Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/6342/isaiah/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] We will seek the Lord's hand to turn for our meditation this morning to the chapter we read, Isaiah 59, verse 1. [0:15] Prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 59, in the first verse. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, but it cannot say, neither hath his ear heavy, but it cannot be. [0:37] Isaiah 59, verse 1. I suppose there is no person here who is not unmoved or shocked by the terrible events that have occurred during this world. [1:02] And we would, in our prayers, remember the sufferings of the injury and the sorrow of the bereaved. [1:16] In this terrible matter, God has come in such a solemn light, in a moment, both to fail and to not. [1:35] We have need to pray for such. For it might have been us. We need to remember that they each have never dying souls, as have we. [1:47] We know not among some, those who fear God. We trust their worship. But these solemn events ring solemnly before us. [2:02] The priority of our love, the power of evil, that is abroad in the world in this present day. [2:12] We will give thanks unto God. In this respect. That it is pleased him to spare the life of our prime minister and the greater number of the cabinet. [2:32] For if the evil design had been brought to fruition, that it was planned. Our nation would be left to the most vulnerable side. [2:50] But the Lord, in much mercy, was pleased to spare. And might that mercy known in the spirit of those who rule in this. [3:02] For we are exhorted ever to cry for those in authority over us. Those in the Lord of Christ shall to rule and reign. [3:14] To mercy when in his fear they do so. But that does not stay the command. Cry for them in authority over you. And our prayer should embrace us. [3:26] That they may be led to seek from him first the wisdom they need to rule this Lord. I would also mention, and you must pardon me if I depart from our rather usual practice of preaching, but these things lay very heavily upon the mind. [3:50] We would especially thank God that in the events that have taken place at the Lord, we see a wonderful manifestation of his mercy still to our own. [4:04] For in this day of violence and hatred in the industrial dispute that has been going on so long, we see a completely different scene. [4:19] We see men and women single-heartedly, devotedly, attending to their duties. [4:31] And I refer to the members of the fire service and of the rescue services, the ambulance services, the nurses in the hospital. Especially those who, amidst the terror and horror that surrounded them, coolly and calmly, were given strength and wisdom and right to continue in their work of mercy. [5:00] For remember, there were many horrors had to be viewed. Horrors that were difficult to describe. [5:19] Mind, body, dead to be found. And all in a scene of imminent death and danger to themselves, not knowing for a moment what might transpire in further demolition or another bond. [5:44] But we see the single-mindedness of devotion to duty, and this joins against the awful scenes that have been so much in the news of life. [5:57] Now this is God's hand, and it's God's mind. And I might just say this, that the horrors I mentioned just now, entered into by these angels of mercy, for so they are really, is very real. [6:17] I can speak with some little experience of having passed in a similar place, and the terrors and the horrors cannot really be spoken of there to the people. [6:30] So we give thanks to God that there are yet a multitude, even in this wicked land of ours, whose hearts are still moved with compassion. And though they may not all be those who fear God, yet their hearts are his hands. [6:46] and that which I undertake is in love. Bless God for it. And my lady and I go to continue in their good work. [7:01] And the Lord bless them. Let me go a little further now. What has been accomplished by these murderous agents of the devil, with all its terror and violence of being so clearly made manifest? [7:31] And that which we hear of has been used of God over me, and will be used of God. It has concentrated our thoughts, concentrated our thoughts, as to God's purpose in permitting this and other life catastrophes to take place. [8:03] Many questions may arise in the heart and minds, both of the godly and the ungodly. [8:17] It is only natural, so you do. What a great mercy if we are instructed and taught under this solemn dispensation in air questioning to seek the answer from our God, from his word, from his truth, to seek it in humility and in prayer. [8:49] The ungodly are quick, very quick to charge God with being unjust, unrighteous, and cruel. we hear that language oftentimes at such sad time and solemn time as this. [9:11] And they charge God with this because their minds are darkness through sin. Their darkness of mind and heart and understanding which is the natural earth fruit of sin will cause them to deny God's divine sovereignty in dealing as he see it best and as he will with his own creation. [9:51] God is sovereign, sovereign Lord of all. May we ever remember that and acknowledge it as before him. [10:02] We are the cloud as the word of God declares. He is the potter. He doeth as he will but amongst the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth or in his hand. [10:19] And what he does is ever does. But the ungodly being dead in sin they're God. [10:36] They're ignorant. They know nothing of