Series: Isaiah
Title: The King and His Blessings
Text: Isaiah 32: 1-8
Date: October 17, 2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
In order for a kingdom to prosper, there must be a king who reigns (governs) in righteousness. Such a king sends forth his princes to rule his people with the word of their king. The work of the righteous king shall be peace. In the midst of all storms and adversity his people will live in quietness and assurance. They are assured by their king, they shall always dwell in sure and safe resting places. The LORD sent Isaiah to declare that this is how things shall be for his people in his kingdom.
Isaiah 32: 1: Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
Hezekiah was a king to come in Judah who was righteous in Christ, who God blessed during his reign over Judah. Princes served under Hezekiah who led the people in judgment.
Proposition: But Christ is the King spoken of here, who reigns in rigthteousness. The kingdom spoken of here is the kingdom of the Lord of lords and King of kings. The day spoken of here is this gospel age in which we live--THY GOD REIGNETH!
I. Christ is the King Who Reigns In Righteousness.
A. Christ is the Lord our Righteousness
The righteousness of God is manifest in Christ Jesus. In righteousness Christ Jesus established the law of God on behalf of his people. In righteousness he purged the sin of his people by his own blood. In righteousness he perfected forever them that are sanctified. Christ our King is the Wisdom, the Righteousness, the Sanctification and the Redemption of his people. Behold, Christ the King reigns in righteousness!
B. Christ's kingdom is not of this earth, but is eternal.
John 18: 36: Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37: Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
1. Christ's Throne is in the heavens:
Acts 2: 34: For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35: Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Hebrews 8: 1:…We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2. Every member of his kingdom enters into Chirst's kingdom by the new birth--born of the Spirit of God
Romans 2:29: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3. Christ is King over those who are born of his Spirit, who live on this earth now AND who have already died.
Romans 14: 9: For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
THIS IS AN ETERNAL, SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. All POWER BELONGS TO CHRIST THE KING AND HE SHALL GOVERN HIS KINGDOM IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IN TRUTH!
II. His Princes Shall Rule in Judgment
A. Christ's princes are his gospel preachers who he sends to rule his children with the word of our King.
The LORD God used the earthly kingdoms of Israel and Judah as examples. Ahaz was an unrighteous king over Judah. His princes under him (civil rulers as well as the prophets) led the people to err.
· Isaiah 1: 21-27
· Isaiah 2: 6-9
· Isaiah 9: 14-17
The King says that he redeems and converts in righteousness and in judgment
Question: Does God our Savior receive the glory for: election, predestination, redemption, regeneration, resurrection? Yes. Who receives the glory for sending his preachers with his gospel? God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Is our God sovereign to do these other things and not sovereign to send his preacher wit the truth of who he is and how he saves? God says yes!
Isaiah 32: 1: Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
Ephesians 4: 8: Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men….11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:…
We find in scripture: "ambassadors of the princes of Babylon"; Isaiah warned of Pharoah's princes and his ambassadors. (Turn to 1 Corinthians 2) Apostle Paul declared there is a difference between God's princes (Paul gave himself and Apollos as the figure ) and this world's princes:
1 Corinthians 2: 6: Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God….13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual….{the princes he sends want for our King to receive all the glory}…3:5: Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Just as God the Father sent Christ the King, Christ the King sends his princes to rule and he said,
Luke 10: 16: He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
III. CHRIST THE KING SHALL REIGN SO AS TO MAKE HIS CHILDREN TRUST HIM.
NOTICE THAT THESE BLESSINGS ARE NOT MAYBES, BUT SHALLS!
Isaiah 32: 2: And a Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; 2: As rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
In a desert there are three extreme dangers: storms, dryness, the scorching sun.
Illustration: The dust bowl in Oklahoma (boarded windows--still sand got in) Old Westerns--men wandering in sand storms, no water, sun beats down, parched, dry, need an oasis (shelter, water and shade)
This world and our sinful flesh is a desert. We need to be saved:
· From the storm of Satan's lies, his rebellious princes and our own lying, rash hearts (quick) to believe lies
· From the dryness of dead flesh; by nature, we have no moisture of life, of righteousness, of truth--all dryness.
