08] And this one who in chapter 5. Had said woe to you. Woe to you. Woe to you. Is now saying woe to me. I'm ruined.

[7:18] For I'm a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people. Of unclean lips. And my eyes have seen the King. The Lord Almighty. Humility.

[7:30] Contrition. Lowliness. Lowliness. Of spirit. The same thing marked that Gentile centurion. And with the sick servant. In Luke chapter 7.

[7:42] And Jesus was not far from the house. He's going to heal his servant. And the centurion sends friends out. To say to him. Lord don't trouble yourself.

[7:52] For I am not worthy to have you. Come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself. Worthy to come to you. Just speak the word. And my servant will be healed. You see to be humble.

[8:05] And contrite in spirit. Is to realize your unworthiness. To be in the presence of God. That man had it. Isaiah had it. The true remnant of Israel had it.

[8:17] All the people of God. Have this about them. Wherever God is known to be big. Man sees himself as small. And needy. Before the Lord.

[8:28] And so God says in Isaiah 61. The one that I esteem. The one that I hold high in my eyes. Is low in his own eyes. But preeminently this person.

[8:43] Is then described in his response. To God's word. You notice that. He trembles at my word. That's the mark.

[8:55] He trembles at my word. God's word is held. In highest reverence and awe. Because. The God who speaks it.

[9:07] Is held in highest reverence and awe. So the God they fear. Is the God whose word they tremble before. Now.

[9:18] When we were young. We had many different babysitters. And one of our favorites. Was a dear old lady. Who had never heard a flea. And we knew that.

[9:28] And so we had a lot of fun. When she was the babysitter. And it would come time. For her to say. It's time to go to bed boys. Time to go to bed. And I assure you.

[9:41] No one trembled at her words. And we just dismissed her words. And carried on with our fun. As if she had never spoken. Amen. Now I assure you.

[9:53] That when my father. Spoke those very same words. We responded differently. We scampered to bed.

[10:05] Our view of someone. Is seen. In how we respond. To their words. Our father. Oh we held him.

[10:16] In high regard. And so when he spoke. We obeyed. And that's the way it is with God. When we see him for the great. Majestic.

[10:27] Holy. Glorious God that he is. When he speaks. We tremble before him. We tremble at his word. We don't take it lightly.

[10:38] We don't take it flippantly. We don't say. Oh take it or leave it. No. This word carries weight. It comes with authority. To our hearts. A unique authority. That is.

[10:49] His alone. And we say. This word is not the word of man. But the word of God. And so we tremble at it. It comes with weight.

[11:01] More than a thousand other voices. It doesn't matter how many. How loud. How learned. Those other voices are. This is the voice of God. We tremble at this one.

[11:12] It trumps all other voices. And it even trumps our own voices. And our own thoughts. And our own desires. It carries more weight. Than what I want.

[11:23] And what I think. All of this must bow to what God says. To bow to his word. To tremble to his word. Involves unconditional surrender to it.

[11:34] Where the conscience is captive. To the word of God. God. So that means that. I believe things. Just because he says them.

[11:48] Can you identify things in your life. That you believe. The world may scoff at. But you believe them. Why? Because God said them. And there are things that you do.

[11:59] And don't do. Simply because. It's in God's word. And so. God's word. Comes to you with weight.

[12:11] And authority. And you tremble at it. And more and more. Your life. Is looking like. The word of God. Because it's at work within you.

[12:22] And God comes. And he speaks to you. And what he says. Carries weight. And you don't pick and choose. That's the highest arrogance. No this is humble. Contrite.

[12:32] Trembling at his word. So we take all that God has said. So Samuel says. Speak Lord. Your servant is listening. Whatever you say.

[12:44] I do. And Isaiah. Hearing the voice of the Lord. Calling. Responds. Here am I. Send me. And Paul. Hearing that voice. On the road to Damascus.

