Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, January 24

Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, January 24

Sermon text for this week: Isaiah 11

Songs for worship will include: Blessed be Your Name (Matt Redman), All Hail the Power of Jesus Name,  Revelation Song and Come People of the Risen King

The “candidate of hope and change” is what one current Presidential candidate is calling himself.  That phrase resonates with many Americans, because in their hearts thay are longing for a change; they are searching for hope.  And they are willing to grab hold of anything or anyone whom they believe might bring that ‘hope and change’.

The people of Isaiah’s day needed hope, they looked for someone in whom they could place their confidence, someone who could restore all that had been lost, someone whose promises they could count on and leadership they could follow.  They longed for a king like David, the one who had led them to Israel’s greatness.  But David was gone, his kingdom divided and his dynasty was crushed.  What could have been described as a great flourishing tree was now pictured as a rotten stump, hewn-down and cut off at the ground.

Isaiah looked with inspired insight at the condition of his country and saw what was going on in the heart of God’s people.  With that same inspired insight he saw the hand of God moving in judgment against the sinful rebellion of His chosen people. 

But judgement would not be the last word from God. 

With prophetic foresight Isaiah looked ahead and saw the gracious salvation that God would provide through an eternal King from the line of Jesse – a direct descendent of David.  From the cut-down stump of David’s failed dynasty God’s Messiah would spring forth bringing life and hope out of hopelessness.  He would be a King upon whom the Holy Spirit would rest in all His fullness; a King who’s very character would be the character of God; a King who would reign and rule accordingly.  He would be a King who would revolutionize relationships and restore what sin had destroyed. 

Isaiah looked ahead and also saw that this King would stand as a banner to which people of the world would be drawn, like a giant flagpole around which the nations would rally and unite in an eternal kingdom characterized by the complete and full knowledge of the Lord.

What Isaiah looked ahead and saw in the future we see in realtime.   Isaiah 11 was the text for a Christmas sermon I preached two years ago.  King Jesus has come, born in the city of David, the son of Jesse.  But we also look ahead to the complete fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.  The King is coming again!  And Isaiah 11 tells what that rule and reign will be like. 

As you prepare for worship I’d encourage you to read Isaiah 11.  As you do pay close attention to verses 2 and 3, noting the phrase “the fear of the Lord”.  What does it mean that “his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord”?  In Hebrew the word “delight” means “to smell or perceive, figuratively it means to anticipate or enjoy” (Strong’s Concordance).  I believe it means that Jesus lived and breathed in the fear of the Lord, in the reality of His relationship with His Heavenly Father.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise”. “I can do nothing on my own” (Jn 5:19 & 30). 

The fear of the Lord, living constantly in awe and reverence of God, was the basis of Jesus’ life, the foundation of His ministry, the beginning of His wisdom.  Likewise, we should live in this same ‘fear’.   

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.


His praise endures forever! (Ps 111:10) 

You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,

and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!(Ps 22:23) 

You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! (Ps 135:20)

Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.  Worship begins with the fear of the Lord.  Life as God intended it is lived in the environment of our awe, reverence, love and worship of God.  Meditate on these verses and this reality as you prepare for worship.