their just deserts before this holy God for they know not the exceeding sinfulness of sin in them. [10:51] It has never been revealed. and therefore in their blindness they are blaspheming to their person. They know nothing of their just deserts but they also know nothing of God's sin. [11:15] Now these thoughts lie very heavily upon us as to how we are we are and where we are. What are the godly in the question that arises in their mind? [11:29] Those that fear God and believe his word those who seek to serve him. What is the response of a spiritually enlightened soul? [11:44] Oh there will be a response there must be. And I feel we can express it in the language of our six hymn in the book. [11:58] God's ways are just his counsels wise no darkness can prevent his lois no thought can flow nor think and move unknown to him that sits above he in the thickest darkness wells performs his work because and see those methods are unknown judgment and truth support his throne he is a just God and holy God that as we have been reminded in our chapter he is an almighty saviour in heaven and earth and air and seas he executes his firm decrees and by his saints it stands confessed this is what is drawn forth from the heart of the godly they confess that what he does he ever get because infinite wisdom and valiant are belonging to their [13:10] God and and then the hymn concludes with this expression of faith wait then my soul submissive wife cross straight before he all proceeds and midst the terrors of his wrath trust in a wise and great love now we must take another step forward in our meditation we have spoken of the ungodly and their reactions of the godly and that for which response is found in their hearts but now we must look at the cause of these solemn calamity there's a cause is there not a cause said one of all that the lord should go forth and show his sovereign power and his judgment there is a cause and first we must look at this cause man's sin that is the cause all men have sin as we have we're born in sin and iniquity we come forth from the wounds deep in that's our strength by nature and the hymn wrote it says how sad our strength by nature is our sin how deep it's down oh thank god that there's something that follows that which the gospel provides but there is a voice of sovereign rise oh that voice that brings hope hope of pardon for sin hope of mercy from god bless god if that voice has been heard in your heart but let us consider for a moment the cause of these solemn calamities what about god's roles they're holy they're just they're wise they're good but man has broken god's heart set them on one side and seek how to do that which is of their own mind and understanding they deny the holiness of that they have no realm of conscience in right they deny that they are needful god's truth how many amongst the multitude even in this land of areas esteem the word of god as truth that cannot be open will never be open what it says will surely be fulfilled whether in judgment or in blessing whether for good or for evil it's true or for and it's cast turned from rejected despised man's sin we're looking at the cause of this solemn judgment now as with others and it's not long since when the [16:59] Lord made his righteous judgment known because of blasphemy you remember you remember how that so called house of God which was full of blasphemy that a guy in the hand of the Lord has gone forth in judgment and it's for the sins of his nation oh I know we're part of it but are we among those who confess it is our sins that are part of this cause are we brought to a spirit of repentance and sorrow because of that sin which joined with the multitude has brought this solemn judgment we need spiritual teaching to be brought to a right true path and better but there are those who have brought sin and for them there is a word of mercy of God revealed that if we confess our sin or wrong he is faithful and just to forgive us actually let's continue and it's a catalogue that must be set before you you might say well this isn't much of a gospel sermon this is truth and it's set in before the hearts that are tried and concerned and exercised the causes of God's judgment and they are though severe just a righteous port of heaven those little forget as a nation how have we departed from [18:49] God only a generation back it was a nation not fear God now it is but a little few in the midst who think upon his eyes and seek to serve him with godly fear and might know his power of Lord all we've departed from God and we must then realize that his truth stands if ye depart from me I will depart from you and how solemn this is we've departed from his command the commands of God are very clear regarding individuals or regarding nations them that honor me of the longer than that despise me of light the esteem we are to heed the commands that [19:56] God has given because they are for the benefit of our souls not the world and our nation in particular but disobey the commands or you look where you will at the commands of God they approach you will leave children parents elders whatever stationing life that we are walking in there is a commandment of God to rule us direct us to discipline us and to bring us in the fear of the Lord to cry for help so to walk in his ways his ways are despised today there is much much hypocrisy even in the name of [20:59] God and the Lord looks from heaven his omniscient eye looks into the hearts of all men and looks into this nature and to the seat of