The Importance and the Answer of Worship (Isaiah 56:9-12)
Rev. Myung-Sin Choi
“9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. 12 'Come,' one says, 'I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.' ”
Introduction
A Japanese woman named Chie Okita wrote the book I'm Glad You're Here With Me. For 30 years, she was working as a nurse and she experienced 11 patients who experienced death. This woman was helping her mother who was unconscious at the hospital, and she loved her mother. She loved her mother so much that she would lay on the bed with her and talk to her. The mother had no consciousness and was just laying there. The daughter told her mother, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be on this earth. Mother, I am so glad that you are my mother.” The daughter was telling her mother in the bed. The unconscious mother started shedding tears. It was recorded in the book. This mother who had no consciousness at that time, the mother heard the words of her daughter. The mother heard the loving and thankful words of her daughter. I am not sure if that mother went to heaven or not but it shows how much words are. When I read this, I thought about how we need to present ourselves before God (Coram Deo) and give thanksgiving to God. It may feel like God doesn’t know anything about us and He is not there for us. But God even knows all of our hearts and minds. He knows everything about us. Today, as you participate in worship today, may you participate in worship with an earnest and thankful heart. God knows your heart for worship. If we worship God with a thankful and pure heart, then God will be pleased. Right now, I am not sure what kind of heart you have but may you worship God with a heart of grace. Today’s sermon is about the importance and value of worship and answers. You are continuing to listen to messages and in the chapter of Isaiah 56, it speaks about the law of God and God’s words. Within the law of heaven, it is filled with God’s love. In heaven, it is filled with people who are abundant in love. That is the law. This law is filled on earth. How do we love God? It is by worship. How do you love your neighbors? It is evangelism. This is what pleases God the most. Last week, we spoke about the previous verses in Isaiah 56. Who is God seeking for? God is seeking for those who worship Him. You can see how valuable God sees worship and even if you may seem unqualified for worship like Gentiles, God is seeking for all people to worship Him. God is seeking for those who properly worship Him. That is why I told you last week, even though there were eunuchs and Gentiles, it did not matter to God. What God was searching for were people who passionately and diligently pursue worship. We can see once again how valuable and important worship is. That is why today’s sermon is talking about what happens when you fail in worship.
1. The Importance of Worship
(1) God's command
Verse 9 - This was God’s command. The beasts in the field were referring to Babylon, Rome, and Assyria. God was commanding all of the beasts of the field to devour Israel. They abandoned God and sought after their idols. When God saw this, He was so furious so that is why He commanded them this verse. This shows the destruction of Israel. We need to hold onto that God’s judgment that comes upon a land or people due to God’s wrath and anger. But we need to know that all of God’s judgment is all about the gospel. Why did God command all of the beasts to devour Israel? God loved Israel so much that He was warning them and giving them the message of love to hold onto God’s word and return back to Him. God was warning them that destruction will come upon them so return back to Him and to the covenant. This was the warning of love. If they hold onto God’s word, then they will come to taste true freedom and liberation.
(2) The result of those who fail in worship
Verse 10 - God speaks about what happens to those who fail in worship. It speaks about the watchmen within the bartizan and these watchmen were referring to the prophets, priests, and kings of Israel. What kind of state were they in? They have become spiritually blind. They have failed in worship. Not only that but they have become ignorant and have become like dumb dogs. Since they failed in worship, even if problems or crises came to them, they didn’t know why these problems and tribulations were coming to them. They can’t see the spiritual meaning behind their problems and tribulations that they have become blind and ignorant. If a watchman becomes blind, what happens? If an enemy comes, they should alert someone immediately and then they can dispatch soldiers and armies ahead. But a watchman became blind and ignorant because they failed in worship and sought after idols. Proper discernment comes from worship. Those who sleep and slumber, these are people who are murmuring in their sleep. In their sleep, they are just murmuring and talking nonsense. Even though chaos and crises are occurring round them, they are just murmuring in their sleep and think everything is okay. This is an accurate message. If we cannot become spiritually alert and give proper worship, then we will become blind and ignorant like this. This is what God is telling us what the problem is.
This was what God said to Adam in Genesis 3:9 “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?' ” - Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. God did not just forsake them but God approached Adam and Eve even though they committed a sin before Him. This shows the heart of God. God is a God who does not dwell well within our sins and problems.
Matthew 16:13 “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' ” - The disciples were giving Jesus nonsensical answers. They were not holding onto the covenant. Jesus was asking this question so that they can give proper worship and receive proper answers. Knowing this, we need to save people. Then, Jesus continues to speak and talk about the life of those who fail in worship.
