Prayer that God Takes (Isaiah 33:1-24)
Rev. Myung-Sin Choi
“1 Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, You will be plundered; When you make an end of dealing treacherously, They will deal treacherously with you. 2 O Lord, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble. 3 At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered; 4 And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them. 5 The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure. 7 Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside, The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. 8 The highways lie waste, The traveling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, He has despised the cities, He regards no man. 9 The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shriveled; Sharon is like a wilderness, And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. 10 'Now I will rise,' says the Lord; 'Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up. 11 You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you. 12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; Like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire. 13 Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might.' 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: 'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?' 15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure. 17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that is very far off. 18 Your heart will meditate on terror: 'Where is the scribe? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?' 19 You will not see a fierce people, A people of obscure speech, beyond perception, Of a stammering tongue that you cannot understand. 20 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernacle that will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be removed, Nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there the majestic Lord will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams, In which no galley with oars will sail, Nor majestic ships pass by 22 (For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us); 23 Your tackle is loosed, They could not strengthen their mast, They could not spread the sail. Then the prey of great plunder is divided; The lame take the prey. 24 And the inhabitant will not say, 'I am sick'; The people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity.”
Introduction
Last week we heard a very precious message. We heard regarding Rev. Tory, he was a pastor who knew of a family that experienced a very unfortunate event. I am not sure who it was exactly but the pastor knew of a family where many of the family members died. This was a very unfortunate situation and the pastor was giving a sermon at the funeral. The pastor said at the funeral, during this unfortunate event, many people may resent God. Or, during this unfortunate situation, you can fear God. You can make a decision between these two options. This is very meaningful. When we fall into trials, there are two types. There is a trial sent by God or a trial from Satan. When it is from God, it is it a test but when Satan gives it to us, it is a temptation. Then, how can we know if we got the problem from Satan or God? This is a very important message. When we face a problem and we grumble and complain, then that is a temptation from Satan. Then, that will lead into destruction. But if you experience a situation and fear God, then that is a test from God. I think this is so true. Many people when you look at them, when they face a problem, they may resent God. But if you are truly a person, when you face a problem and ask God for His plan, then you are able to fear God. What is absolute is that God’s tests for us are God’s blessings prepared behind them. May you enjoy this blessing. Today’s sermon is very important. Today’s sermon as spoken in today’s Biblical passage, may you hold onto the Biblical passage well.
1. Isaiah's Prayer and Answer
1) Isaiah's 24-hour prayer
Verses 1-6 - We constantly see the word, “woe.” Who is this spoken to? It was a warning to Assyria that was attacking Israel. Assyria kept tormenting Israel. What did Assyria torment Israel about? Assyria attacked King Hezekiah and the land of Judah, and King Hezekiah became so afraid that he stripped all of the gold of the temple of God and gave it to the king of Assyria. King Assyria promised to not to attacked King Hezekiah in return and surrendered, and returned back to Assyria. Even though they made this promise, Assyria continued to attack Judah. Assyria decided to full on attack Judah and if they attacked Judah, then they will not have a place to worship anymore. Isaiah seeing this, he entered into 24 hour prayer.
We can see the content of Isaiah’s prayer in verse 2 - This was a very simple prayer but Isaiah was acknowledging the Almighty God, and was pleading and praying to God. He confessed that without God’s grace, then they cannot defeat Assyria and acknowledged that he needed God alone. Isaiah was pleading to God to save them. God heard and accepted the prayer of Isaiah.
Isaiah who was in the midst of prayer, God showed a vision to Isaiah in verse 3. Not only did Assyria tried to attack Judah, Assyria gathered all of the neighboring nations to come and attack Judah as well. We can see that all of the Assyrian army and neighboring nations started fleeing, and at that moment, God arose. This was a tremendous vision that Isaiah saw.
Verse 4 - Assyria kept attacking Judah and tormenting this nation, but the land of Assyria disappeared like pests were clearing the fields. This made the land of Judah exalted.