government and it sees those things that are contrary to his law and his commandment if we look for a moment at the affairs of the nation that have been used and brought to this solemn conclusion in this judgment of God all that God's holy word condemned is in this nation at this present time but liberately indulged in and not only indulged in it's boosted off and the [22:05] Lord looks down from heaven he hears he observes and as it was in the days of now of all the Lord looks upon him and why is it boasted in what way well we can express it I think most clearly in this way they boast of these disobediences as man's free will day so called of liberty and man thinks and wins it out in company that they may do as they will and God does not know they psalmist speak of it in one psalm they set their mouth against the heavens their tone walketh through the earth therefore his people return hither and waters of a full cup run out to them and they say how does [23:28] God know oh beloved friends this awful doctrine of free will is one of the main causes of God's judgments against this nation and man's free will gives his own answer the free will of man will ever go further from God and his ways and his commands but the will of God graciously and mercifully revealed to a sinner in making them alive before God will bring them near to God which you want to be found near to God because his will is revealed to you and a spirit of righteous obedience grounded you that you seek to walk in it or go in your own way your own will and get further and further and further away from a [24:40] God of mercy into the hands of that great adversary of soul the choice of man is evil and ever will be the choice of God is a loving choice and will be blessed to those who are partakers in it yes free within this present day gives its own answer and although we may touch one or two things in these remarks that we would not normally speak of yet they exist and they are to be observed for God observes them and he will have those that fear his name to observe them to it is to our shame and to our confusion as in this land of errors we have fallen to such death of sin it is very true [25:50] God is not in all their thoughts that embraces the multitude of men and women and children to die he's not in any of their thoughts until such judgments come that have taken place this week and then they begin either to charge him with foolishness and unjustness or they will tear them because they are also numbered amongst them and they are brought to seek to know his will concerning them and to how they should order their sins that the nation in general has fallen to this great death of sin and we must cut them out one or two of them that we might be made aware of the deceits of that enemy of souls of the power of darkness that is of road in our favoured land at this time we have mentioned already the desecration of [27:09] God's death over the debt the nation has fallen to in that from the highest in the land their queen even to the lowest inhabitants of the land God's day is not observed as God commanded it should be observed set it apart and sanctify it for it is holy unto me worship God and this is his kind provision a gracious provision to meet the needs of dying sinners and to bring them to a place of soul a refreshing unfeasting but it's ignored its disposed again how low we are in the nation in the spirit of hypocrisy even amongst those who outwardly profess to worship [28:14] God we have heard much of that of the blasphemy and hypocrisy that has come forth from the lips of those who professed they are to serve and the Lord God looks upon us he looks upon them for the sovereign sight to be found in God how low is the nation sun in that which takes place around us every day in our own locality and it makes poor men and women and children a quiet at times that God will have mercy upon them all the murders that take place all the violence the oppression the thefts that which is in a term you today loving wherein helpless only people are laid low and wrong this is all about us but it goes far deeper doesn't that all the evil abroad in this land and that without shame and I speak of that awful sin of rape and adultery so rampant so rough that it affects so many and many homes but in the catalog no alas it is not it goes worse and deeper still in the depths of evil and sin all the sin that [30:20] God condemned Jesus himself condemned it in spite of it when ministering here upon her sin of sodomy an incest lightly thought of today oh how terrible it is that these things are not mourned more and over how many innocent children have brought to thy red early in this past week into that awful trade of prostitution girls of eleven warning yes but it is the cause of God's judgment because this present evil dying generation the government that rules this land are permitted laws to be brought in further and they or do not condemn or might loiter of the depths of these awful heinous sins the evil man says how does God know we will do as weeping and therefore we have before these solemn solemn surely then the God of the whole earth who is altogether a holy pure unrighteous who hates sin with an eternal hatred has a perfect just righteous and a right to make his holy will to be observed and obeyed by showing his displeasure on the bitter field and this he has done once more in solemn church you say well is there not another solemn there is blessed be heard it now having looked at the cause of these judgments through the