2. The Life of Those Who Fail In Worship
(1) A life lost in desire
Verse 11 - God calls these people, “dogs.” Those who worship idols and fail in worship, God calls them dogs. Those who fail in worship, they become busy searching after things of this world and become greedy for materialism. Shepherds should lead their sheep to good pastures and water. But these shepherds end up searching after their own things. They only do things that will benefit them even though they are shepherds and don’t tend to their sheep. Those who fail in worship, their goal in life is not for God’s glory but for their own glory and sake. They are living for their own sake. This means that you are wanting to live better than everyone else and do everything for yourself. They don’t know that this leads to a road of destruction but continue to live this kind of life.
Genesis 3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” - Those who lose hold of worship and God’s word, their eyes towards the world become brighter and wider. Their eyes for the world become wider which means that their greed for the world becomes greater. Their greed is fueled by the things of the world.
James 1:15 “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” - Those who fail in worship, they will strive towards greed, sin, and eventually towards death. God is telling people to come back to His word and return back to worship. Those who fail in worship, they are bound by darkness.
(2) A life bound to darkness
Verse 12 - The life of those who fail in worship, they don’t care about their sheep at all. They only care for filling their greed and satisfactions, and lusts of the world. They don’t care about worship, evangelism, and God at all. They only care about themselves. They only care about intoxicating themselves. They love to satisfy themselves by intoxicating themselves. This means that you have no choice but to become a slave to Satan. You become a toy of Satan. Those who fail in worship, they have no choice but to wonder and do strange things. Then, they say stuff like, “Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.” They are only filling themselves with wine and intoxicating themselves. Their motto in life is to enjoy life, to enjoy alcohol, and food. Where is this thinking coming from?
It is from Genesis 3:4-5 “Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' ” - Those who intoxicate themselves with alcohol, they always say that they will be fine and you should live for yourself. They become god themselves. They are doing the exact work of Satan. They feel like they have become their own god. But this leads to destruction in the end. Why is God saying all of this through Isaiah? God is telling us that this is a problem. In order to solve this, God sent Jesus Christ to this earth.
I have received a lot of grace from John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” - When you hear this message, don’t you feel touched? God, who is our shepherd, knows everything about us. He knows all of our weaknesses and lacking. He knows that we are being tempted and deceived by Satan. Through Jesus, we are able to see that we need to hold onto the covenant and live. In order to solve our problems, Jesus gave up His life for His sheep. This was the reason why Jesus came. The problems of mankind that we could not solve, Jesus came to end all of that. By dying on the cross, He fulfilled His three roles of Christ. He solved all of the problems as the Christ. He fulfilled everything on the cross. No matter what problems, we can come to the conclusion that Jesus is the Christ, the answer to all of our problems.
3. The Answer Given Through Worship
(1) The Lord is my Shepherd
I am so thankful to God. This year, God has given us a great answer of Psalm 23:1-2, 4 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” - Our church and RU experienced some legal problems last week. But I thought about how God is my shepherd and I lack nothing. He will lead me to green pastures and still waters. When I realized this, I realized that this is why God gave us this message this year. When I held onto this covenant and prayed, I felt peace coming over my heart. That was when I realized that God will continue to lead our church and RU. Do you have a problem? God is our shepherd. God will lead us where we will lack nothing. God will continue to lead us towards green pastures and still waters.
Psalms 23:4 - This is the message that God has given to us through worship. This is the promise that God has given to us. God will continue to lead and guide us with His rod and staff. He will continue to comfort us. He will protect us. If God protects us, there is nothing for us to fear or worry. This is because God is protecting us.
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” - No matter what problems come to us, do not fear. God will continue to protect and lead us no matter what. Are you sick? There will be an absolute guarantee from God. God has promised you. If you take this as God’s promise, then that is it.
John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” - If we hold onto the name of Jesus Christ, nothing can snatch you out of God’s hands. We are guaranteed absolute victory. I believe that through God’s guidance, our problems have been resolved. I was thankful to God. This is all due to God’s grace. God knows our heart and knows that we love God so He will lead us towards green pastures. There is a covenant that we must hold onto. We must raise up the bartizan of the watchmen.
(2) The bartizan of the watchmen
Prayer bartizan (Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”) - Through worship, hold onto God’s word as your own word and have a forum over it. Pray 24 hours a day. God is listening to everything.
Evangelism bartizan (Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”) - When we pray, then our spirit will be strengthened. If we pray with the gospel, then we will receive strength and power. God will continue to guide us towards the path of righteousness.
Healing bartizan (Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' ”) - Hold onto this no matter what. The same work of Peter will be upon us as well. Peter’s spirit of the Holy Spirit is the same with us. If we pray with the same faith of Peter, then God will grant us the same answers and miracles. The name of Jesus is eternal. God is eternal and God will work so that the answer of eternality will come upon us.
Conclusion
Hold onto Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” - Until now we have received a message regarding the importance of worship. If we understand this then we must worship God with all of our heart, minds, and spirit. We need to give our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. We need to give everything to God during worship. We need to give our entire bodies and spirit to God. All answers and blessings are within worship. May you be blessed in Christ.
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