When Isaiah saw this vision, Isaiah made a confession to God in verse 5 - God is almighty and He is the most sovereign God, this was what Isaiah was proclaiming and confessing. Nothing can surpass God and God will do it, Isaiah proclaimed and confessed.
Isaiah continued to speak in verse 6 - For the land of Judah and King Hezekiah, this was what Isaiah spoke to them. The reason why God bought victory to Judah was to show the grace of God through what King Hezekiah did for the nation of Judah. Verse 6 is very important. What kind of blessings will the people who fear the Lord receive? That speaks about it in verse 6. That is why fearing the Lord is the greatest treasure. Just like I said in the introduction, if you are able to experience and acknowledge God’s presence and existence during problems and incidents, then you are the most blessed. May you be inside of this blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.
2) Israel in suffering
Verses 7-9 - The suffering that Israel experienced during Isaiah’s time is spoken in verse 7 - During the time of war, everything was destroyed. All the soldiers were dying and there were cries in the streets. Even though King Hezekiah gave all of the gold to Assyria, suffering and problems kept coming into Judah.
Verse 8 - The entire land of Judah was in the midst of despair and destruction. In a matter of days, everything was destroyed by Assyria. Assyria didn’t even consider the Israelites as people but considered them as items and like animals. The Israelites experienced something that people of God shouldn’t experience at all.
Verse 9 - Israel considered these four regions as their pride. Lebanon was considered a very beautiful place full of Cedar trees. Sharon had pretty pastures and Bashan bore many great fruits. Carmel was the historical land where Elisha experienced great victory. But the entire land of Judah was in despairs. During this time, Isaiah prayed to God. God finally answered the prayers of Isaiah.
2. God's Justice
1) Judgment upon Assyria
Verses 10-13 - When you look at this, we can see how God was rising up. The word, “Now” has come up many times. This means that the time has finally come for God to rise and show His power. God said that He will exalt Himself and lift Himself up. The Israelites was supposed to exalt and glorify God but there was no one left to exalt God. They were in the midst of sin and unbelief instead. But God still heard the prayer of Isaiah and said that His time has come for Him to be glorified and exalted. God said that He will rise up and show His great power as the Creator.
Verse 11 - From here, we can see what God was speaking in regards to Assyria. Even if they bear great fruits, the only thing that they will be left with is the peels of the fruits. Their fruits will be basically worthless. This means that Assyria will ultimately be destroyed. Their breath is referring to their heart of wanting to attack Judah. Assyria was proclaiming and yelling to Judah, and criticizing God and their land. They were demanding for Judah to worship their gods instead. Who do you think heard the blasphemy of Assyria? It was God who heard it first. God was saying that Assyria will pay for their sins.
God was so angry that He spoke in verse 12 - If you burn lime, it will be turned into ashes. If you burn wood, then it will be turned into ashes. God was so angry that He will completely get rid of Assyria and turn them into ashes.
Verse 13 - God said that He will destroy Assyria so to watch closely what He will do. He was telling the whole world to watch what He will do to the powerful nation of Assyria. There will be no trace of Assyria left. There was another thing here.
2) Judgment upon Judah
Verses 14-16 - God gave a warning to the land of Judah as well. Int he midst of God’s wrath, not only did God judge Assyria but He also judged Judah, those who didn’t believe in God. God said that He is a justice God so He will equally judge those who don’t believe in Him. God promised that He will destroy Assyria as well as those who didn’t believe in Him in the land of Judah.
We can see God’s judgment again in Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” - God bought His judgment upon the Israelites who worshiped idols. This also explains the eternal fire in hell. Those who go against God and blasphemy against Him, they will be in the midst of fire, eternal fire. But in the midst of that, there are remaining ones. The remaining ones who still believed in God.
