EPIPHANY 5 – February 9, 2020 – Is. 58:3-9
“SALT OF THE EARTH”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 58. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Jesus said it to His disciples, His followers: “You are the salt of the earth.” He also called them “the light of the world.” We are His disciples and followers today – so these declarations would also apply to us.
- Perhaps you do not want to stick out. Perhaps you do not want to bring notice and attention to yourself. Perhaps you are uncomfortable with the thought that you would be a leader, shining light and truth and understanding into the world – especially since such leaders often suffer resistance, rejection, and even persecution.
- Then again, we also have our own sinful nature to contend with – which often finds itself in some agreement with the ways of the world. This was the problem God had with His people as described in our text.
- But Jesus makes clear that those who are “the salt of the earth” are under the Word of God. They do not seek to abolish or relax any of the commandments, the Law of God. There are two reasons for this. First, that repentance always be maintained – so that the Gospel will be sweet and delightful. In this way we are protected from the arrogant and sanctimonious hypocrisy of the “scribes and Pharisees.” And second, so that the people of God, the church, are not involved in violations of God’s Law, which is the way of love.
- So there is a challenge in our text, and in the description of Jesus. Are you up for it? Can you engage it and adopt the will of Jesus for yourself? First, we must recognize that:
I. The Wisdom Of God Is Not Intuitive
Isaiah 55:7-9 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
A. Rather Selfishness Is Natural To Us, Even Violent Selfishness
Text: “Behold in the day of your fast you seek you own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. ”
B. Sham Worship Comes Natural To Our Sinful Nature
Text: “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?” [hypocritical religiosity while continuing in selfish, violent sin]
C. Such Hypocrisy Will Never Be Honored By God
Text: “Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.”
Statement: It does not seem wrong for us to look out for ourselves, and to be ambitious. Likewise, if we are able to pay less for labor and increase profit, this seems perfectly reasonable. And why shouldn’t we hope to pay less for products, even if workers have to suffer somewhat. And it is so very easy for us to don fine apparel and appear before the Lord with scrubbed faces – thinking that in so doing we gain license to do whatever we want for the rest of the week.
Application: This is what the children of Israel were doing – and then they were astonished that God didn’t “see” and “listen” and honor their worship and sacrifices. But obviously, to live from the sinful flesh and to fit in with the selfish, violent, and ambitious ways of the world is to live like “salt that has lost its taste.” And remember what Jesus said: “How shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” This is a deep and dire warning for us!
Transition: Hopefully such considerations bring us back down to reality, for:
II. God’s Saltiness In Us Begins With Our Humility
A. But Not Just For A Day, But Forever – Becoming Part Of Us
Text: “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself?”
1. Humbling ourselves in repentance, as God invites
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
2. Rejoicing each day in God’s salvation
Text: “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”
Matt. 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Romans 10:3,4 “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Jer. 23:6 “And this is the Name by which He will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”
B. Such Humble Life In God’s Love Creates And Informs Out Love
1. It frees to live in freedom, and it compels us to free others
Text: “Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
2. It creates and compels generosity to the poor and needy
Text: “Is not the fast I choose to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from you own flesh?”
3. And in this way God’s glory shines through us
Text: “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”
Matt. 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven.”
Statement: So you see that such “saltiness” is eminently good for us, and for those around us, our fellowmen. Of course it begins in the home, and the church, and our neighborhood, and our workers. But it should also inform us as to what is good and pleasing to God for the whole world, for all of humanity, that there be mercy, graciousness, and social justice for all people.
Application: We dare not make our “religion” and our worship something that we put in place of the fast that God truly desires. Rather, our worship should compel humility, repentance, and a life under God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation! Then God’s love will “enlighten” us so that we do shine light into the world, and we do become “THE SALT OF THE EARTH.”
Conclusion: Is this challenging to us? Of course – it is contrary to our sinful nature, and to the ways of the world around us. Are we up for it? Pray God to make us up for it, for this is the kind of integrity and “real-ness” that God wants for us! It is what is truly good for us! May He grant it to us always, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.