· From scorching heat of God's holy justice which bears down like a sunbeam
A. The Man, Christ Jesus, Shall Be All To Each Child in his Kingdom
1. Christ Jesus the GodMan, is as a storm shelter--our “Hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest.”
- The Wrath of God.
- The Temptations of Satan.
- The Persecutions of Men.
- The Afflictions of Providence.
2. A Man shall be as rivers of water in a dry place.
Isaiah 2:22: Cease ye from man, whose breath [is] in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”
But the GodMan shall be as "Rivers of Water", that is, he that believes on Christ, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water--overflowing, continual refreshing, continual life without end--spiritual life.
3. A Man shall be as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Christ is our Holy, Everlasting, Neverending Shadow of Righteousness.
B. He Shall Give Spirtual Senses Creating His Children Anew!
Isaiah 32: 3: And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim--the Holy Spirit enters he gives spiritual eyes--Christ the Light. and the ears of them that hear shall hearken--my sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Isaiah 32: 4: The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge--when he creates a new spirit within, a new heart, a clean heart you will gladly receive his word! 4:…and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly--(plainly means white, bright, plain)--his princes are stammerers, but no longer muttering and peeping!
1 Corinthians 1: 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
C. He Shall Give Spiritual Discernment So That His Children in his Kingdom Know a Fool From a True Prince of God.
Isaiah 32: 5: The vile person {Naw-bawl’--fools} shall be no more called liberal, {naw-deeb’--princes}, nor the churl {withholders, misers, covetous men who hold back the riches of Christ so as to gain the the riches of men} said [to be] bountiful. {generous, beneficial}
Those who mix the wine of the gospel with water, do so why? "Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards". But the Lord gives his children ears to discern his Voice from the voice of a stranger.
Isaiah 32: 6: For the vile person will speak villany, {disgrace} and his heart will work iniquity {nothingness}, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Apostle Paul summed it up this way:
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect….2: 6: Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought…
To those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: Christ Jesus is the Power and Wisdom of God; our Bread and our Drink is Christ. We know Paul was a prince because he said I never want to MAKE THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT lest I empty the soul of the hungry, or cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Isaiah 32: 7: The instruments {the weapons} also of the churl are evil: he deviseth {counselleth} wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. 8: But the liberal {prince, nawdeeb} deviseth {counselleth, preach, gives} liberal things {the true prince speaks, gives, holds not back, the riches of his King} and by liberal things shall he stand.
The Weapons of our Warfare Are Not as the Princes of this World--ours are Farming Utensils.
· Seed of the Word
· Beaten our carnal swords into spiritual ploughshares
· Spears into pruninghooks
· Not learning our old manner of warfare anymore (Is 2)
The King said,
John 10:27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:…
Is the Pope preaching the gospel? Did Joseph Smith of the Mormons preach the truth? Are the Pentecostals preaching the truth? Is the free willer? Is the preachers who says Christ died for all? The man with the label conservative, evangelical, fundamental, reformed, and so on, is he preaching the truth? How does a believer discern a prince of God from a fool?
Illustration: THE RESTAURANT ACROSS THE STREET COULD CALL ITSELF A CHURCH AND THE CHEF CALL HIMSELF A GOSPEL PREACHER. The one way I know the difference is in the food. He does not serve Christ the Bread! The believer shall know one way--the Voice of the King!
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:…
Illustration: Someone said to me recently, "My preacher preaches Christ 50% of the time."
How long would you eat at a restaurant that served poison only 50% of the time? How long would you bank with your banker if he only stole from you 50% of the time. The King says, his sheep not only will not hear the strangers voice, they will flee from it! (32v9---hear my Voice!)
Those natural sons of Abraham were too proud to need God's prophets--they thought they could see, they could hear--so God took away what light he had given them! (vv 10-16)
BUT WHAT SHALL BE THE SURE RESULT OF THIS KING WHO REIGNS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS? WHO REDEEMS IN JUDGMENT AND CONVERTS SINNERS IN TRUTH?
If you are not ashamed of this gospel but sow this Seed no matter the waters you are beside. If you are not ashamed but support and send forth the true preachers of the gospel of this King! Then all the glory goes to the KING! That is what the last verse declares:
Amen!