Verse 15 - I hope that our remnants can hold onto this message. God is giving us the six conditions in staying righteous. Those who are righteous, honest, who hate unclean sacrifices, those who refuse bribes, those who don’t participate in evil deeds, and those who don’t fall into temptations. God sees these people as the most righteous. Those who live like this, they are the ones who fear God. Those who fear God, how should you live? You should live this life within the six conditions. Those who fear God, we call them, “Coram Deo.” This means that you live in front of God. As you live God, you are not living in front of people but you are living in front of God. These are the people who fear God. You are always enjoying that God is alive. These people will receive God’s great blessings; the Bible has promised us that.
Verse 16 - You may become successful and make a lot of money but these are all the works of man but when God works in your life, then tremendous works will take place in your life. Man may commit evil deeds and make a lot of money but one day, destruction will come to them. Those who are exalted by God, then that is it. If you live a life in front of God, then God will exalt you, protect you, and constantly give you His food and blessings. That is why fearing God is a great blessing.
3. God's Absolute Plan
1) His plan for Jerusalem
Verses 17-24 - The king here is referring to Jesus Christ, not King Hezekiah. When Jesus Christ appears, it is explaining what will happen. There were so many people who tormented you and made you suffer. Even among Israelites, they were attacking each other and making each other’s lives in distress. But God who is a God of justice will bring justice among the people who bring you suffering and torment.
Verse 19 - It is talking about people who make you suffer and brings torment in your life. God will be the one who judges to those people and will bring justice to you on your behalf.
Verse 20 - God protected Jerusalem and promised to do that, and will allow this land to be a place where worship can take place here. But this was only temporarily, this was because Jesus Christ will appear and God will promise an eternal place where you can give eternal worship to God.
Verse 21 - The fortified city is referring to the enteral Jerusalem; no one will be able to break down this fortified city.
Verse 22 - We know this verse very well; this is talking about Jesus Christ. Jesus will come as our King and save us.
Verse 23 - It is talking about the spiritual state of Judah. They weren’t able to stand uprightly and kept shaking like a boat without direction. Since they didn’t have God as their source of direction, they were wondering. But despite this, God poured down His grace to Judah. This was the grace to those who remained.
Verse 24 - God will show His great miracle. He will fulfilling His great plan. He will show His endless grace so that His ultimate plan could be fulfilled. When we hear God’s word today, we need to have the faith of fearing God and start our walk of faith. Hold onto three things.
2) 24-hour prayer that you must enjoy
Firstly, have an argument and a cause without any condition. Daniel 3:16 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.' ” - King Nebuchazzer was commanding Daniel and his three friends to worship him, and he promised them a luxury life and not to put them into the fire. He tried to tempt them to just worship him just once. You may be tempted that you can just bow down to an idol and spare your life. But how did Daniel’s three friends respond? They said that there was no need to response to him and confessed that they will not worship the idol. Think about this. Imagine how God was happy when He heard the confessions of the three friends of Daniel. They held onto the covenant without any condition.
Genesis 39:9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” - Potiphar’s wife approached to Joseph. If you think carefully about it just once, Joseph could’ve had a good life if he fell into the temptation of Potiphar’s wife. But how did Joseph respond? When Jospeh fell into temptations and crisis, what did he do? He did Coram Deo, did everything in front of God. Secondly, don’t stand in front of people but stand in front of God. This is very important.
Thirdly, regarding answers.
Acts 5:3 “But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?' ” - Ananias sold his land and deceived people saying that he gave the entire earnings to offering but actually kept a portion of it. But when Paul found out the truth, Paul scolded Ananias. Paul was telling Ananias that he was on the side of Satan and had fallen into the temptation of Satan; and was warning Ananias to come out of this temptation. Ananias could’ve told the truth when Paul found out but it is important to know that we should no stand in the line of Satan but in the line of answers. If we fear God, then all of these blessings will come to you. Be victorious in the name of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - This was the last words of Joshua before he died. He asked the Israelites if they were going to choose God or their idols. Joshua confessed that he will serve and choose God. No matter what comes or happens to us, Joshua confessed that he will only choose and serve God.
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