Peter Barnes: Isaiah 2:6-22
(19 August 2018)
SERMON NOTES: TRUST GOD, NOT MAN (Isaiah 2:6-22)
In these early chapters of Isaiah there is a contrast painted between Zion as it was, as it is, and the new Zion.
1. Sins that anger God.
– 2:6. ‘Striking the hands’ (ESV) is ‘clasping hands’ in the NIV. It could refer to clapping in worship (Alec Motyer) but it is more likely to refer to making deals with foreign powers (John Oswalt). These have introduced all sorts of evil practices associated with divination. Covetousness has also been let loose – 2:7. Then there is idolatry – 2:8. Pride drives both idolatry and covetousness – 2:11, 12, 17.
2. God judges proud sinners.
– 2:9. God is not appeased. Man bows down so he will be brought down. In the judgment God will be exalted – 2:10-11; see Luke 23:30.
– 2:12-16. Calvin cites a proverbial saying: ‘Every man carries within him the heart of a king.’
– 2:17-18. The Old Testament often speaks of the judgment in terms of rejoicing e.g. Psalm 96:11-13 (and 98:7-9), but see Amos 5:18-20. Many translations in Isaiah 2:19, 21 have ‘shake’ (NIV, NASB, NKJV), but Allan Harman says that it should be ‘terrify’ as it is in the ESV.
– idols belong with the moles and bats – 2:20-21.
3. Believing in humanity leads to idolatry.
– 2:22. What is man? Psalm 78:39; 104:29; 146:3-4; Jer.17:5; Rom.3:4. ‘Believe in yourself’ constitutes the worst advice you will ever get in life. Joachim Neander: All my hope on God is founded:
Human pride and earthly glory,/ Sword and crown betray His trust;/ What with care and toil he buildeth,/ Tower and temple, fall to dust./ But God’s power, hour by hour,/ Is my temple and my tower.
Edward Young: ‘The greatest need of man is to reject man.’