[12:54] Says. Lord. What would you have me to do? And David. Says. My flesh trembles. In fear of you. I stand in awe. Of your laws. My heart trembles.

[13:06] At your word. Psalm 119. 161. And our Lord Jesus. In Gethsemane. Says. Not my will. But yours be done.

[13:18] Whatever you say. All you say. That's trembling. At God's word. And that's the description. Of the righteous remnant. In Israel. As you see it again.

[13:29] In verse 5. You. Who tremble. At my word. It's a description. An identifying mark. And it's the very essence. Of true religion. The fear of God.

[13:41] That trembles. Before him. Now. If people are to humbly. Tremble. Before God's word. They've got to see. How great God is. So. Isaiah begins.

[13:52] With. The greatness. Of God. In this chapter. He's going to talk about. Worship in the temple. But he wants to impress upon them. God's greatness. His immensity. How big he is.

[14:04] And notice how he does it. Verses 1 and 2. This is what the Lord says. Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. Where's the house. You're going to build for me.

[14:17] Where will my resting place be. Has not my hand made all these things. And so they came into being. Declares the Lord. Now. Before we go on. That's another. Good test.

[14:28] Right here. Isn't it. As to. Whether man trembles at God's word. Do you believe what he says. Right here. About the origins of the universe. And everything in it.

[14:40] That it didn't come into being. By natural evolutionary processes. And time. And chance. But that. His hand. His power. Made all these things. And so they exist.

[14:53] Now that's not what you'll read. In most textbooks. Or find. Most university professors teaching. Certainly not what you'll find. Being taught at our national. And state parks. At the wonders of creation.

[15:08] But by faith. We understand. That the universe was formed. At God's command. So that what is seen. Was not made out of what. Was visible. The one.

[15:21] Word. That carries weight. With us. Is not man's. But God's. And he says. In the beginning. God. Created. The heavens.

[15:32] And the earth. And because he says it. We tremble at his word. We receive it. And we enjoy his creation. As just that. What he has made. So how big is this God.

[15:46] Who speaks. His word. Well he reigns over the entire universe. His throne is in heaven. And his. The whole earth. Is nothing more than just a little footstool for him. Wow.

[15:58] That's a big. God. And he says. So. So where are you going to. Get all that lumber. To build a house for me. You're going to need a lot. Aren't you. If I. Thrones in heaven.

[16:09] And my footstool is on earth. And you're going to build a house. For me. Now. To be sure. God does not have a body like men. But he's out to shatter the little thoughts that men have about him.

[16:26] And they think that they got God in the box. When they got God in the temple. And they need to think otherwise. Solomon knew this. As he built his 90 by 30 foot temple.

[16:38] He said. The heavens. Even the highest heaven. Cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built. But men easily fell into errors.

[16:48] Concerning the worship of God. In that very temple. Thinking that they had God in the box. As long as we have the temple. Then we've got God on our side. And we're safe.

[17:00] Jeremiah preached to these same people. In chapter 7. A little later on. In their history. But he says to them. Do not trust in deceptive words.

[17:11] And say. This is the temple of the Lord. The temple of the Lord. The temple of the Lord. Will you steal and murder. Commit adultery and perjury.

[17:22] Burn incense to Baal. And follow other gods you've not known. And then come and stand before me in this house. Which bears my name. And say. We are safe. Safe to do all these detestable things.

[17:35] As this house which bears my name. Become a den of robbers to you. But I have been watching. Declares the Lord. You see their trust. In the temple.

[17:46] We've got the temple. Oh then we've got God. Then we're safe. You saw that same attitude with. The little box of the covenant. When they're fighting against the Philistines. Oh we lost. We didn't have the temple.

[17:57] We didn't have the box. We didn't have God. Now let's go get the box. And they were defeated. God saying. I'm not anointed box. And you start thinking that I'm confined and contained in any place.

[18:08] You'll find. Reality to be different. So they're trusting in the temple. In their worship there. To ward off. All troubles and judgments. Thinking that using the temple worship.