anger of God against sin let us now consider just for a few minutes his mercy [33:07] God's mercy what manifested in the midst of this couple of evil yes and not only is it made manifest to the godly those who fear his name it has been made manifest in this week to the ungodly all that they may be given an understanding of this that their eyes may be open and their hearts softened that they may give recognition even publicly before God that he is a godly person as well as a godly judgment yes he has not rewarded us according to our sin no if so then all would be destroyed but he has amongst this multitude of sin some whom he has loved with an everlasting love when he has chosen them return of glory to be with him forever and while they are in the midst of this sinful scene he has that to speak unto them which will bring them to his speech of life the thanksgiving services we have several times sung these hymns from the back of the book but this one one verse of it written this airline all guilty as she is heard several saints to know and now their fervent prayers ascend and can those prayers be lost now the mercy of god is placed in the hearts of some whom he hath chosen and separated and taught by his spirit he has given them a heart of prayer they sigh and cry and mourn over the abominations done in the land but they do not sit silently by and say well that is beyond my power that is outside my control that is not my concern [35:59] I'm not walking in such a path as that now he gives them a spirit of prayer and that through godly sorrow and repentance that they too they also might be preserved in his faith and then they pray that those who are far off may be brought now and know the same mercy sin and god's mercy is revealed in this that his chosen here I use the term again because it is the usual term used the election of christ a number chosen of god in eternity past to be partakers in everlasting love these the hymn says are not thy righteous dear to thee now as in ancient times or does this guilty land exceed the more in its cry you remember the lord jesus saying concerning the evils about him when he was here on earth and he said oh woe unto thee papernium woe unto thee bethsidum if the sins the evils done in thee were done in sodom and gomor they would have been spared and if it was so then how much more now wicked disobedient evil rebellious evil still there are those who bear thy night here yet is thine above long has thy presence left there land for cypress not oh god yet surrender in the midst that call upon his night that know he is the god of mercy that know his judgments are good and righteous altogether that confesses sovereignty in his dealings both with the nation and with individuals and with us and especially in regard to his own to his own mercy why it flows every moment it is through god's mercy we sit here quietly this morning around his word are enabled by his blessed spirit to think on these things it's mercy and that mercy is continued it is promised to be continued to orbit love and fear his name as long as their lives endure but that mercy will bring them at last a sight above these are they who are called by his rights and separated by his blessed spirit and through that separation through the sanctifying influence of that race they abhor evil and cleave to that which is true there's a description does it fit for a mercy it is so to abhor evil and is to hold it but not more than arm's length as far from it is what it would have been to abhor it to have nothing to do with it and to cleave and seek to honor and obey him in all his commands and his designs of love of mercy toward death for that design he makes known as surely as he makes his judgments now he moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform though when from the dark sea there arises this hand the [40:36] Lord's hand in mercy toward your soul then that soul knows what it is to be brought to peace peace with age and peace with him we have quoted this week I can just think along when clouds and darkness me surround their power of why should I fear my inward peace I cannot prove if they are my God are near this is the portion of those that fear God and there is a remnant yes blessed his holy night in the midst of this evil man and all that is taking place he has a people for his friends and this people he supplies this people he loves and he loves them because he purchased them with his own precious blood and he shows mercy still amidst all the dangers of this present militant despite he guards them guides them holds them and these grimsomes who know the blessedness of this they're still on crying away and while you're on crying when you're safe no matter what transpires about you and there on that crying way they're led again and again to pray that they may obtain mercy and how can this mercy be obtained only one way through faith and that faith settled and established on [42:36] Jesus Christ Christ here there is the way wherein peace peace is known and peace is maintained both the time and eternity well fans I must lead these to all too I trust and cry it of the Lord it may seem strange or so but I only believe I have spoken as I felt lay and if the Lord is pleased to own it and bring us into exercise over it then prophet will come and glory to his name because he has caused us to know his mercy his rights and his love each in our home God has done a [43:44] Thank you. [44:14] Thank you. [44:44] Thank you. [45:14] Thank you. [45:44] Thank you. [46:14] Thank you.