Urgent Intercession: Isaiah's Plea for God's Presence

 

Summary

In this sermon, the focus is on the prayer of the prophet Isaiah as recorded in Isaiah 63:15-19. The prophet is deeply moved by the desolate state of the nation and the church, recognizing that their predicament is due to their own folly and rebellion against God. He calls upon God to look down from heaven and behold their situation, pleading for God's mercy and intervention. The urgency and emotion in Isaiah's prayer are palpable, as he wrestles with God, pleading for His presence and favor to return to His people.

Isaiah's prayer is characterized by a deep understanding of the relationship between God and His people. He acknowledges their unworthiness but boldly pleads with God based on the covenant relationship, emphasizing that God is their Father and Redeemer. The prophet's prayer is not just a cry for help but a profound expression of faith, rooted in the knowledge of God's past dealings with Israel and His unchanging nature.

The sermon highlights the importance of understanding the doctrines of grace and the nature of God as foundational to effective prayer. It challenges believers to move beyond superficial prayers and to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, characterized by a longing for His presence and a recognition of His holiness and glory. The prophet's plea is a reminder that true intercession involves wrestling with God, reasoning with Him, and boldly approaching His throne of grace.

Key Takeaways:

- Urgency in Prayer: The prophet's prayer is marked by urgency and importunity, reflecting a deep awareness of the dire situation of God's people. This urgency is a call for believers to recognize the critical state of the church and the world today and to respond with fervent, heartfelt prayer. [07:00]

- Emotion in Intercession: Strong emotion characterizes Isaiah's prayer, as he alternates between confession and pleading. This emotional depth is a sign of genuine intercession, where the heart is so moved that it transcends formal structures and flows from a place of deep spiritual longing. [09:04]

- Pleading with God: The prophet's prayer involves reasoning and wrestling with God, demonstrating a boldness that comes from understanding the covenant relationship. This element of pleading is essential in intercession, where believers are invited to present their case before God with confidence and humility. [11:16]

- Understanding God's Nature: Effective prayer is rooted in a deep understanding of God's nature and His relationship with His people. The prophet's plea is based on the knowledge of God's past faithfulness and His unchanging character, reminding believers that their hope lies in God's eternal promises. [13:40]

- The Need for God's Presence: The central plea of the prophet is for God to look down and behold their situation, emphasizing the need for God's presence and favor. This longing for God's face and smile is a reminder that true spirituality is marked by a desire for intimacy with God and a recognition of His holiness. [17:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Isaiah's Prayer
- [01:31] - The Desolate State of the Nation
- [02:42] - Encouragement and Vision from God
- [03:16] - Reviewing Israel's History
- [04:19] - The Cause of Israel's Troubles
- [05:36] - The Urgency of Prayer
- [07:00] - The Emotion in Isaiah's Prayer
- [09:04] - Pleading and Wrestling with God
- [11:16] - The Boldness in Intercession
- [13:40] - Understanding God's Nature
- [15:14] - The First Petition: Look Down
- [17:03] - The Need for God's Presence
- [21:06] - Worship and Adoration in Prayer
- [26:17] - Reminding God of His Zeal and Strength
- [32:03] - The Three-Fold Plea
- [39:09] - The Grounds for Pleading with God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 63:15-19

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the main concern expressed by the prophet Isaiah in his prayer as recorded in Isaiah 63:15-19? How does he describe the state of the nation and the church? [01:31]

2. How does Isaiah acknowledge the relationship between God and His people in his prayer? What titles does he use to refer to God? [00:50]

3. What historical context does Isaiah refer to in his prayer, and how does it relate to the current predicament of the nation? [04:00]

4. What are the key elements of Isaiah's prayer that demonstrate his urgency and emotion? [07:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Isaiah's understanding of the covenant relationship with God influence his boldness in prayer? What does this suggest about the nature of intercession? [12:20]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding God's nature and past faithfulness is foundational to effective prayer? How can this understanding impact a believer's prayer life? [13:40]

3. The sermon emphasizes the need for God's presence. How does Isaiah's plea for God to "look down" reflect a deeper spiritual longing? What does this reveal about the importance of God's presence in the life of a believer? [17:03]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of emotion in intercession? Why is it important for prayers to transcend formal structures and flow from a place of deep spiritual longing? [09:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep urgency in your prayer life. What circumstances led to that urgency, and how did it affect your relationship with God? [07:00]

2. Isaiah's prayer is marked by a boldness that comes from understanding the covenant relationship with God. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of your relationship with God to enhance your prayer life? [11:16]

3. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond superficial prayers. What steps can you take to deepen your prayer life and seek a more intimate relationship with God? [13:40]

4. Consider the current state of the church and the world. How can you respond with fervent, heartfelt prayer to the critical issues facing the church today? [07:43]

5. Isaiah's plea for God's presence is a reminder of the importance of intimacy with God. How can you cultivate a longing for God's presence in your daily life? [17:03]

6. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding God's past faithfulness. How can reflecting on God's past dealings in your life strengthen your faith and prayer life? [04:33]

7. How can you incorporate the elements of worship and adoration into your prayer life, as demonstrated in Isaiah's prayer? What impact might this have on your spiritual growth? [21:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency in Prayer
Isaiah's prayer is marked by a profound sense of urgency, reflecting his deep awareness of the dire situation facing God's people. This urgency is not just a response to the immediate crisis but a recognition of the spiritual desolation that has befallen the nation and the church. Isaiah's plea is a call to action for believers today, urging them to recognize the critical state of the world and the church and to respond with fervent, heartfelt prayer. The urgency in prayer is a reminder that intercession is not a passive activity but an active engagement with God, where believers are called to wrestle with Him and plead for His intervention. [07:00]

Isaiah 62:6-7 (ESV): "On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth."

