Worship: May 22nd, 2016

On Sunday, May 22nd, Pastor Tony continued his sermon series in Isaiah: The Lord Saves. In this passage we see Hezekiah’s actions as king illustrate this truth: A self-centered heart (instead of a God-centered one) leads to short-sighted decisions and actions that leave a tragic legacy.

Preaching: Rev. Tony Felich (Sermon Audio Page| Other Sermons)

Text: Isaiah 38-39

[38:1] In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” [2] Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, [3] and said, “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. [4] Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: [5] “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. [6] I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city. [7] “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he has promised: [8] Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined. [9] A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: [10] I said, In the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years. [11] I said, I shall not see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world. [12] My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end; [13] I calmed myself until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end. [14] Like a swallow or a crane I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety! [15] What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. [16] O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live! [17] Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. [18] For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. [19] The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness. [20] The Lord will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the Lord. [21] Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.” [22] Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?”
[39:1] At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. [2] And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. [3] Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” [4] He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” [5] Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: [6] Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. [7] And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” [8] Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”

Worship Hymns:
Hymn of Adoration: # 45 Now unto Jehovah, Ye Sons of the Mighty
Hymn or Spiritual Songs: # 119 I Sing the Almighty Power of God
Hymn of Response: # 348 Jesus, with Thy Church Abide
Dismissal Hymn: # 441 Jesus Shall Reign (5)

Additional Reading: The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Full Liturgy for May 22nd, 2016 (PDF)

Sermons from the Exposition of Isaiah
(click on the link for the sermon page with audio) 

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