Sermon snippet – Harm or Harmony?
INTRODUCTION – This sermon is something of a sequel to last week’s “Seeking Sanctuary in the Storm.” Harmony certainly does not mean that everyone joins together to do harm! Isaiah 11:1-10 is a familiar passage (the basis for the song “Peace in the Valley”) that speaks of a future time of genuine harmony.
- GOD IS A GOD OF HARMONY
When we hear of harmony, we often think of music. Isaiah 12:2 reveals that God is “my strength and my song,” which can be translated “my mountaintop and my music.” All harmony, including harmonic music, begins in God, not in man. Together Job 35:10, Psalm 42:8, and Psalm 77:6 tell us that God gives His song to us. This example of music is suggestive of the larger principle – God is a God of harmony. The petite Psalm 133 reveals that God loves harmony amongst people; this “unity” is consistent with the character of the Triune Godhead. Matthew 28:19 states that our service to God must be “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” “Name” means character, Who God is; perfect harmony exists within the Godhead. Isaiah 9:6 tells us that the Messiah will be “the Prince of Peace.” Peace, unity, harmony – all tell us Who God is, and we are drawn to Jesus, because…
- ISAIAH 11:1-10 IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GOD THE SON, JESUS CHRIST
Verse 1 speaks of “Jesse,” the father of David. Jesse is listed in Matthew 1:6 and Luke 3:32 in the lineage of Jesus. He is the “Branch” (Hebrew nezer – see Matthew 2:23). Verse 10 expands the thought of verse 1 to include “Gentiles.” Paul quotes this verse in Romans 15:12 and applies it to Jesus. A great division of the first century was between Jew and Gentile. Paul deals with this division (and others) in Galatians 3:28. The result is harmony unexpected and unexplainable without Jesus. Unfortunately, those who reject Him will move in the direction of disharmony (you may have noticed some recent overt evidences of that truth). Harmony with Jesus should lead to harmony with others. The choice is ours.
- GOD GIVES US GRACIOUS GLIMPSES OF HIS GRAND AND “GLORIOUS” (Isaiah 11:10) GOODNESS
The whole passage has a future fulfillment: Jesus will be on earth again, reigning from Jerusalem. If we will only look, we will see glimpses of this “glorious” harmony. One day this week while I was running, I saw a doe lying in a bowl; even though I was quite close, she didn’t even bother to get up. If only for a short while, there was peace in that little valley. I could multiply examples, but …
CONCLUSION – I will leave it to each of you to be grateful for the glimpses of harmony that God has granted to you, whether they are in nature, relationships, or in that job that went right the first time! All of these and more are part of the harmony that God is working out. Philippians 1:6 assures us that the glimpses now will become a full fulfillment in the future. Let us be truly grateful for these glimpses, and let us be certain that God’s eternal work in us “has begun” through a personal faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ.