From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Isaiah 12

by

Recently, we encouraged our church to memorize Isaiah 12.  There’s so much in this chapter related to God, us, gratitude, and His praise going global eternally.  There are many things to love about this chapter.  Here it is.  I hope it encourages you this Thanksgiving Week:

[1] You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

[2] “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

[3] With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

[4] And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

[5] “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

[6] Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

(Isaiah 12 ESV)

Weekend Recap – 12/29/13

by

My 12/29/13AM sermon, Blessed Devotion from Isaiah 58:1-14, is now online.  The sermon sought to unpack what true devotion to God looks like by pointing to hearts and lives that are humbled before Him.  I hope this sermon is helpful as we reconsider priorities for the New Year.  Have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Sheep

by

Yes, we are all like sheep, at least that’s what Isaiah 53:6 says.  This means that we are weak, prone to go astray and Isaiah says we’ve actually done it — we’ve turned every one to his/her own way.  But, our great hope this week (and every day) is that on Christ was laid all of our iniquities.  My sermon from 4/1/12AM entitled Like Sheep from Isaiah 53:6 reveled in these truths.

In the evening, my small group finished Jerry Bridges’ book Respectable Sins.  To say this book affected us is an understatement.  God used this to not only reveal sin, but to deepen our dependence on the Gospel.  There are so many good elements and fruit that my group shared.  If any of you are interested, Bridges kept pointing to Thomas Chalmers’ Expulsive Power of A New Affection.  Click that link and digest that content to see what Chalmers (and Bridges) were driving at.

Have a great Holy Week this week.

The Suffering Servant

by

Prepping for this coming Lord’s Day, I was doing some reading on Isaiah 53 and using Gary Smith’s excellent NAC on Isaiah 40-66. In speaking of the lofty language to describe the Suffering Servant as the Messiah, he notes:

This fairly consistent positive imagery is completely shattered by rather contradictory images of appalling disfigurement (Isaiah 52:14), the absence of the majestic look of a king (Isaiah 53:2), mistreatment and rejection, lack of respect and suffering (Isaiah 53:3-4). The unusual theological explanation is that he suffered, was pierced, and was crushed for the sins of others (Isaiah 53:4-5). Although he was innocent (Isaiah 53:9b) and righteous (Isaiah 53:11), he did not object to this suffering (Isaiah 53:7b), so he died and was buried among because of the sins of others (Isaiah 53:8-9). Even more astonishing, God himself caused the iniquities of others to fall on him so that peace and healing could come to many others (Isaiah 53:5b, 6b). Surprisingly, it was God’s will for him to pay for the restitution of others (Isaiah 53:10). On the one hand this looks like a terrible perversion of justice, but on the other hand it was part of God’s unbelievable plan to transfer the guilt of many to this innocent Servant. He functioned as a substitute who took the penalty of others, and through this act he justified many (Isaiah 53:11). In spite of the unjust treatment of this Servant, this amazing story has a surprising and positive ending, for the Servant’s substitutionary role cause the will of God to be accomplished (Isaiah 53:10). This suffering Servant will not only live again and see the light (Isaiah 53:11); he will be exalted again because he bore the sins of many (Isaiah 53:12).

(Taken from Smith, Gary. New American Commentary: Isaiah 40-66. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2009. pp. 464-5)

Even the Old Testament was telling of this Jesus who would come and not only die but rise for sinners.