Honor God

June 16, 2013

Lesson: Isaiah 29:9–16

Key Verse: Isaiah 29:13

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Introduction

Chapter 29 begins with these words: “We to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt!” Though there is a question of the meaning of ‘Ariel’ the following words give meaning to the word, “the city where David dwelt.” In his exposition of Isaiah, H. C. Leupold wrote that a possible meaning for ‘Ariel’ is “the hearth of God.” He continues, “Since it is plain from what follows that the subject under consideration is Jerusalem, the thought that this city is the hearth of God is meaningful from this point of view: This is the place where God’s home, or hearth-fire, is among his people.” A covenant relationship has been established between God and His people, thus making the transgression of His people the most terrible of actions. The wonder and glory of God’s providential care and presence with His people are seen in His Word: “For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God. And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee” (2 Sam. 7:24–26).

The Lord will rebuke His people for their foolishness: “Yet I will distress Ariel and there shall be heaviness and sorrow” (Isa. 29:2). Despite the warnings they received, the people acted stupidly,  as shown in their hypocrisy in their faith and service: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isa. 29:13). This action of God’s people to actively come before Him with lips that seemingly honor Him is nothing less than their inward purpose to remove themselves from obedience to their Lord.

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The Need for Hesitation —Isaiah 29:9–12

The commentary of Matthew Henry reminds us of the need to hesitate a moment so that we might see that our transgressions are rooted in our denial of what God has spoken: Isaiah the “prophet stands amazed at the stupidity of the greatest part of the Jewish nation. They had Levites, who taught the good knowledge of the Lord and had encouragement from Hezekiah in doing so (2Chronicles 30:22). They had prophets who brought them messages immediately from God, and signified to them what were the causes and what would be the effects of God’s displeasure against them. Now, one would think, surely this great nation, that has all the advantages of divine revelation, is a wise and understanding people (Deut.4:6). But, alas! it was quite otherwise;”—“Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.”

Our eyes are closed by the Lord that we might see that what we consider obedience is nothing less than willful disobedience: “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied” (Prov. 27:20). Unless the Lord opens the Book of His revelation, we are unable to seek its truths for ourselves: “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.” Which means the “The sad effect of this was that all the means of conviction, knowledge, and grace, which they enjoyed, were ineffectual, and did not answer the end” (M. Henry). We have before us the wonder of God’s grace, taught by the Holy Spirit through His inspired Word; and yet it becomes ineffectual by the hardening of our hearts because we sought first our will rather than the glory of the Lord. Therefore, let us turn from our business, and take time to be nourished by the Word of our Lord. “The book of prophecy was given to them sealed, so that they could not read it, as a just judgment upon them; because it had often been delivered to them unsealed, and they would not take pains to learn the language of it, and then made excuse for their not reading it because they were not learned” (M. Henry). It is easier for us to make excuses rather than take time to listen to the Lord to whom we belong. We were given ears to hear by the Spirit, who gave us the gift of faith whereby we are enabled to be alive in Christ our Savior. So Christ said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matt. 7:24).

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Discussion: What does it mean to have our eyes closed by the Lord?

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They Dishonor God—Isaiah 29:13–16

The character of those who honor God with their lips but dishonor Him by the hardness of their heart is revealed in these words of the Lord: “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Calvin wrote that “By the mouth and lips he means an outward profession, which belongs equally to the good and the bad; but they differ in this respect, that bad men have nothing but idle ostentation, and think that they have done all that is required, if they open their lips in honor of God; but good men, out of the deepest feeling of the heart, present themselves before God, and, while they yield their obedience, confess and acknowledge how far they are from a perfect discharge of their duty.”

It is the Lord who providentially works out all things together for the good of His people: “Therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” We sing with the Psalmist: “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psa. 136:1–4).

Therefore, let us not hide the wonders of the Lord, of His redemptive love and grace in Christ Jesus, by the foolishness of selfish desires, etc: for “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? And who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” We, having life by the Spirit in Christ our Savior, are to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness. …” (for) “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:15–21). Our faith looks to Christ as our Lord and Redeemer, the Spirit giving us eyes to see and understand that “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:19).

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Discussion: How shall we honor God in our faith and practice?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.