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The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish

Text: Isaiah 52
2 March 2008

(I) BAD TIDINGS

1. Israel suffered much in its history as a nation

2. Example of bad tidings

a) Oppression

i) Egypt

“My people went down at first into Egypt to dwell there…” Isaiah 52:4a

ii) Assyrians

“…Then the Assyrians oppressed them without cause.” Isaiah 52:4b

b) Sadness

i) Self-induced

“…You have sold yourselves for nothing… ” Isaiah 52:3

ii) Suffering

“…Those who rule over them make them wail…” Isaiah 52:5

(II) GOOD TIDINGS

1. Promise of Redemption/Salvation

“…And you shall be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:3

“The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10

2. Promise of Personal Experience of God

“Therefore My people shall know My name;
Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks:
‘Behold, it is I.’ ” Isaiah 52:6

3. Promise of Comfort

“Break forth into joy, sing together,
You waste places of Jerusalem!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.” Isaiah 52:9

4. Promise of Protection

“For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go out by flight;
For the LORD will go before you,
And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12

(III) APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

“Awake, awake!
Put on your strength, O Zion;
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city!…” Isaiah 52:1

1. Awake

a) To the Lord

b) To life

c) To the future

2. Strength

a) Renewed

b) To face life’s many challenges

3. Beautiful garments

a) Representing Joy

b) Representing Confidence

c) Representing Hope