Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, June 12

In Isaiah 28 the prophet has been talking about the Word of God, which the educated and sophisticated scoffed at and the drunkards ignored.  Isaiah has been saying that there is a set of simple cause-and-effect principles that rule the spiritual world, which, if they are flouted, will result in disaster.  If we trust in ourselves or others; if we place our confidence in anything or anyone other than God, there will be devastating consequences.  We can take God at his word, trust in his wisdom and fully rely on Him.  In our sermon passage this Sunday Isaiah uses a simple parable from the farm to illustrate this point. 

As you prepare for worship take time to read Isaiah 28, focusing on verses 23 -29. 

In this parable we see that the least-educated farmer knows there are certain appropriate ways to do things, there are some things you do and some things you don’t.  The land has to be plowed, but he does not keep on plowing forever.  Then the field has to be harrowed  - the clods broken up and removed, but that's not the end goal.  According to a plan and pattern for each crop the farmer plants.  He does not mix up all the different seeds together since each has to be grown separately.  When the time comes, the harvest is done according to each crop and with appropriate tools for the size of the grain involved.  

In each of these cases, Isaiah says these peasant farmer has learned from God, the Creator, how life works.  Isaiah wants us to see that God the Instructor and Teacher is also the Sovereign Lord of History.  He is also the Sovereign Lord of our individual lives.  If the farmer plans, plants and harvests, how much more then does God know how to plan our lives, to shape us and grow us so that the harvest He desires will come about.  

Often in the midst of life we ask ‘What is happening?’  ‘Why is this going on in my life?’  ‘Why is this so hard?’  ‘What’s the point?’ This passage does not answer all these questions, but it does teach us that that God has a plan and purpose, and that He is merciful and good.  “He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom”, so we can rest and trust in Him.   

As you prepare for worship it would be good to consider and meditate on the wisdom of God.  Instead of asking “why”, perhaps we would be better off if we focused on ‘Who’, and look to the God who loves us and gave Himself for us; the God who promises: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

The pattern we often find in scripture is when the wisdom and knowledge of God are considered, worship follows. 

This was the case for David: O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  Psalm 104:24

Daniel worshipped God for His wisdom as he said:  Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.  He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;  Daniel 2:20-21 

When Paul came to the end of his consideration on the sovereign work of God in election and salvation he humbly declared:  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of  God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! Romans 11:33

As we gather for worship this Sunday we praise and worship Jesus, who is “the power of God and the wisdom of God”  (I Corinthians 1:24);    “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 5:12 & 7:12)

This Sunday we will sing an old hymn written by William Cowper and published by his good friend, John Newton.  It is reportedly the last hymn Cowper ever wrote, with a fascinating (though unsubstantiated) story behind it.  Cowper often struggled with depression and doubt.  One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself.  He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the Thames River.  However, thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out.  To Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep.  file://localhost/(http/::cyberhymnal.org:htm:g:m:gmovesmw.htm)     The hymn reminds us to look to God and trust his grace and wisdom:

God moves in a mysterious way, 

His wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea, 

And rides upon the storm

God moves in these mysterious ways 

with never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs 

And works His sovereign will

Chorus:

God of mercy, God of mercy, Give us eyes to see;

Eyes to see your smiling face  Within the mystery.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take 

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break 

In blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense B

ut trust Him for His grace

Behind a frowning providence 

He hides a smiling face

Chorus:

God of mercy, God of mercy, Give us eyes to see;

Eyes to see your smiling face Within the mystery.

His purposes will ripen fast 

Unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste 

But sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err 

And scan His work in vain

God is His own interpreter 

And He will make it plain

Chorus:

God of mercy, God of mercy, Give us eyes to see;

Eyes to see your smiling face  Within the mystery.