Reflection: What specific situation in your life or community requires urgent prayer today? How can you commit to praying fervently for this need throughout the week?


Day 2: Emotion in Intercession
Isaiah's prayer is characterized by strong emotion, as he alternates between confession and pleading. This emotional depth is a sign of genuine intercession, where the heart is so moved that it transcends formal structures and flows from a place of deep spiritual longing. Isaiah's prayer teaches believers that true intercession involves more than just words; it requires a heart that is deeply engaged and moved by the plight of others. This emotional engagement is a reflection of God's own heart, which is moved by compassion and love for His people. [09:04]

Psalm 6:6-7 (ESV): "I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes."

Reflection: When was the last time you allowed yourself to be emotionally moved in prayer? How can you cultivate a deeper emotional connection with God in your intercession?


Day 3: Pleading with God
Isaiah's prayer involves reasoning and wrestling with God, demonstrating a boldness that comes from understanding the covenant relationship. This element of pleading is essential in intercession, where believers are invited to present their case before God with confidence and humility. Isaiah's example shows that pleading with God is not about trying to change His mind but about aligning our hearts with His will and purposes. It is an invitation to engage in a dialogue with God, where we can express our deepest desires and concerns, knowing that He listens and responds. [11:16]

Genesis 32:26-28 (ESV): "Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' And he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to plead with God? How can you approach Him with both boldness and humility in this matter?


Day 4: Understanding God's Nature
Effective prayer is rooted in a deep understanding of God's nature and His relationship with His people. Isaiah's plea is based on the knowledge of God's past faithfulness and His unchanging character, reminding believers that their hope lies in God's eternal promises. Understanding God's nature is essential for effective intercession, as it provides the foundation for our faith and confidence in prayer. It reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent but is actively involved in the lives of His people, working all things for their good and His glory. [13:40]

Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV): "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.'"

Reflection: How does your understanding of God's nature influence your prayers? What aspect of God's character do you need to meditate on more deeply this week?


Day 5: The Need for God's Presence
The central plea of Isaiah's prayer is for God to look down and behold their situation, emphasizing the need for God's presence and favor. This longing for God's face and smile is a reminder that true spirituality is marked by a desire for intimacy with God and a recognition of His holiness. Isaiah's prayer challenges believers to seek not just God's gifts but His presence, recognizing that true fulfillment and joy are found in a relationship with Him. It is a call to prioritize God's presence in our lives, seeking His face above all else. [17:03]

Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally seek God's presence in your daily life? How can you cultivate a deeper longing for His presence and favor?

Quotes


The urgency, the importunity, there's nothing half-hearted about this prayer, nothing slack or vague. No, the man's whole soul is moved to its very depths, and he's urgent because he realizes the position. Here are God's people with their city sacked and ruined. [00:06:58]

To me, it is astonishing that as God's people, we can be so much at ease in Zion when we see the state of the church and the state of the world round and about us. I'm not only thinking of arms and bombs; I'm thinking of industrial unrest and the selfishness that is so obvious. [00:07:51]

Whenever the spirit of God comes down upon the church, forms are forgotten, liturgies are put into a balance, and the spirit of God moves in men's hearts. Out of the heart come their expressions of worship, their pleas, and their petitions, exactly as you've got here. [00:10:05]

The prophet is very conscious of his unworthiness and the unworthiness of the people, and yet, you see, in spite of that, he's aware of something that makes him feel that he's got a right to plead with God and reason and argue and, as it were, wrestle with God. [00:11:55]

Great prayer is always the outcome of great understanding. Deep prayer is always based upon a grasp of the truth. You can get a very superficial and a glib kind of praying that may at first sight sound very wonderful, but you wait until trial comes. [00:13:38]

The need is the presence of God, the face of God. God seems to have turned his back upon us. He is not looking upon us; he's turning away. I don't hesitate to use these terms. The term father is used in my text this morning, and God is our father. [00:17:02]

The test of your spirituality and mind is whether we know anything about offering that petition or not. You know, just to go down on your knees and to recite the Lord's Prayer and to ask blessing upon yourself and your family and the things you're going to do that day. [00:18:15]

The glory of God is his essential and ultimate attribute. It means his greatness, his splendor, his majesty. I'm never tired of saying this. I must say it again. You know, the real trouble with all of us is that we don't know God. We think we do, but we don't. [00:24:52]

The prophet is praying, "Oh God, stop dealing with us judicially. We deserve it. We deserve it. We've sinned against you. We've rebelled against you. We said we could go on without you, and you've let us go on without you, and you've even hardened our hearts." [00:37:37]

The prophet says that God had actually caused this, caused them to err, caused their hearts to be hardened. He's already said it in chapter 6 in verses 9 and 10. He says to the prophet, "Go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not." [00:34:44]

The prophet is very conscious of his unworthiness and the unworthiness of the people, and yet, you see, in spite of that, he's aware of something that makes him feel that he's got a right to plead with God and reason and argue and, as it were, wrestle with God. [00:11:55]

The prophet is praying, "Oh God, stop dealing with us judicially. We deserve it. We deserve it. We've sinned against you. We've rebelled against you. We said we could go on without you, and you've let us go on without you, and you've even hardened our hearts." [00:37:37]

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Transcript
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