129. Shall a Nation Be Born At Once (1)

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Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus 325 A Shelter In the Time of Storm 326 Like a River Glorious

Sermon Summary:

The sermon, drawn from Isaiah 66, unfolds a divine narrative of judgment and hope, centered on God’s enduring covenant with Israel and the ultimate salvation of all nations. It emphasizes that while God’s people have often strayed through pride and hypocrisy, He remains faithful to His promises, looking not to outward religious rituals but to the humble and contrite heart. The passage reveals a future where Israel, after a time of national travail and divine judgment, will experience a miraculous spiritual rebirth—born in a day—when the Messiah returns and the nation turns to Him in repentance. This moment of national restoration is framed within God’s eternal plan, where the Gentiles’ salvation has temporarily delayed Israel’s full redemption, yet all will ultimately be saved through grace. The sermon calls believers to persevere in faith, trusting in God’s timing, knowing that His justice and mercy are perfectly balanced, and that the final destiny of all humanity will be revealed in the new heavens and new earth, where the redeemed will dwell in eternal peace while the unrepentant face everlasting judgment.

Isaiah 66

1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? orshall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. 10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. 13As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. 15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.  

Shall a Nation Be Born At Once (1)

OUTLINE

  • Comfort for the Remnant and Curse for the Rebels (v1-6)
  • All Israel Shall Be Saved (v7-9)
  • Jerusalem in the Millennium (v10-24)

INTRODUCTION

The prophet Isaiah sweeps through the span of time from the time leading to Israel’s first captivity in Babylon to their eventual return as a nation today and their conversion during the days of the Great Tribulation, when the entire nation turn to the LORD.

The Apostle Paul reported this momentous event in Romans 11:1a, 2a, 4b, 5, 7, 11-12,25-27, 33-36 “I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid… God hath not castaway His people which He foreknew… I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election grace… … rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness… For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so, all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion a Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins…For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.”

The word “blindness” means “hardness, obstinacy.” There seemed to be that rebelliousness from a section of Israel choosing to reject Jesus Christ, their Messiah. The text is not saying that no Jews will be saved. The Apostle Paul is saying that he cannot offer any logical explanation why his countrymen behaved in this way. He was like them before his conversion to the extent of persecution Christians by putting them to death. The hatred is so great from a section of the Jewish establishment who utterly rejected Jesus Christ.

He is saying that God has His higher plan for the redemption of all mankind that He is enacting during the Church Age where Israel is set aside. Thinking carefully, it is a two prong approach that God has taken; the gospel allows both Jews and Gentiles to be saved! The nations of the world since the destruction of Israel in A.D. 70 till today in 2016 is given an opportunity to be evangelised through missionaries like the Apostle Paul.

Perhaps God is showing mankind the impossibility of prosperous self-government without God. Man’s existence has been plagued with violence, destruction, and war till now with no solution of real peace in sight. The nations of the world will appreciate the time better when God will bound Satan and God in Christ will physically rule the earth during the millennium. It will be the real golden age for Israel as true representatives of God. The time when Israel will fulfil their God-given role. This role of pointing the nations of the world to worship the living and true God, Creator of heaven and earth. While God is allowing time for Gentile conversion, may we be up and about the gospel work. 

he Apostle Paul quotes from to affirm that there will be a time when Israel will turn to God in the future, Isaiah 59:20-21 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.  And also, Isaiah 27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

God’s promise to Israel is that He shall through the Messiah will bring salvation in their latter days. Jesus Christ, will return to save Israel and establish His rule from Jerusalem. He shall purge all iniquity from Israel.

The full impact of God’s covenant with Israel is recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34 where God will transform their hearts to love and serve Him, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

The prophet Zechariah whose name means “God remembers” alluded to the truth that God does not forget His promises to Israel recorded the millennial blessing of Israel at the close of the book of Zechariah fulfilling the prophesy God gave to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:31-34:

Zechariah 14:20-21 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

The mark of true consecration will be seen everywhere and practised in the millennium. It is “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.” All are cleansed and holy in Jerusalem and among God’s people. There will be holiness in public life “bells of the horses,” in religious life “pots in the Lord’s house,” and all private life “every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah.” Truly, “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). God dwells physically in the midst of His saints who will be appointed to rule with Him. Sin will no more have dominion. What glorious freedom!

These last two verses of prophesy by Zechariah may well close not only this book but the whole history of Israel, for it shows God’s original purpose fulfilled in Exodus 19:6, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” All who enter the house of the Lord are recognized as regenerated born again believers. There shall be no Canaanites (heathen, unbelievers) in the house of the Lord of hosts. Our Lord rules in our hearts today but the corrupt nature wars daily against the spirit of holiness. May God’s people wage a good warfare against the corruptness in us, daily practising holy habits, watching and working for the night comes when no man can work. God does not forget His own children. The Lord truly remembers!

What comfort it is for the people of God that they are most precious in His sight –  

Luke 12:7 (KJV) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:30-32 (KJV) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

The people of God may suffer persecution and incarceration in the world but be of good cheer – John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  • Comfort for the Remnant and Curse for the Rebels (v1-6)

1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 

In following the LORD, there is tremendous blessing. The Creator of heaven and earth the Maker and Sustainer of all things deserves our humble worship and adoration. 

Genesis 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The people of God are described as poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at the Word of God. 

Poor here means “Humble”, the idea is, not that God looks with favour on a poor man merely because he is poor – which is not true, for His favours are not bestowed in view of external conditions in life – but that he regards with favour the man that is humble and subdued in spirit. A spirit that is broken, crushed, or deeply affected by sin. It stands opposed to a spirit that is proud, haughty, self-confident, and self-righteous. That fears me, or that reveres His commands.

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 

Here is spoken of by the prophet of a nation that has gone astray. A people that have departed from the LORD. There is a subtilty to this departure. It was a departure of a truly seeking heart. The genuineness is missing. Their offerings were not sincere. Not pleasing to the LORD.

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 

The LORD is not mocked, He sees and it abhorred Him to see the hypocrisy of His people.

Psalm 81:12 (KJV) So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Proverbs 1:31-32 (KJV) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (KJV) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

Truly, Christ and His disciples were rejected by the nation as a whole. The Lord is with His people. All who tremble at His Word.

Proverbs 13:13 (KJV) Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 (KJV) Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

1 John 3:13 (KJV) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Matthew 10:22 (KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

John 7:7 (KJV) The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

  • All Israel Shall Be Saved (v7-9)

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. 10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

The nation is going to come forth in one way! God will regenerate and make for Himself a nation!

There is a general rejection of the gospel by the Jewish people. Like the Apostle Paul before his conversion, the Jews are enemies of the gospel. It is sad to see this. Because the Jews rejected the gospel, God opened the way for the gospel to be given to the Gentiles.

Swindoll rightly said, “we Gentiles should first be thankful for the blessings we currently enjoy at their expense. In fact, we should honor them, for their future role in God’s plan to redeem His creation.”

The Apostle Paul is saying that we must not forget the Jews because they are God’s chosen people. Because of His covenant with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jews are still held with utmost endearment by God. He is leading us to see the Jewish people from God’s standpoint, as a loving Father in heaven awaiting the return of the prodigal son. Thank God for His mercy upon Israel. Indeed, this is the heart of our loving Father.

If you know of anyone who willfully reject the gospel although they may be children of believing parents, do continue to pray for them. Do not give up on them! 

God who cut off Israel for her unbelief can also restore all her privileges. All is not lost for wayward Israel. Like the story of the prodigal son that our Lord narrated, there is always a way back with God.                                                 To be continued….