Sermons
Remembering His Lovingkindnesses
Remembering His Lovingkindnesses
Isa. 63:7-14
Introduction:
1. In this statement Isaiah reminds us of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.
2. It is important to read this in light of the statement made in 1-6. There God used a word picture of the winepress. Because of the rebellion of His people He said, “I trod them in My wrath; and their life blood is sprinkled on My raiment. For the day of vengeance was in My heart” (3b).
3. So, the people were “the grapes of His wrath,” but now we are reminded of His lovingkindnesses.
4. Wrath? Anger? Lovingkindnesses? Do these really go together? They are all part of the nature of God. All are to be embraced, respected, and honored in our relationship with Him.
5. For our study we will divide 7-19 into three sections.
a. In 7-9 we will consider the various concepts associated with God’s
lovingkindnesses.
b. In 10-14 we will note His people’s response and how He responded to them.
c. In 15-19 we will review their prayer, an appeal for God to respond in His Fatherly
way.
Discussion:
I. There are various concepts associated with God’s lovingkindnesses (7-9).
A. Three observations.
1. Verse 7 begins and ends with “lovingkindnesses.”
2. It is in the plural form suggesting that there are specific manfestations of this
aspect of God’s nature.
3. The lovingkindnesses are equivalent to “the praises of the Lord.”
a. His lovingkindnesses extol Him.
b. And should lead to our praise of Him.
B. “The Lord has granted us . . .” meaning that He has given to us.
C. “The great goodness . . .” He has given us good things.
D. “According to His compassion . . .” “Compassion” is from a word meaning “the
womb.” As such it takes on the meaning of “warm and tender emotions.”
E. The last of verse 7 refers to “the abundance of His lovingkindnesses,” and so His
lovingkindnesses are not restricted. It is not budgeted, but free flowing.
Lavishly given. The mindset in my household growing up was not
abundance, but economy. Finances were restricted. Spending was hesitant
and cautious. I did not learn the term “mad money” until I had children of my
own. No one ever gave me money and said, “Go blow it and have fun.”
God’s lovingkindnesses are in abundance.
F. Verses 8-9 are reflective of His covenantal/familial relationship with them.
1. They are My people (cf. Ex. 5:1; 6:4, 7; Ezek. 16:8).
2. “Let My son go” (Ex. 4:23).
3. He became their Savior expecting them to act faithfully.
4. He was sensitive to their affliction and joined in with them.
5. The angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy, He
redeemed them.
6. He lifted them and carried them. Moses reminded them of God’s Fatherly
care in Deut. 1:30-31: “The Lord your God who goes before you will
Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your
eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried
you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked,
until you came to this place.”
G. It is expected based on such lovingkindnessesthat God’s son would
respond with love, faithfulness, thanksgiving,and submission.
II. God’s people’s response and His reaction (10-14).
A. They rebelled.
1. Why would they rebel given His good will toward them?
2. Why do children rebel against parents who give them the best they have to
offer?
3. It is certainly not reasonable. Ignorance of His good will?? Being deceived
into believing that His good will is not good at all, but evil?
B. What was God’s response?
1. Grief.
2. He turned Himself to become their enemy. He fought against them.
C. The people questioned His having given them over (cf. Rom. 1:24, 26, 28).
1. They asked, “Where is He?” (v. 11-13).
2. Note that “they remembered.” They were aware of God’s mighty acts of
graciousness.
a. He had brought them out of the sea (Red).
b. He put His Holy Spirit in their midst. Recall the pillar of cloud by day
and the pillar of fire by night. And God’s presence in the temple.
c. He had used the arm of His power through Moses. He divided the
waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name.
d. He had led them out of Egypt and through the wilderness and into the
promised land of rest (cf.13-14).
e. In doing so He had revealed His glorious name. He had revealed His
lovingkindnesses, granted them good things, been good to them,
according to His compassion, in love and mercy He had redeemed
them. He lifted them and carried them as a Father carries his son.
D. Rebellion???? It is completely out of place!!!!!!
1. Story of man “walking down the street one day” and giving $100 bill.
2. But compare Matt. 21:33-44.
3. While the Israel of Isaiah’s day was rebellious, so were those of the first
century. Are you rebelling against God’s lovingkindnesses?
4. Some might object, “Well, He did all that Red Sea crossing for them, but
what has He done for me?” He saved them for your benefit. It was
through them that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for your sin.
III. Their prayer (15-19).
A. The prayer recognizes God’s goodness, but asks, “Where are Your zeal and
Your mighty deeds?” (15).
B. They acknowledge God’s Fatherly care (16) and by implication His covenant with
them as sons (cf. v. 8).
1. Abraham and Jacob (Israel) might have forsaken them. But “You, O Lord,
are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your name.”
2. Psa. 27:10: “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord
will take me up.” Cf. Ezek. 16:1-6.
C. Verse 17 is difficult. “Why do you cause us to stray and harden our heart from
fearing You?” God is not to blame for their rebellion. But He has given them
over to it. My dad “caused” me to commit mistakes by allowing me the freedom
to do what I wanted. I did the same with my children. I remember giving one
the privilege of driving to the county fair. He totaled the car. Driving too fast he
could not make the curve. There is some sense in which I caused the accident,
but I am not to blame for it.
D. The prayer grieves their circumstance (17b-19) as it acknowledges that there are
consequences to their behavior. Two things to be recognized here . . .
1. There are consequences to rebellion.
2. God is a Father who cares.
3. Love and discipline go together. It is not one without the other.
Conclusion:
1. God is a Father who loves us. He loves us so much that He gave His son to rescue us from the consequences of our sinful behavior.
2. But in that sacrifice, it is clear that rebellion is costly.
3. God treads the winepress of the grapes of wrath. His garments are stained with the blood of His enemies (Isa. 63:3). His enemies will drink the wine of His fierce wrath (cf. Rev. 16:19; 19:11-16).
4. And yet, those who remember His lovingkindnessesand place their trust in Him will be redeemed. As Fanny Crosby wrote: “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever, I am.” (HFWR, 411).
5. Are you redeemed or rebellious?
