I. Introduction - The Battle for the Church in the 21st Century Jerusalem to Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome To Germany and Switzerland To England and Scotland To America.
II. How we Feel about Zion - Psalm 137 A. We remembered Zion. Vs. 1-2 1. Jerusalem was God’s presence… God’s blessing… God’s Worship. 2. Jerusalem was a separated and a holy place. Heb. 12:22 “You are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the general assembly, and the church of the first born.†2 Cor. 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.â€
B. Captors play their games with us. Vs. 3 1. The ungodly have wasted us and enslaved us. The Babylonians separated Israel from their God. His presence is in Jerusalem. They are not in Jerusalem.
2. The ungodly invite our God and our worship into the pantheon
3. But it’s hard for us to get into the singing.
C. Keeping the Vision Straight. Vs. 4-6 Have you forgotten Jerusalem? - The Holy Place? - The pillar and ground of the truth. - The Body that worships God as a Body Have you forgotten Zion? Jersualem, my chief joy? The Body of Christ?
D. God, Destroy our enemies. Vs. 7-9 - Emotional transition in the psalm from sadness to white hot hatred against sin and the world.
III. Why? How did we get here? What Happened. Is. 48 A. God’s people rebelled. Is. 48:1-8 Vow-breakers vs. 1 Stubbornness Idolatory vs. 5 Treacherous and rebellious - vs. 8
B. God puts his people through the fire of persecution (via Babylon). Is. 48:10-11
C. How God feels about his people. Is. 49:15-17
D. The End of the Story. Is. 48:12-15 1. God doesn’t leave his precious people in captivity. 2. God punishes the persecutors that he had do the persecuting. Vs. 12-15 3. God redeems his people. Vs. 16-21, 49:22-25
V. Application: A. God’s dealing with his people in history: Rebellion - Chastisement - Destruction of Enemies - Release and Salvation B. There is no utopia. C. Every social situation has it’s sins. D. Sometimes God’s people go into a state of exile and captivity. 1. The principles that drive our institutions… are humanist. 2. The Babylonians separated Israel from their God. We are enslaved. Never has a godless systems of education, entertainment, media, and so infected societies. There was no enforced, compulsory, godless system of education in the year 1800, or 1700‘s France, or 1500‘s Netherlands, or 1300‘s England, or in 300‘s Rome. 3. We are so enslaved to a professedly-godless institutions that take our income, and forcibly re-arrange our priorities, dis-integrate the family, teach godless education in the universities. 4. The world has infected the church in doctrine and life. 5. The history of the church in this nation: 1620-2020 Virtually mandated Encouraged Tolerated Mocked and despised Persecuted
E. By the Rivers of Babylon We are too weak to fight off the influences of a corrupting culture Our families, churches have suffered.
F. God is in control… - God’s people become vow-breakers, stubborn, and idolatrous. Hearts become hard to the preaching of the Word… and refuse to repent. God will chastise his church. - And he’ll destroy the wicked powers when he’s ready.
F. Our responsibility. 1. Cry out to God. 2. Preach the Word of God and Prepare for Judgment. Luke 10:10-11 3. Love Zion. Hang your harps! Weep! Remember Zion? 4. Believe and Repent Is. 48:17, 18
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