Darkness Before the Dawn
Isaiah 2:5
Introduction.
As we discussed last week, it’s important to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
When we are facing dark days, we might recall that it’s always darkest before the dawn.
There will always be dark days for us, but as Christians we know the dawn awaits.
Body.
Darkness of Deeds (2:6-9).
Their sins.
Recall the king at this time, Jotham, was a good king, but the people were corrupt.
They were filled with “eastern ways,” including that of the Philistines.
Now the Philistines were to their west, but the eastern ways mainly referred to the pagan idolatry of the nations around them.
Since they were bordered primarily on the west by the Mediterranean Sea, the evil influences often came from the east.
You see, they put their trust in soothsayers rather than in God.
They also put their trust in their economic and military might rather than in God.
And finally they put their trust in idols, false gods made by their own hands.
Our sins.
What “eastern ways” have we adopted today?
Of course when we think of “eastern ways,” it’s not the same as what they meant.
We’re not talking about Hinduism or Buddhism, but of putting our trust in things other than our Lord.
One of those may be our horoscopes, a palm reading, tarot cards, or a ouija board.
All those are gobbledygook anyway, all nonsense, reading into things what we want to, or what we’re inclined to.
Even so, some people take those things very seriously, so they are things we ought to stay away from.
And even if we recognize them as nonsense, is there going to be some part of us that might believe it, somewhere in the back of our minds?
I don’t know, so best to stay away.
Our trust is in the Lord, not in what’s “written in the stars,” “palms,” or “cards.”
One of those “eastern ways,” might just be our pocketbook.
I don’t pay much stock into the traits that make up various generations.
We’re all individuals after all, but some have noted some disturbing trends.
As Brian Krans wrote for Healthline in 2016: “The recent Great Recession was hard on most everyone, but it appears it was especially difficult on baby boomers.
So much so that a rising number of middle-aged people in that generation resorted to suicide as the weight of economic problems overwhelmed them.
Since 2007, in fact, baby boomers have had the highest rate of suicide of any age group in the United States. Historically, people between the ages of 40 and 64 have had one of the lowest rates.”
Some have posited that the economic prosperity that followed WW2 resulted in much success for the Boomer generation that grew up in that time.
They saw that hard work typically resulted in the ability to get a decent job that paid all the bills and left enough to save for big purchases, emergencies, and maybe even for retirement.
If one couldn’t do those things he must be lazy or really bad with money.
That’s not really the case anymore, is it?
Many saw themselves as a failure because their expectations did not meet reality.
Where did those people put there faith? Was it in their pocketbook, bank account, their 401k, or in the economy?
Brothers and sisters, if that’s where your faith is, you are “filled with eastern ways.”
Do we need jobs and sources of income? Of course! But your faith must be in God, because those sources of income may not last.
Another “eastern way” is putting faith in our military might.
A nation’s military might back then was shown through the number of horses and chariots they possessed.
We spend so much money on defense, more than the next ten countries combined.
How many tanks and fighter jets do we possess?
What about personally, how much do you spend on your own personal defense?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t defend ourselves or our country, I’m saying we shouldn’t place our faith in our weapons and military might!
If you do, you are “filled with eastern ways.”
The British surely did back in the 1700s, and our ragtag colonial military was able to kick that global super power out!
Are we really that much more sophisticated? Are we any less arrogant?
Worshiping the work of our hands is another “eastern way.”
Of course, Isaiah is specifically talking about idolatry.
They built their idols and bowed down before them—they created their own gods!
But I want to focus on this: “They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.”
When we build something, a house, a business, something, we are proud of our accomplishments, aren’t we?
And we have every right to bask in the work of our hands, as Solomon tells us (Eccl. 2:24).
We have that right, but we do not have the right to prioritize these things above our Lord and above loving our neighbor.
Men, how many of you have purchased a brand new car? No, you didn’t build it, but your hard-earned money paid for it. You wash and wax that thing once a week for a few months. Then you notice a scratch. How does that make you feel? Do you get angry or upset? Does that seep into how you treat your family? Do you want to question everyone in your family to see who the culprit is? How much does it consume you?
If you are willing to prioritize the look of this thing you bought over the relationship you have with your family, over loving your neighbor, are you not “filled with eastern ways”?
Stephen, wouldn’t you be upset? Of course I’d be upset, but what’s the best way to handle it? Yelling at my kids or just letting it go? Maybe encourage them to play somewhere else so it doesn’t happen again.
After all, I want them to have a healthy respect for things, not an unhealthy obsession.
Isaiah then asks the Lord not to forgive them for their dark deeds.
Thankfully for us repentance is available and the blood of Christ is free for all!
But if we do not take advantage of it, judgment is coming.
For Isaiah, we see this judgment as the darkest period of time before the dawn that is to come in “the latter days.”
Darkness of Judgment (2:10-22).
Fear.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
And when we’re afraid, we are more likely to cower and hide.
While these statements are indicative of the more immediate judgment to come with the Babylonian Captivity that was to occur in about 150 years, application can certainly be made concerning anytime the judgment of God is brought down.
On that last day, we might try to hide from Him, but how do you hide from One who is omniscient?
It’s like when a teacher steps away from the classroom for a moment, and when she comes back, everyone quickly returns to their seats.
They don’t want to get in trouble, and while the teacher may or may not know who was acting up, our Lord does.
When someone has illegal drugs in their house or car and they notice the police are nearby, what do they do? Don’t they try to get rid of the contraband?
They are afraid of getting caught, much like the idolaters who threw out their idols of silver and gold.
But it’s too late by then—their sorrow is not godly, but worldly (2 Cor. 7:10).
They’re sorry they got caught, and it’s just too late by then.
The one in possession of the contraband might be able to get away with it, but unless we are covered in the blood of Christ, we surely won’t get away with it.
Pride.
Our biggest problem is pride.
We are prideful concerning the money we have earned.
We are prideful concerning our military might—we’ve got the biggest military in the world.
We are prideful concerning the work of our own hands.
We are prideful concerning our own “eastern ways.”
And if we are, and if we do not repent, we should be fearful.
If we do not humble ourselves, He will humble us.
We must humble ourselves to follow His will and obey His laws.
If we truly “walk in His paths” (2:3), then we have chosen to allow Him to direct our path, not we ourselves.
He shows us that path by being that light in the darkness, by being that light at the end of the tunnel.
If we walk that path, we will weather the storm, we will make it through, and He will lift us up.
And He will either lift us up to fight another day, or lift us up and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant …. Enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matt. 25:21).
Conclusion.
Do you want Him to say that to you one day? I sure do.
So let the Lord be the light at the end our tunnel, the tunnel of life, the tunnel of suffering that we might be dealing with at any given moment.
Let’s put away our idols of the economy, our military might, and our own works.
We need to give up our pride, and humble ourselves before Him.
Why? Because of His judgment?
No, because He sent His Son to die for us so we can avoid His judgment!
He took our sins upon Himself and died in disgrace.
Let’s not let it go to waste when it comes our soul’s salvation!
There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
There will be an end to the Covid Crisis we’re all in right now.
I don’t know what form that will take, whether a vaccine or something else.
But it can’t last forever.
Whatever tunnel you find yourself in, there is a light, the light of Christ!
Follow Him today so you can enjoy the benefits of His beautiful light!