[18:20] Was a way to manipulate God. I can ignore his moral commands. I can steal murder. Commit adultery. And lie. And burn incense to bail. But yet I can pacify him then.

[18:34] By entering into the temple. And offering the sacrifices. And offerings that he requires. And he'll be happy. And I'll be happy. And we'll all be happy. And safe. Now such irreverent worship.

[18:46] Comes from small views of God. And that's what God is saying. Oh you've got the wrong God. In your mind. Don't think for a moment. That outward performance.

[18:57] Of the commanded rituals. Of the temple. Is all I require. Or even what I am most looking for. No. This is the one I esteem. He who is humble. And contrite.

[19:08] In spirit. And who trembles. At my word. He can forsake. Temple buildings.

[19:19] If they do not. Keep his word. And indeed. He did. Just that. And this temple. That they were trusting in. Would be burned. And trampled on. A desolate place.

[19:33] But they must know. That what God is after. Is a humble heart. That trembles at his word. Isaiah 57. 15. This is what the high and lofty one says. He who inhabits. Eternity.

[19:44] Whose name is holy. I live in a high and holy place. But also with him. Who is contrite. And lowly in spirit. This is where he's pleased to dwell. Not in your polished temple.

[19:56] Where you keep. Trying to satisfy me. With your. Your offerings. No. A heart. That's humble. Contrite. Trembling. At all that I say. So trembling at his word.

[20:08] Is the hallmark. Of all God's people. The second point. We see in this passage. Is it's absence. That is the absence of trembling. Makes all worship. Detestable to God.

[20:20] It's absence. Makes all worship. Detestable to God. God was speaking. But most in Israel. Were not trembling. He said. Don't steal your neighbor's things. Or his wife. In fact. Don't even covet.

[20:31] Them. Or lust after them. Don't lie. Don't murder. Don't. Don't even harbor hatred. Remember the Sabbath day. By keeping it holy.

[20:41] Honor your father. And your mother. And rather. At trembling. At God's word. And obeying it. They were going on. Their own sinful ways. As if God had never spoken. They were ignoring him.

[20:52] And his word. You see that in verse 4b. For when I called. No one answered. When I spoke. No one listened. They did evil in my sight. And chose what displeases me. Notice that.

[21:02] They did evil. In my sight. In my face. So your two year old. Is in the. Family room. And she's reaching out.

[21:13] Her hand. To touch the plug. In the electrical outlet. And you say. No. Don't touch. And she immediately. Pulls back her hand. Showing that she knows.

[21:25] What no. Means. And you repeat. Shaking your head. No. Don't touch. No. And she squints her eyes.

[21:37] And looks right at you. And slowly reaches out her hand. And touches it anyway. It's not childishness.

[21:50] To be laughed at. It's rebellion. She doesn't fear you mom. And so she doesn't tremble.

[22:03] At your words. And that's what Israel was doing to God. You choose what displeases me. In my sight. I've spoken about the way you're to live.

[22:16] And you just go on any way you want. As if I'd never spoken. And yet.

[22:29] Here they come. Traipsing into the temple. With their bulls. And their lambs. And their grain. And their incense. They're keeping up. All the rituals of temple worship. Trusting that these offerings.

[22:40] Will satisfy God. They'll make up. For the rest. And God says. Your thoughts of me. Are far too small. If you think I can be appeased. By throwing me the bone.

[22:51] Of your temple worship. While your heart runs after. Your own ways. And you refuse to reverence me. And my words enough. To obey them. You're wrong. You're just wrong. So let me tell you.

[23:03] What I think of your worship. Verse 3. Whoever sacrifices a bull. Is like one who kills a man. So here he comes. Here comes the Israelite.

[23:13] He's just stolen something that week. And he's. Been lusting after his neighbor's wife. And he comes into the temple. He's got a bull.

[23:24] Which was required by the law. Which was. What the Israelites were to bring. And God says. I receive that bull. As if you just brought in. Before me. A corpse of a man.

