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YOUR DEAD SHALL LIVE

Text: Isaiah 26
24 September 2017

ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS

Isaiah was a significant prophet in the reigns of four kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah). Over the span of many years he made certain astute observations.

THE DEATH OF POWERFUL NATIONS

There were powerful nations that sought to conquer and colonise smaller and weaker nations. But when these powerful nations became cruel and unrighteous, their end was written on the wall. This was the observation made about them.

O LORD our God, masters besides You

Have had dominion over us; 

They are dead, they will not live;

They are deceased, they will not rise.

Therefore You punished and destroyed them,

And made all their memory to perish.     Isaiah 26:13-14 

  1. Masters who had dominion over Israel

a) There were many

b) They brought untold misery on the nation

  1. God’s judgment and punishment

a) These mighty nations died

b) They would never rise again

c) The Lord destroyed them

d) The memory of their might had perished!

THE LIFE THAT GOD CAN GIVE

Isaiah was conscious of how Israel could have perished too. How then did the nation survive?

LORD, in trouble they visited You,

They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 

Your dead shall live;

Together with my dead body they shall arise;

Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;

For your dew is like the dew of herbs,

And the earth shall cast out the dead.     Isaiah 26:16, 19 

  1. Praying to the Lord

a) This is an important practice

b) Prayer is an expression of faith and hope

  1. The Hope of the resurrection

a) This hope is not confined to the New Testament

b) This was a hope that Isaiah possessed

  1. Life on earth

a) It may be hard complex

b) Death may even be experienced

c) But there is a special hope that enables a person to persevere and not give in to despair

  1. The hope of the resurrection

a) The dead who have faith in the Lord will live again

b) God can raise the dead

This is a glorious hope that every believer may cling on to with great confidence! Let this hope bring much joy to the heart!