The Truth about People Lesson Plan

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Leader Guide Sunday, July 15, 2018

The Truth about People Sermon Text:​ Psalm 14 Study Texts:​ Isaiah 5 Sermon Recap​: Psalm 14 confronts us with a hard reality. We are confronted with the truth that being “religious” does not always equate with being godly. In our modern reading, we often classify the fool of verse 1 as an atheist, as one who has rejected the idea of God. But, this is not David’s point. In referring to the heart, David is speaking of actions, of our lives. The fool who says there is no God is the one who lives without regard for God. And terrifyingly, many who “believe” that God is real, who attend church and perform religious activities, live without any regard for God in their lives. They live without any recognition of the coming judgment; there is no awareness that all mankind is accountable to God. Thus, it is a profound measure of grace that t​he LORD graciously reveals the truth about people. Sermon Connection:​ Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet sent to Israel to proclaim the glory and righteousness of God. There are two great themes in the book of Isaiah: Judgment and Hope. In Isaiah 5, we find an illustration of the “fool” of Psalm 14. Isaiah 5 is about judgment; it is about the judgment of a hard-hearted people who believe in God but have no regard for Him in their lives. This people gave outward signs of being religious, but there is only sin and hypocrisy in their hearts; they only have sour grapes to offer.

Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: ​To see the reality of mankind’s sinful rejection of God and to highlight man’s total need for the gospel Lesson Points: Point 1 - Understanding the Vineyard ​(vv. 1-20) Point 2 - God Punishes the Vineyard ​(vv. 25-30) The Context: ​In this portion of Isaiah, the prophet is outlining the sinfulness of man against the backdrop of both God’s grace and His sovereignty. In chapter 5, Isaiah is using rhetoric to cause the people to condemn themselves (much as Nathan did with David in 2 Sam. 12). In the story, the vineyard is Israel (God’s beloved); God Himself is the One Who has cared for 1

and cultivated the vineyard. After all of His hard work and care, the vineyard produced wild grapes (also translated ​sour grapes​). Because of this, the Lord destroys the protective walls and calls for Israel’s enemies to come and demolish her. At the end of the chapter, we are left with a hopeless picture of Israel, ​“...behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.”​ It is important to note that the ending of chapter 5 leaves us longing for salvation; we are left longing for God to be merciful and restore His people. Opening Question: ​When I say the word “hypocrite,” someone most likely came to mind. What about “religious hypocrite”? Is there someone you know that professes a religion but lives contrary to it? Transition Statement: ​This is the topic of our study tonight: Religious Hypocrites. Point 1- ​Understanding the Vineyard​ ​(vv. 1-20) What do verses 1-2 communicate about God’s relationship with Israel? Utilizing the image of the vineyard, Isaiah refers to God as the loving owner of the vineyard who works for its success. He has chosen fertile ground in which to plant it; He’s prepared the land for planting, removing the stones and other impediments; He’s brought in only the choicest of vines; He’s constructed both a watchtower for its protection and a wine vat for the produce He expects. The picture we see from these verses is of a God Who cares deeply for His people; a God Who works for His people; a God Who expects great things from His people. What do vv. 3-6 teach us about God’s view of sin? What about sin among His people? God has no tolerance for sin. He will not passively allow people to reject Him; He will not stand for the spurning of His holiness. God set up His vineyard for success, but the sins of His people bring it down.Therefore, the Lord moves to bring about its destruction. He will not see His vineyard perverted. It is better for it to be destroyed than desecrated by sin. According to Isaiah, God removed His protection from the vineyard (the people), and He whistled for their enemies to come and devour them.1 What charges for sins does God bring against Israel? In v. 8, God notes the people’s ​Greed​:​ There were particular laws God had given to govern land and possessions, and v. 8 is a condemnation of the people for despising the Law of God for the own greedy gain. Instead of caring for one another, they sought bigger houses and bought up land for their own gain.

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Most scholars understand this to be a prophecy for the coming exile.