[23:35] You murdered last night. That's how satisfying. It is to me. And whoever offers a lamb.

[23:46] It's like one who breaks a dog's neck. An unclean animal. That was never to be offered to God. An offense. To offer a dog. And whoever makes a grain offering.

[23:58] Again. Commanded by the law. Is like one who presents pig's blood. Another unclean animal. That was not to be offered. And whoever burns memorial incense. Is like one who worships an idol.

[24:09] Is like you just drug in an idol to Baal. And bowed down and worshipped. While you went through your. Memorial. Incense. Offering. In other words. He's not pleased.

[24:20] He's not impressed. What made their temple worship. According to Mosaic law. So offensive to God. He tells us. They have chosen their own ways. And their souls delight. In their abomination.

[24:31] They don't fear my words. They don't tremble at my word. They do what they want. As if I had not spoken. It was mere conformity. To the ceremonial laws.

[24:42] Of the temple. While ignoring. The moral. Laws. Of God. And it revealed their hearts. That didn't tremble. At God. Or his word. And as long as God's.

[24:54] Moral commandments. Are ignored. All their rituals. At the temple. Were not only worthless. They were highly offensive. To God. They were abominable.

[25:05] Abominable. They were detestable. Like murder. Idolatry. And offering. Unclean animals. No wonder.

[25:17] He said to them. That all their righteous acts. Were like one. Who was offering. Filthy. Rags. Now this was not.

[25:28] Some new. Problem. In Israel. Here at the end of the book. If you will remember. Chapter one. He took up. The very same. Problem. Way back.

[25:39] At the beginning. Verses 11. And through 17. The multitude. Of your sacrifices. What are they to me? Says the Lord. I have no pleasure.

[25:50] In them. Who's asked this of you? This trampling. Of my court. Stop bringing. Meaningless offerings. Your incense. Is detestable to me. I cannot bear. Your evil assemblies. My soul hates them.

[26:00] They've become a burden. To me. I am weary. Of burying them. Take your evil deeds. Out of my sight. Stop doing wrong. And learn to do right. That's chapter one. And he's still at it. In chapter 66.

[26:12] Forty years. Of ministry later. Can you see. Why God says. All day long. I've been calling. And holding out my hands. And you have been. A stubborn.

[26:23] Obstinate people. Forty years. Of Isaiah's. Pleading. And preaching. And it's still. The same order of business. In Israel's worship. All will keep up.

[26:34] The religious ceremonies. Of the temple. But we will not. Be ordered. By God's word. We will not tremble. Before it. You remember.

[26:45] That was King Saul. He didn't fear God. Enough to tremble. At his words. As king of Israel. God commanded him. To totally destroy. Their enemies. The Amalekites.

[26:55] Don't spare anyone. Don't spare. Anything. Of theirs. Completely. Destroy it all. And. So Saul. Goes off. And.

[27:06] Instead of. Doing so. He kept the king. And the very best. Of the animals. Some of his men. Probably said to him. Wouldn't. Wouldn't it be a shame. To waste. These fine animals. And. And Saul.

[27:17] Listened to his men. Instead of. Trembling at the. Word of God. So he kept. The best. Of the animals. Later Samuel. The prophet of God. Comes. Back into camp.

[27:28] And he says. What is this. Bleating of sheep. And lowing of cattle. That I hear. Oh. Saul says. Well. The soldiers. They brought them. From the Amalekites. They. They just spared. The best.

[27:38] Of the sheep. And the cattle. But. But it was. To sacrifice. To the Lord. You see. These are. These are. Animals. For sacrifices. To God. The rest. We totally.

[27:49] Destroyed. Do you see. How men. Belittle. God. With their. Ideas. Of worship. Without obedience. Samuel replied. Does the Lord.

[27:59] Delight. In burnt offerings. And sacrifices. As much. As in. Obeying. The voice. Of the Lord. To obey. Is better. Than sacrifice.

