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Isaiah, Paul of the Old Testament (4 of 10)

Focus Text: Isaiah 6.8-13

Isaiah had a “hard row to hoe” as we noted in an earlier message. In his role as a prophet of God, Isaiah’s ministry spanned about half a century. With apparently sparse results, Isaiah continued to proclaim God’s message with all the vigor that his body could muster. His words were and are a clarion call to truth and personal accountability. Surrounded by a nation saturated with materialism and secularism, Isaiah was the epitome of perseverance. If Isaiah expected an easier assignment, it was short-lived in as much as his call included a statement from the LORD about the hardhearted people to whom he would minister and their indifference to his message.

“Also I [Isaiah during his “call”] heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.’ Then I said, ‘Lord, how long?’ And He answered: ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The LORD has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.’” (Isaiah 6.8-13). As stated, the time would be long and the obvious results would be short; this was not an assignment for someone easily discouraged!

Perseverance is a state of mind. We all like to make progress; we all like to succeed. However, how we define these terms is of vital importance. What is progress? What is success? Isaiah had definitions that were probably in conflict with the society in which he lived (they are most certainly in conflict with the culture in which we live in the 21century). If God’s approval of Isaiah’s work depended upon how the masses received him, Isaiah was doomed to failure. However, if Isaiah’s success hinged upon how faithfully and courageously he delivered God’s message (regardless of obvious results), Isaiah had few peers! With little evidence of discouragement and not a hint of flinching, Isaiah went about the task of teaching truth to his countrymen! Was he a successful prophet? The inspired record speaks for itself in that the New Testament cites Isaiah’s works, according to some researchers, over 400 times (more than any other Old Testament book). God undoubtedly knew Isaiah’s constitution when He commissioned Him and Isaiah did not let Him down!

In a society that demands instant gratification, there is little attention paid to patience and perseverance. In a similar vein, we have redefined success so that it meets our desire for instant gratification. The result is that we sometimes become discouraged and quit godly works when success is in perseverance, not in visible results; preachers and elders take heed!

Questions:

1. What is the definition of perseverance? Of patience? Is there a difference in merely enduring a situation and in demonstrating patience in a particular circumstance?

2. According to God, how long was Isaiah to prophesy (see the focus text)?

3. What evidence is there that Isaiah’s work was accepted of God?

4. How does our culture define success? How does God define success?

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

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