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In vv. 11-17, God condemns Israel’s ​Self-Indulgence​:​ This sin is given the most attention, and is at the heart of the issue here and in Psalm 14:1. The Lord’s condemnation is not of the acts of pleasure listed in vv. 11-12 but of the failure to honor/regard God in those actions. As v. 12 notes, “...​they do not regard the deeds of the Lord...​” In vv. 18-19, God deals with Israel’s ​Cynicism​:​ These verses show that while Israel regarded the idea of God, they did not take Him seriously. They were cynical of His judgment saying, “...​let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near...”​ In other words, “​IF​ God is going to punish us, let’s go ahead and have it now; let's get it over with.” They treated the thought of God’s judgment like a child who endures spanking just to return to the wrong behavior. In vv. 20-21, God deals with Israel’s ​Moral Perversion​:​ Not only had Israel become lax and casual in their view of God, but they had also perverted the very notion of God by reversing God’s moral order, “​calling evil good, and good evil.”​ Not only was Israel rejecting God’s standards and authority, they had also set themselves up as their own authority. In vv. 22-24, God deals with Israel’s ​Social Injustice​:​ Instead of using their special blessings as the people of God, Israel has spurned God’s goodness and failed to carry out His justice. Instead of being true heroes, they became “​heroes at drinking wine​.” To quote one commentator, “​They became small in the great things and great in the small things.​”2 Transition Statement: ​Having seen the depths of Israel’s sin, let’s now consider God’s response... Point 2 - God Punishes the Vineyard​ ​(vv. 25-30) Why has God moved against Israel in this way? God will not stand for the spurning of His Name; He will not see His glory treated with apathy and disdain. More than simply rejecting God, Israel gave the outward image of loving and worshipping God, but their hearts were wicked and had no true regard for Him. It was because of their hypocrisy, their sinful disregard of His holiness, and their lack of true Law-keeping that God moved against His people in judgment. What is this portion of Isaiah 5 anticipating in biblical history? This chapter serves as a prophecy of the coming exile of God’s people. It is not that the Assyrian and Babylonian empires were so great and powerful and that invasion was certain. On the contrary, Isaiah clearly shows us in 5:26 that God Himself calls these nations to come; God Himself whistles for the predators to come and devour His people. Thus, from a New

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John N. Oswalt, ​The NIV Application Commentary, Isaiah​, 115.

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Testament perspective,3 we see that the exile was a part of God’s sovereign plan for His people. What do verses 26-30 teach us about God’s sovereignty? Oh, that we would see the truth about God in these Scriptures! These nations came and destroyed Israel because God called them and let them. In these verses, Isaiah presents the mighty nations of Assyria and Babylon as God’s implements for judgment. God is not reacting to an impending invasion; He is sovereignly in control of it. Israel’s enemies are delivering God’s judgment. He controls all things with a decisive hand. The Big Picture​ - Recognizing the Gospel Isaiah 5 is a terribly chilling chapter in the Bible...one of, perhaps, the grimmest and most bleak. We are confronted with a holy God Who loves His people; He cares for them, protects, and sets them up for success. But in their wickedness, they have rejected God. They have not rejected the idea of God, but just as the fool in Psalm 14, they go about their lives with no regard for God. And in their rejection of God, God brings swift and decisive judgment upon them. So, how do we understand this from a Gospel perspective? First, we recognize that like the Israelites, we have all rejected God’s loving provision and have chosen sin (Eph. 2). We must recognize that we deserve the righteous hand of God’s judgment because of our sin. But, unlike the ending of Isaiah 5, we are not left longing for salvation for God has already acted to provide eternal salvation for His people. Instead of kicking down the wall of protection from around His people, whistling for the enemies to come and devour them, God put forward Christ as the One to be devoured. In Isaiah 5, the Assyrians and Babylonians unleashed God’s judgment on Israel. On the cross, Jesus became the sour grapes of our sin; on the cross, God unleashed the full measure of His wrath against sin upon Jesus (far more than any and all earthly powers could mount). And in bearing the punishment for our sin in full, Jesus provides the gospel to all who repent and believe. Ultimately, we see Israel restored back to her land. We see the walls rebuilt and the people restored, but it is not an ultimate restoration; it is only an anticipation of a greater restoration to come. We only find our ultimate restoration in the Person and work of the crucified Christ. It is only in Him that we find hope for our sinful souls. We are not called to do the things that He does; we are called to repent and believe on His Name. And as Psalm 14 ends, so will be the close of the story for the people of God; “...​When the Lord restores His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!​” And so we will... 3

Redemptive historical hermeneutic.

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Application Questions ● How am I guilty of being the fool of Psalm 14? ● Which of the sins of Israel in Isaiah 5 are present in my life? ● How am I leading my home to love and honor God? ● How am I guarding myself, my spouse, and my children against neglecting God and becoming the fool? ● Where am I failing to find my hope in Christ?

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