[28:10] And to heed. Is better. Than the fat. Of rams. For rebellion. Is like the sin. Of divination. And arrogance. Like the evil. Of idolatry. And because you. Have rejected. The word of the Lord. He has rejected.

[28:20] You. As king. That's the same thing. That made Israel's. Worship. Stink in heaven. The very same thing. What was missing?

[28:33] A humble. Contrite heart. That trembled. At God's word. Sadly. It must be lamented. Today. That this. Most pop. This is the most popular. Brand of Christianity.

[28:43] In our own day. It's very short. On the fear of God. And trembling. At his word. Where professing. Christians. Choose their own way.

[28:53] All week long. Rather than ordering. Their lives. According to God's word. And yet. They think. That they're good. With God. Because of their. Weekly visit. To the temple.

[29:03] The temple. Of the Lord. The temple. Of the Lord. Their weekly visit. To the confessional. Or to a protestant. Service. Of worship. Where they walk an aisle.

[29:13] Pray a prayer. Give their money. Sing and pray. And listen to preaching. Go home and feel better. About themselves. But do not change. Their sinful ways. Tell me. If that's not. All too common.

[29:27] Among those. Who call themselves. The people of God. You see. The church. Has given the world. Just what they want. A Christianity. With no preaching. Of God's law.

[29:38] And holiness. A Christianity. With no preaching. On man's sin. And need to repent. As well as to confess. Where you can have your cake. And eat it too. You can have your sin.

[29:49] In heaven too. You can keep going. Your own way. And still make it to heaven. Just believe. Just believe. But Jesus said. If you don't repent.

[30:01] You will perish. Jesus said. To the woman. Caught in adultery. Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you.

[30:11] Now go. And sin. No more. Jesus said. To an invalid. That he healed. Who had been. Lame for 38 years. Stop sinning.

[30:22] Lest something worse. Happens to you. He tells the religious crowd. Not everyone who says to me. Lord, Lord. Will enter the kingdom of heaven. But only he who does.

[30:33] The will of my father. Who is in heaven. The only salvation. Jesus came. To bring. Is a salvation. From sin.

[30:44] And beware. Of popular religion. Of the day. Beware. Of grace. Without law. Beware. Of faith. Without repentance. Beware.

[30:55] Of a savior. Without a lord. To bow before. Beware. Beware. Of a consumer attitude.

[31:06] In worship. Where you come. And sit back. And you check it out. And you analyze. And you evaluate. Where the music. And the preaching. Suits your fancy. Or not.

[31:17] The bible says. Something much. Bigger. Is happening here. According to Jesus. In revelation. Two and three. He is here.

[31:29] And he is checking us out. He is here. And he's evaluating us. And what he wants to know. Is what we're doing. With his word. Are we trembling.

[31:41] At it. And not just here. He follows us home. And he wants to see. What we're doing. With the word there. In relationship. To our husband. Our wife.

[31:52] Our children. Our parents. Our neighbor. And he follows us. Into our room. And he looks over our shoulders. We access the internet.

[32:03] And he wants to know. Are they. Are they trembling. Before my word. And he goes to work with us. Goes to school with us. He goes wherever we go.

[32:14] Goes into the dark. Into the. The private place. Do they tremble. At my word. Beware. Of a consumer attitude.

[32:26] And worship. Beware of all the belittling ways. That. We can do. Even in the worship. Of God. Even in that which is called. Christianity.

[32:37] So whatever is missing. In your worship. In life. Don't let. This be missing. A trembling. At God's word.

[32:47] Because. Where that's absent. It makes all worship. Detestable. To God. Thirdly. Its presence. Draws persecution. From those.

[32:58] Without it. Its presence. That is. Those who tremble. At God's word. Will draw persecution. From those. Who don't tremble. At his word. Verse five.

