ISAIAH 63, 7-9
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them
When we think about God, we usually think about His almighty power, or His justice, or His grace and mercy by which He saved the whole world! Of course, sometimes when we think about God, we may be a little upset or even angry with Him, because of all the evil things He allows to happen in our world.
But when you think about God, how often do think of God being “kind” to people? I know when I first began to study these words for our sermon this week, those words took me by surprise too. God being kind! God sitting down with us when we are sobbing our hearts out, putting his arms around us, telling them “It’s OK. Go ahead and cry. Know that I’m here for you.” But, isn’t that what we really need! Especially when we’re hurting, or we’re worried, or we don’t know how we can possibly go on. Don’t we really just want God to be kind to us, smile at us, tell us He’s pulling for us, and He's always in our corner?
So, this morning, that what we’re going to do. With the help of Isaiah, we are going to REMEMBER THE LORD’S KINDNESS!
I
“I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us.” It’s easy to concentrate on the times the Lord has failed us, at least from our perspective. It’s easy to think about the times God has said “No!” to our prayers. It’s easy to think about how wicked people have done wicked things to us, and God hasn’t lifted a finger to help. Like the world we say to God, “but, what have You done for me lately?” Oh, thank you for all the blessings You’ve showered upon me in the past, BUT, what have you done for me lately? What about the pain I’m going through right now? Why aren’t you doing something for me now? It’s easy to become upset with our God, when we’re in pain!
So, what Isaiah suggests is remember “the kindness of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised.” Look beyond your pain and your problems. Just lift up your head and look at all the blessings God has given you. How many times has He rescued you from the foolish things you’ve done, sometimes, bringing you out of them without a scratch. Look at the life God has blessed you with. If we are really honest, the good things outnumber the bad. It’s just that the bad has a way of getting stuck in our memory. Remember the kindnesses the Lord has done for you. The Sacrifice He made to save you! And, perhaps maybe this time you can give God a little slack. Maybe God knows what He is doing! And this is truly the best path for you. REMEMBER THE LORD’S KINDNESS!
II
And then Isaiah talks about some of the “kind” things the Lord has done for us. “He said, ‘Surely, they are my people, sons who will not be false to me’ and so he became their Savior.” And remember that these people the Lord is talking about are the Israelites He brought out of Egypt, the people who found every way possible to disobey, disrespect, and dishonor God.
We might think that God is facetiously. I mean He must be joking right? “A people who will not be false to me.” Or maybe God has a very poor memory! Maybe because God wasn’t really serious about the laws He gave to His people, so it didn’t bother Him that much when His people disobeyed? NO!
God was serious about the laws He gave His people. God got angry when His people disobeyed. God doesn’t have a spotty memory. Nor is God talking facetiously here.
Yes, God’s people rebelled and disobeyed every way they could. They were anything but faithful to the God who blessed them so much. And yet God says, “they are my people, sons who will not be false to me.” And the reason God can say that? “And so, He became their Savior.” God knew no one could prove their faithfulness to God enough to be blessed by God. So, God sent someone who could. His Son, did what those people could never do. His Son carried those sins to the cross, and His sacrifice gave these people forgiveness of sins. And that is why God can say about Israel, and about you and me, “they are my people, sons and daughters who will not be false to me,” because God made them that way.
God can be kind to us, and sit with us as we’re hurting, not because we’ve tried so hard to do what is right. Not because we’ve measured up to His expectations, and now He can feel comfortable sitting with us. God loves us for who we are. Sinners! Sometimes horrible sinners! Who have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. He doesn’t promise to be with us, as long as we do what’s right! He promises to be with us, because we are in need, and He has come to help us. He comes to remind us that we are special to God. And why! Those nail marks in His hands which He reaches out us in our time of need. They tell it all. Jesus died for us. We belong to Him. And that is why Jesus is with us, every step of our life. REMEMBER THE LORD’S KINDNESS.
III
There’s another point that Isaiah makes about God’s kindness. “In all their distress, he too was distressed.” You hurt, Jesus hurts! You cry, Jesus cries! You are distressed. Jesus is distressed. Jesus knows what you are going through, because He’s right there going through it with you. Sometimes, we beg God to take away our hurts, and Jesus sits down with us, and holds us close in His arms, and tells us, “I’m sorry my child. But I can’t change it. We need to go through this. But know that I am going through it with you. Know that I am here with you and know that we will get through this.
Like a good friend, Jesus is right there, going through your troubles with you. But unlike any of the friends we have in this world, not only does Jesus commiserate with us, He can also do something about it. “In all their distress, he was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.” God has the power to change any situation we find ourselves in. Any situation. Jesus can still work miracles that will shock the world. But, sometimes, it’s not the situation that God needs to change. The situation needs to run its course. Sometimes, it’s us that Jesus needs to change. Jesus and His word, can comfort us, give us peace, and help us to forge ahead. Instead of rolling up in a little ball and dying because of this huge tragedy, God gives us an inner strength that we’ve never had before, a strength that says, “I can handle this.” A strength that says, “My God is with me. I can overcome an army if I need to. And I will get through this.” All because Jesus sits with you in your pain. REMEMBER THE LORD’S KINDNESS.
IV
One last thing Isaiah tells us about the “kindness of the Lord.” “He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” When my children were little, they would walk around on their own, but if something hurt them, or frightened them, they would turn around and lift up their arms. I would pick them up, and hold them safely in my arms, and their fear was gone, and their tears would end. They knew they were safe.
Sometimes, we adults do the same thing. There are things that frighten us, and hurt us, and we just can’t go on. We are frozen into inactivity. We don’t know what to do. We don’t know where to go. And sometimes, we need to lift up our arms to our God, so He will “lift them up, and carry them.” He will lift us up with His Word, and hold safely in His strong arms. And we know we are safe. We know we are protected. We know God will take care of us. That might not be the most adult and mature thing to do. But when you are hurting so bad, you don’t know what to do, or where to go, you don’t need to be a mature adult. Sometimes, we need to be the children of God He made us. We need to run to our God’s arms, have Him pick us up, and carry us. Because we can’t do it ourselves. And God will be there to do just that. REMEMBER GOD’S KINDNESS
Maybe you noticed something about these passages about God’s kindness. They are wrapped up with other words like “mercy,” “compassion,” “love.” Notice how many times Isaiah refers to our God “saving and redeeming His people.” You want to see God’s Kindness? Just look at that Christ-child in that manger! Look at that Savior on the cross! Look at that empty Tomb. And realize that God is sacrificing His Son to take away the sins of the world so we can have peace with God and a home in Heaven. And realize that what Jesus did for the world, he did for you! We are precious children of God, and our God loves to spend time with us, and will be with us whatever the situation! Look at Jesus, and you will REMEMBER THE LORD’S KINDNESS.
