God’s invitation to
repent is to all who ignore and rebel against Him.
God seeks all who
worship false gods to repent, to turn from their idolatry,
and display evidence of true repentance.
6Therefore, O my
people, though you are such wicked rebels, come, return to God. 7I
know the glorious day will come when every one of you will throw away his gold
idols and silver images—which in your sinfulness you have made.
8The Assyrians will be destroyed, but not by swords of men. The “sword of God” will smite them. They will panic and flee, and the strong young Assyrians will be taken away as slaves. 9Even their generals will quake with terror and flee when they see the battle flags of Israel, says the Lord. For the flame of God burns brightly in Jerusalem.[1] (Isaiah 31:6–9)
God extends an invitation to
those who ignore and rebel against Him. Note what Isaiah said about the
person who rebels: he is gripped by a deep
or great rebellion. This indicates
that God excludes no one from His invitation. He is willing to save from His
coming judgment even those who have greatly
rebelled against Him.
What is the invitation God
extends? It is to repent, to turn back to the Lord. Since God saves His
people from their enemies, all who are in rebellion should repent and return to
Him. God’s salvation is so wonderful that anyone who does not turn back to the Lord
is a fool (Ps. 14:1–7; 53:1–6).
The evidence of repentance is obvious. People who truly repent turn
away from idolatry and worship the Lord alone. Note the phrase in that day, which refers to the latter
days of human history when Christ sets up His kingdom on earth. In that day all idols will be cast down,
false worship will cease, and the Lord alone will be worshipped. Isaiah’s
message was forceful: since the glorious day of the Lord’s exaltation and
worship is coming, everyone should renounce idolatry now. They should reject all idols and false worship now. The Lord is the only living and
true God, so He should be the only object of man’s worship now. There should be a total renunciation of idolatry and false
worship and a total recommitment to worshiping the Lord alone.
But there is another reason for repenting and turning back to the Lord: He promises to deliver His people from their enemies (vs. 8–9). Although the Jews would suffer the judgment of God’s hand, and the Assyrian army would slaughter many of them, God would save a remnant of Jews. Although all the other cities of Judah would be destroyed, God would save Jerusalem. God, Himself would destroy the Assyrian army. Its soldiers would not fall by the sword of mere mortals, but by the sword of God (v. 8). When God wielded His sword, the Assyrian army, including its commanders, would panic and flee in terror for their lives. The enemies of God and His people would suffer the consuming fire of God’s Holy presence. Note that this is the clear declaration of the Lord. Therefore, because of God’s wonderful promise of deliverance, the people should repent and turn back to Him.
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OUTLINE |
SCRIPTURE |
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2. God’s
invitation to those who ignore & rebel against Him: A call to repent, turn
back to Him |
6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. |
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a.The evidence of repentance: They will turn away from idolatry &
worshiping the Lord alone |
7 For in that day every man shall cast away his
idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto
you for a sin. |
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b. The assurance of God’s deliverance: He will destroy Assyria 1) They
will not fall by the sword of mere mortals, but of God • Will panic & flee • Will be terrorized |
8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword,
not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but
he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. |
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2) They
will even see their commanders terrorized, |
9 And he shall pass over to his stronghold for
fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the Lord, whose
fire is in Zion, and his furnace in
Jerusalem. |
Thought 1. God calls on all people everywhere to repent. Even if we have ignored and denied the Lord all our lives, the Lord extends an invitation to us: repent and turn back to Him. Repentance is absolutely essential if we are to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth. If we fail to repent, we will face the terrifying judgment of God. Life is uncertain. No person is guaranteed another day of life. God’s Spirit does not always convict and draw people to Him; that is, He will not strive with people continuously, endlessly (Ge. 6:3). Man can reach a point of no return. Therefore, when God’s Spirit convicts us of sin and of failing to trust the Lord, we must confess and repent. We must turn back to Him. If we confess our sins and distrust, He will cleanse us and give us a deep sense of assurance that we have been forgiven. The assurance of His acceptance and favor will flood our souls. God extends His great invitation to every human being: repent and turn back to Him.
V “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish” (Lu.
13:3).
V “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Ac. 2:38).
V “And the times of this ignorance God winked
at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Ac. 17:30).
V “Cast away from you all your transgressions,
whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for
why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Eze. 18:31).
V “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:7).[2]
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah (Chapters 1–35). Vol. I. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
Isaiah 31 | NLT Bible | YouVersion
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