7 June 2009

Text: Isaiah 64

“BUT NOW, O LORD, YOU ARE OUR FATHER”

(I) PRESENCE OF GOD

1. God’s Presence is greatly missed (Isaiah 64:1-3)

2. God’s Presence remembered

a) Mountains shook (Isaiah 64:1)

b) Nations trembled (Isaiah 64:2)

c) Awesome things were done (Isaiah 64:3-4)

(II) PERVERSE PROBLEM OF SIN

1. Personal righteousness compared to filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)

2. Chronic neglect of seeking after God (Isaiah 64:7)

3. Angering of God because of sinful ways (Isaiah 64:5)

4. Absence of God because of consuming sin (Isaiah 64:7c)

(III) PLEADING THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

1. On account of a Creator-Creature relationship

a) Basic but essential

b) Yielding as Clay in a Potter’s Hand

2. On account of a Covenantal relationship

“...we all are Your people!” Isaiah 64:9c

a) God’s Covenant to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15)

b) God’s word to Moses (Exodus 33-34)

(IV) PLEADING PRESENT DISTRESS

1. The anger of God because of sin (Isaiah 64:5c, 9a)

2. Pleading forgiveness (Isaiah 64:9b)

3. Pleading mercy in times of distress

a) The holy cities are a wilderness

“...Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.” Isaiah 64:10

b) The holy temple destroyed (prophetic)

“Our holy and beautiful temple… is burned up with fire...” Isaiah 64:11

(V) PRAYING TO GOD THE FATHER

1. Comfort

2. Confidence