[33:09] Hear the word of the Lord. You who tremble. At his word. God's speaking. To his tremblers. Hear the word of the Lord. You who tremble. At his word. Your brothers. Who hate you. And exclude you. Because of my name.

[33:19] Have said. Let the Lord. Be glorified. That we may see your joy. And yet. They will be put to shame. I don't need to tell you. That people who tremble.

[33:30] At God's word. Are not popular. People. They're often. The criticized. And persecuted. The mocked. And hated. And excluded. By those who do not.

[33:42] Revere God's word. So you are excluded. Guys. From that inner group. Of immoral. Popular guys. Because you don't laugh. At their filthy talk. And you don't look.

[33:52] At their porn. You're excluded. Because you tremble. At the word of God. That says. Get rid of. All moral. Filth. And girls.

[34:04] You're excluded. From the popular. Gang of girls. Because you're kind. To the girl. That they're all jealous of. And have agreed. To slander. Because.

[34:16] You tremble. At God's word. That says. Rid yourselves. Of all malice. And envy. And slander. Of every kind. And qualified judges.

[34:27] Are not put on the high courts. Because they tremble. At God's word. That says. Abortion. Is murder. And qualified professors. Are not given tenure. And grants.

[34:37] Because they don't believe. In evolution. But rather tremble. At God's word. When he says. In the beginning. God created. The heavens. And the earth. And good workers.

[34:48] Are not given raises. And advancements. Because they won't steal. Or lie for the boss. Because they tremble. At the seventh. And eighth. Or the eighth. And the ninth. Commandment. Of God. And some have even.

[34:59] Lost their jobs. Because they tremble. And their employers. Didn't. So Craig James. A commentator. For Fox Sports.

[35:09] Was fired last month. For something he said. A year ago. When he was asked. About his views. On homosexuality. And same-sex marriage. He said. He could not support. Unbiblical behavior.

[35:20] Neither should any other. Civil leader. And when they asked. If he believed. Homosexuals choose. To be gay. He said. Yes. I think it's a choice. And they're going to have. To answer to the Lord.

[35:31] For their actions. And he included himself. Just as I am going to. We all are going to have. To answer. To the Lord. He was gracious. In what he said. In the way he said it.

[35:43] But he was excluded. From his job. No room for you here. A Fox. Spokesman said. James words. Do not line up. With our human resource department.

[35:54] Well that's because. Their human resource department. Does not line up. With God's word. They did not tremble. At God's word. And they will punish.

[36:05] Those who do. That's. The way it's always been. Don't be surprised. At this. Even among professing.

[36:16] Believers. Even among people. Who claim to be. God's people. Notice he says. In verse five. Your brothers. Who hate you. You see. They're not your spiritual. But they're your physical brothers.

[36:28] They're children of Abraham. Naturally. Just as you are. And. And they're content. To tip the hat. To God. In their. Ritualistic worship. And go on living. For themselves. Ignoring God's commandments.

[36:40] And those people. Have always. Hated and excluded. Those who tremble. At God's word. That's why. There was never. A true prophet.

[36:50] Jesus said. That the Jews. Did not persecute. The prophets. Trembled. At God's word. And the people. Didn't. That's why. The religious leaders. Had the Lord Jesus. Himself.

[37:00] Put to death. He trembled. At God's word. And they didn't. That's why. Stephen. The martyrs. Were persecuted. By religious people. Those who claim. To be the people.

[37:11] Of God. That's why. The man. Blind from birth. Whom Jesus healed. When the Jewish rulers. Asked. Who healed you? He said. It's Jesus. And they.

[37:22] Had already decided. That anyone. Who acknowledged. That Jesus. Was the Messiah. Would be excluded. Put out. Of the synagogue. He stood up. For Jesus.

[37:33] And they threw him out. They excluded him. There were four years. In the middle. Of the 1500s. Just four years. When 288.

[37:44] Protestants. Were burned. At the stake. In England. By Roman. The Roman church. Not because they were murderers. Or drunkards. Or thieves. Or immoral people. They were some. Of England's finest.

