20090426 The Lord is Compassionate

The LORD is Compassionate
Joshua Chan, 26/04/2009

Adoniram Judson and his wife, Ann served the Lord as a young couple in Massachusetts. They felt the challenged by the Lord to bring the gospel to India. They sold everything and boarded a ship to India on 19 Feb 1812. The journey from America to India took 4 months. So, going to India was like a journey with no return.

There was a tension between the British and Americans. When they reached the British colony, they saw a situation opposite to their expectation. War has broken between Britain and America. They were seen as the enemies. One week after they arrived, they were ordered to be deported immediately. They were so desperate because they have sold everything they had back home. But they were certain of their calling as missionaries. They could not stay so they decided they would go to anywhere the first ship would take them. They wanted to go to Penang but the first ship was headed to Burma. They were warned about the difficulties in Burma. They boarded the small vessel to go to Burma. The vessel had no canvas cover. It was the peak of monsoon season. Anne fell sick on the way.

When they arrived, they could not converse to the locals. Burma today celebrated almost 200 years of their first missionaries.

What makes this young couple so passionate and committed to do missions work?

Missionaries have great compassion for the lost souls. A life of a missionary is not fun. It is unlike a local church pastor who is well taken care of by the congregation. Today, with the advent of technology, missionaries keep in touch with others. In the past, they were lonely.

(One of my more favourite jokes – wife to husband, “You’re gonna die!”)

Structure of Isaiah
1. Isaiah 1 to 39 - Addressing Jerusalem
2. Isaiah 40 to 55 – Addressing the Exile
a. Addressing the Jews who were taken in captivity in Babylon
b. Is 43 God will be their Saviour
c. God told them Babylon would fall
d. Is 44:28 – God’s command to rebuild Jerusalem & restore the temple
3. Isaiah 56 – 66 – Addressing post-exile

God punished the Israelites via the exile. However, the write reminded the people that the Lord has not abandoned them. Isaiah was the minister of consolation (Is 40 to 55). He told Judah God would come back to them as their Saviour. God assured them the fall of their enemy, the Babylonians.

The Lord is Compassionate – a Calling to Respond
1 First Call - the Lord Provides a Future (vv1-3)

Isa 54:1-3 "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD. (2) "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. (3) For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.

A barren woman then was seen as receiving punishment from God. She is the target of ridicule and despise. Hagar despised Sarai for not having a child. Rachel told Jacob to give her a child or she would die. Hannah prayed for a child.

Is Isaiah 54, Isaiah gave a total different picture. He asked the barren woman to sing. How can a barren woman sing unless she has hope for a child? When Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were taken captive, it was like a barren woman. In Is 50, we read that Jerusalem sinned against the Lord and she was sent to exile because of her rebellion. God has left her.

Jerusalem is told to sing because there is still a future. The Lord will provide a way for people to go back to Jerusalem and to get back to Him. The Bible tells us when we know the truth, it will set us free. Some of us know the truth but we refused to walk in the truth. We file our own divorce with God.

Many Christians today are living in exile and no longer enjoys the intimate relationship with God. We may go to church on Sunday or even serving but how often do we spend time with God and worship Him? When given a choice between prayer and our favourite show, what will we choose? This is the danger in the present day church – there are so many activities competing for our time.

If we have left God’s sight, if we are living in exile and living under the bondage of the chores in life, would God restore the relationship with us? Isaiah revealed a Father who is willing to mend our relationship with Him. Our God always response with grace when we come back to Him.
2 Second Call - the Lord forgives the past (vv4-5)
Is 54:4-5 (4) "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. (5) For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

In Luke, we read that Elizabeth, the wife of Zachariah the priest was barren. God answered her prayer and gave her a child.

In this historical context, Israel was humiliated. The exile was a far cry from the heydays of David and Solomon. They could not even lift up their heads. During their peak, the enemies fear them because the Lord was with them. Here, God told them not to be afraid because God has forgiven their past. There is no condemnation from God. Condemnation is from the evil one. This is not to say we deserved His forgiveness. But His grace is sufficient for us. His mercy endures forever.

If we feel that God’s love has left us or that we are unworthy, know that God loves us. When we are adopted as God’s children, He forgives our wayward past.
3 The Lord Honours His Covenant and Loves Everlastingly (vv6-8)
Is 54:6-8 (6) For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. (7) For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. (8) In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer.

In Hebrew, “will” means perfect certainly. The writer gave a very emotional description of a young wife. A couple just married can hardly be separated from one another. God understood Israel’s pain.