Sharing God's Heart for the World (Isaiah 45:22-23)

Children's Lesson (click here)

I. A Sea of Bowed Heads

In your mind's eye, see if you can picture this scene: in the main square of some medieval town, defeated enemy soldiers are being herded together to face judgment. Some keep their heads low as they shuffle into rows, while others still offer deadly looks and hateful words. Suddenly, in all his royal glory and military might, the high king rides through the town gate. His crown and armor shimmer in the sunlight, as his greatest warriors ride alongside him. These enemies soldiers had heard stories about this king; they knew something of his greatness. But his presence here and now quickly makes it clear that those stories were nothing compared to the reality of his majesty. Within seconds of his entrance, everyone in the square falls to their knees, both loyal and enemy soldiers alike. As this king stops and looks out over a sea of bowed heads, the only sound that can be heard is the wind blowing through the ancient streets. Though every person holds the same posture, he knows there are only two kinds of hearts present: those that are rejoicing at his arrival... and... those that tremble, knowing they will soon face his justice.

II. The Passage: “Turn to Me and Be Saved” (45:22-23)

Holding onto that image, turn over if you would to Isaiah 45 (one of the chapters from last week's Bible Reading Plan). As I mentioned in the last message, Isaiah chapters 40-66 is unique in Scripture in that it ultimately speaks to a people who would not be born for several more gener-ations. Yes, for those listening in Isaiah's time, these chapters contained important warnings and powerful encouragements. But the prophet's message was also meant to warn and encourage Jews who would be returning from exile in the final decades of the 6^th century before Christ.

With that in mind, look with me at verses 22-23 of chapter 45. Listen now to how Yahweh calls and to whom he calls in these important verses. This is verse 22...

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. [23] By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: [What is that word?]‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’”

So look back at verse 22. Does it reveal to whom God is calling or speaking? Yes! “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” Now you might be thinking, “Wait a minute. I thought these chapter were intended for Jewish exiles who would soon return to Israel from Babylon.” And that is exactly right. When you consider this phrase “ends of the earth” in its context, in light of the surrounding chapters, something surprising becomes clear. Listen, for example to 43:5–6,

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. [6] I will say to the north, Give [them] up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth...

So in one sense, when God calls out to “the ends of the earth” in 45:22, he is stilling calling out to the descendants of Israel... in those places; wherever they might be scattered. But... these chapters also make it clear that God's work of redeeming his people was intended to be a light to the nations as well. Look up to Isaiah 45:6. There we read that God is doing what he's doing...

...[so] that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. [as Isaiah will go on to say in 52:10...]

The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

So am I saying that God's heart, as revealed here, is for his chosen nation... and.. every nation? Yes. Absolutely. As I said a moment ago, the only true God's work of redeeming his idol-tempted people was intended to be a light to the idol-worshiping nations as well. In fact, this is exactly what we read only two chapters into Isaiah. This is 2:2-3...

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, [3] and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."

Okay. But this is an ancient prophecy concerning ancient circumstances, right? Well, yes and no. God absolutely would redeem his people from exile and bring them back to the Promised Land, and that restoration under the Persian king Cyrus would be a testimony both far and wide. But there's more going on here. How do I know that? Well look at verse 17. The prophet writes, “But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.” Now we know enough about history to know that those words cer-tainly do not describe what happened in the Sixth Century BC. Scripture and history tell us that the Jewish people would continue to suffer under many foreign powers, and as Jesus predicted, would eventually be forced from the Promised Land once again.

That means the salvation of Isaiah 45 must be a bigger salvation; something bigger and better than national restoration to a geographical location, and to the resumption of their sacred rituals.