[37:59] And holiest. But they were burned. At the stake. Simply because they trembled. At God's word. And would not. Budge. From it. You see. There. There really is no way.

[38:10] For a revival. Of true religion. To come. Without conflict. Perfect. You've been praying for God. To come down. And shake this wall. This earth. And to do something. In our day. That he might make his name.

[38:23] Known for who he is. And save more and more people. A revival of true religion. Will not come without conflict. Why? Because people. Are deeply committed.

[38:33] To their own way. Isaiah 53. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. We have all turned to our own way. And when you come and say, no, no, it's God that we must fear and tremble before his word.

[38:48] They feel threatened. Oh, I like to manage God. I like to keep him. You know, moderation in all things. Don't be too strong about this holiness thing. So those who do not tremble at God's word are often the ones who exclude and hate and persecute those who do.

[39:06] If you believe and obey what God says, you march to the beat of a different drummer and they'll make you pay for your nonconformity to the majority report.

[39:18] But in the last analysis, I ask you, would you really want to be liked by a world that killed your savior and slaughtered his prophets?

[39:30] No wonder Jesus says. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful and adulterous generation, the son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his father's glory with his holy angels.

[39:51] Yes, they're mocking the God fearing. You people who always say you rejoice to see the Lord glorified and they take up their very words.

[40:05] Well, let's see God's glory and your joy as we show you to the door and exclude you and push you out. You don't belong here. And they mock them and they put them to shame. But notice how verse five ends.

[40:18] Yet they will be put to shame. They're making fun of those who tremble at God's word. And God says, I'm going to pull a reversal.

[40:31] And they'll be the ones brought to shame. And that brings us to our final point in this passage this morning, that God's judgment is sure and eternal for those without it.

[40:42] That is, without trembling at God's word. Verse six. It is they that will be put to shame. Hear the uproar from the city. Hear that noise from the temple.

[40:54] It's the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve. You see how the shame will come back upon these religious sinners who have excluded the God fears as if they don't belong.

[41:10] But in this day, it will be seen that they are the real enemies of God and they will be excluded from the new heavens and the new earth. They will be the ones repaid by the Lord in judgment.

[41:25] In Revelation 3.9, God says, Christ says, I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews, though they are not, but are liars.

[41:35] I will make them to come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. So they put you out. You don't belong in the people of God. We're the people of God.

[41:48] I'm going to turn the tables. I'm going to make them come and bow down and recognize that I have loved you. How the shame will be reversed when he comes in judgment. Where? From the very temple that they trusted in.

[41:59] The temple, the temple, the temple of the Lord. And where does the judgment come? Hear that sound? Hear the noise from the temple. That's the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve.

[42:13] God will reject those who reject his words. Jesus says, there's a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words.

[42:23] The very words I spoke will condemn him at the last day. They chose their own way over my words. So I will choose, verse 4 says, so I also will choose harsh treatments for them and will bring upon them what they dread.

[42:39] It will be harsh treatment for them. But not too harsh. For they will only be getting all that they deserve.

[42:49] For having insulted God by not trembling at his word. They trusted in their false worship of the temple to ward off this dreaded destruction. But in the end, it will bring the very things upon them that they dreaded.

[43:02] You see, none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good. But no substitute saviors, not the temple, the temple of the Lord, not their rituals, not all that they could do, can ward off God's judgment when he rises to repay his enemies all that they deserve.

[43:19] You know, it's right here at verse 6 and the verses that cluster around it that become a test. Do men tremble at God's word? What about his word that says there is a judgment coming?

[43:38] There is eternal punishment coming. Men think they don't tremble at that word. They deny that. They think they deserve better than that.

[43:50] Recently had a man tell me, you don't mean that God would send someone to hell if he stopped getting drunk and helped others to do the same, do you? Do you? As if God is to be impressed with that?

