7/9/89-pm  - Lesson: Psalm 46
Text: Isaiah 25:6-9

                         A WORD OF HOPE
Introduction

      There are some things I suppose that we can get along without.
But hope is not one of them.  Human beings absolutely need hope.  You
and I need hope just now.  Some need it more acutely than others.

     Hope is faith looking into the future with God.

I.  ISAIAH IS A PROPHET OF HOPE, A MESSIANIC PROPHET, THE "FIFTH
EVANGELIST."

     HERE IS SOME OF ISAIAH'S VISION OF HOPE:

     "Expectancy" ... looking for the coming of Messiah, the King of
Peace ...

      A. The 'last word' in Isaiah's prophecy of hope is "peace."
Peace IS coming!  A world of no war-- no hatred-- no greed; energy
directed toward good.

     Peace IS coming! [Can this possibly be a genuine prophecy?]

      B.  The 'heart' of this message of hope is "a Person."  He will
remove the disgrace ...

      This person seemed "paradoxical" to pre-Christian era; Messiah
would be majestic/meek; He would be baptized/a baptizer; he would
bring LIFE/he would die!

     He Himself would be WISDOM and POWER and GOD'S PRESENCE!

      C.  The 'substance' of this hope is "LIFE." A new kind of life;
a new quality of living. No tears; no death; no great lack.

II. THE QUALITY OF LIFE MESSIAH WAS TO BRING/BRINGS

     There are three analogies used here:

      A.  Of a banquet: (fellowship/ feasting/ celebration) reunion,
joy,

      B.  Of the removal of a veil: (Verse 7 He will destroy the
shroud that enfolds people, that covers the nations) We will learn to
live face-to-face with God.  This life of hope is far advanced from "a
distant God" as He was once perceived.  Like being born, emerging from
the womb into LIGHT.

      C. Of the end of death and sorrow (verse 8)" He will swallow up
death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears

III.  A 'KEY WORD' (IDEA) IN THIS PORTION OF ISAIAH'S VISION IS "WAIT"

(verse 9) (or "trust" "Trust" is translated "wait" or "wait upon" in
King James ...)

      A.  "Waiting" would seem to imply "killing time" (like reading
old news magazines in the dentist's office); or, "waiting" might seem
to be an unfolding of the years ...  but it has the PERSONAL
aspect.. not just waiting-- but TRUSTING IN GOD!

      B.  No one, in any age, waits on God in vain!  No one ever comes
in trust/ obedience/ waiting that does not somehow find that God is
behind his/her praying!

      C. But what does WAIT/trust mean?

      Somehow this "waiting" involves a certain passivity that strikes
at the very heart of our American/ Protestant/ work- ethic/ cock-sure
self-confidence. "WE can do it!"  "WAITING" somehow says to God: "We
CAN'T "do it" unless and until YOU do it!"

      D. Thus WAITING is not so much a TIME as it is an ATTITUDE!  It
is LISTENING for God.  It is seeking to give God our ATTENTION!

      E.  And things WILL happen!  God WILL accomplish His will!  But
waiting is not just marking time until they do.

      F.  Isaiah makes it clear that "WAITING" brings benefits "NOW:"
(Isaiah 40:31 "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
...")

     AND JESUS' LAST COMMAND TO HIS DISCIPLES WAS: "WAIT!"

IV. 'WAITING' MEANS GIVING GOD OUR FULL ATTENTION!
     PAYING ATTENTION TO GOD!

     A. William Barclay says:

      "The only way to receive the Spirit is to silently and
prayerfully WAIT upon the Spirit."

     And then he goes on to say,

     "In a church life in which the church is increasingly highly
organized, and in which strenuous activity is the key-note, and in
which ACTION is valued above all things it is hard to find time for
that apparent doing nothing which means everything."

     [Our General Superintendents have called us to a YEAR of
SABBATH, a year of seeking after God.  It is not too early to prepare
for that year!]

     B. But what shall we receive IF we "wait?"

     Hopefully we shall receive A WORD!  We will hear God speak when
we listen!

     1. A word of PARDON! We shall KNOW we are right with God!

     2. A word of CLEANSING!  How we long to be CLEAN!

     3. A word of ASSURANCE! We "know" so very much!  Then comes
"crunch time" and we realize we can only say 'I know!'  by the Spirit
of God.

      [I am afraid we live a great deal in the realm of the
theoretical when it comes to spiritual matters!  It is one thing to be
"holiness people" and quite another to be "holy people."]

     4. A word of POWER!  God's Presence can change the world in which
we live!  It has happened before! We pray, "Lord!  Do it again!"

Conclusion

     William Barclay (again) says:

     "Both for US and for the church, God WILL 'do it again' if we
remember that He asks nothing but our attention, and IF we learn to
WAIT INTENSELY upon Him."

     (Text: "In THAT day we will say, 'This is the God for Whom we
have waited.'")

Prayer: Lord, Help us to give to You our full attention.  May we hear
Your word. Amen.

#65 (EH) Speak, Lord, In the Still
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