As we saw in verse 17, God is talking about something “everlasting”. Something “to all eternity”. So how was this fulfilled? It was fulfilled by Yahweh's servant, the one introduced three chapters earlier in 42:1–4. In those verses we read,

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. [2] He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; [3] a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. [4] He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Wonderfully, Matthew 12 confirms for us that these words were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the One who has accomplished an everlasting redemption. He is the One who brings and will bring his people to a place of promise; to the place where God dwells. He is the One who “will bring forth justice to the nations”. He is “the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples --of him shall the nations inquire” according to Isaiah 11:10. He is the “lifted up” mountain to whom the nations will flow. In fact, they already are!

But brothers and sisters, friends, listen again to the heart of God for all peoples... “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” Can you hear His mercy and grace, his love and compassion, thundering through those words? What magnifies God's heart all the more is the sobering reality described in verse 23. Look back at that verse.

God says, “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return (that is, that shall not be revoked).” What is God emphasizing there? He's emph-asizing that what he's decreed will surely come to pass. Nothing will change what He's app-ointed to take place. And what has He appointed? “‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear...'”. The word “allegiance” is not actually in the text. The translator here believes it is implied. But I think it's better to just leave it as swear—or in the Greek OT—as “confess”.

One day, as in that scene from the medieval town, every person on earth, every person living, and every person who has ever lived, will fall to their knees in the presence of the High King; at the unveiling of his glorious majesty and incomparable greatness. We know this is precisely what's being communicated here because of how Paul quotes this verse in Romans 14:10–12...

For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; [11] for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” [12] So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do you see? Do you see how the reality of that sobering day should help us appreciate the reality of his invitation today? “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” You can can be sure of this: those that only bow down on that day will never get up. But those who bow down now, in light of the King's mercy, will be exalted in his blessed presence, forever and ever.

III. For All Peoples

Now, for most of us, this invitation and this future is already familiar. So why hear about it again? Well, there are many reasons. For one, working through a passage like this helps us to better understand how to read our Bibles; specifically, how OT promises like this are fulfilled in the NT. Also, can we ever truly get enough when it comes to plumbing the depths of God's heart? But the question I'd really like to leave with you this morning, in light of his glorious heart, is this: “Do you share that heart? Do you share God's heart for the ends of the earth, for all peoples?”

For a faith family that's our size, God has given as amazing opportunities to participate or to support or, at the very least, to be exposed to his stunning work all around the world. Think about it. Not only do we get to partner with brothers and sisters in Quebec and Ecuador and the Phil-ippines, but individuals from this church have served in western Uganda, in Japan, in central India, in France, in Haiti, in Venezuela, and in Papau New Guinea. We have been able to support work among the Rawas people in Indonesia, and even now, some of us support Rachel Wolter, a former Way of Grace-er who is serving Christ in Bangkok, Thailand. On every continent, God has given us precious glimpses of his heart for all people.

In a world awash with global news coverage, it's so easy for our thinking about the world to be hijacked by the media. But when we share God's heart for “the ends of the earth”, places like North Korea and Iran, places like Russia and Cuba, places like China and Ukraine, and Canada and Mexico, should first inspire in us deep, spiritual concerns, rather than divisive, political opinions. Ask yourself, believer, “If Jesus were living my life, how might his heart for all people be on display to all people?” Would it be evident in my conversations, my prayers, my finances, my studies... or maybe, in my travel plans? Maybe... in my life's calling? From the very outset, followers of Christ have obeyed his words to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Today, we remain a part of that legacy. In fact, we are the fruit of that legacy! So...fellow believer,

what will those words mean for you... words like “all nations”; words like “ends of the earth”?

Will you take time to pray today, and into this week, about those questions? Ask him, “Father God, how can I share your heart for the ends of the earth? What might that look like in my life? How do you need to correct my thinking and expand my focus and deepen my love?” And let's not hesitate to share with one another reports and requests from “the ends of the earth”, news that might inspire local praises and prayers. Amen?

Of course, in the end, where should such thoughts lead us? Right back to Jesus, and how only he can give us the Father's heart. Only through faith in Christ can any person move from such an inward focus to such an outward focus; a focus informed and inspired by that future reality Paul describes in Philippians 2:9-11, using language that should now be familiar to all of us...

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.