[44:03] Are there no other ways that they have been not trembling at God's word and going their own way? Do they think that that should remove the insult of their life to God?

[44:17] It's like you've just brought a dead body. It's like you've just brought another filthy rag to me. You've just brought a dog into my presence.

[44:28] No. When men do not believe in hell, it shows that they have a little bitty God.

[44:41] He's so small, there's no room for a God who pays back all that sinners deserve. Their God is too little to have a God who gives harsh treatment to those who have ignored his word.

[45:01] And God says, oh no, you need to see me for who I am. My holiness, the offensiveness of not trembling at my word.

[45:13] There was never an Old Testament prophet that knew the Lord so well as Moses. He knew him face to face. And it's that Moses that says to the Lord, who knows the power of your anger?

[45:28] For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. But there was one that knew that wrath of God better than Moses. It was he who came from the bosom of the Father.

[45:40] And no one preached about hell and warned sinners more than Jesus. Do you hear his heart in that? I'm preparing a new heavens and a new earth for my people, for all that tremble at my word.

[45:55] Be sure you're one of them. Be sure you do not end up receiving all that you deserve from a God of strict justice.

[46:07] Well, wherever God's word is read or preached, God is speaking. So he's been speaking. What do you think of God?

[46:19] It can be seen by how you treat his word. Do you have the identifying mark of all God's people? It trembles before him and his word.

[46:29] It's the heart of all true religion. It holds him in such high regard that you humbly listen to his word and obey. When it tells you to repent of your sin, you humbly listen and obey.

[46:42] When it tells you to trust in his son, the only savior, you humbly listen and obey. I told you this is an old problem in Israel. Clear back in chapter one, Isaiah set forth the problem.

[46:56] And he also set forth the remedy. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

[47:07] Though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool. Now we're at the end of the book. Same problem of man. Dismissing God. Dismissing his authority. Dismissing his word.

[47:19] God's judgment going to fall. What's the remedy? It hasn't changed. It's only become fuller in its revelation as we came through chapter 53.

[47:31] This is the reason the servant of the Lord is crying out on the cross at Calvary. He is being pierced for our transgressions.

[47:43] Crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. By his wounds, we are healed. And God is saying, here is the one sacrifice that will indeed make up for all your disobedience.

[47:59] There is enough merit in this sacrifice. None of your temple worship. No, no. This sacrifice. Put your trust here. And be forgiven all.

[48:13] Become one of my people. I will put my spirit in you. And put my fear in you. So that you will tremble at my word. And will not turn away from me.

[48:25] Come and welcome to Jesus and the forgiveness in him. That is offered throughout the book of Isaiah. It seems fitting that we should use his very words then as our response to what we've seen.

[48:37] We'll see next week. We've seen what God has prepared here at the end for those who don't tremble. We'll also see next week what he is preparing for those who do tremble. Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God.

[48:50] Let's sing number 465. Our God, we bow in your presence with our hearts low before you.

[49:01] Recognizing how great and glorious you are. How holy and righteous. We ask that you would give us forever those hearts that are humble and contrite.

[49:17] That tremble at your word. When we confess that we have too much of the spirit of the age in us. Come and forgive us. And remember our sins no more.

[49:29] Treat us not according to what our sins deserve. But have mercy upon us for Jesus' sake. For that once for all sacrifice that you have given for us.

[49:40] Whereby all of our offenses against you could be removed forever and ever. And that we could know your favor and your esteem and your love. And your new heaven and new earth.

[49:54] So cause others this day to put their trust in the Lord Jesus. Help each who is being hated and excluded because of their trembling at your word.

[50:07] Keep them from discouragement. Hold them up. Lord Jesus thank you that you know exactly what it feels like to be despised and rejected by men who do not tremble at your word.

[50:19] So come and encourage your people. And encourage us with all that you have prepared for us. That is yet future. Even when we'll be with you face to face forever.

[50:29]  So add your blessing to each of your words to us. We ask in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.