A Desperate Cry

THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1

(Part IV) Matthew 3:1-3, text vs 3 (September 9, 2007)

                Background: We have explored in these first three verses that God had a divine appointment (“in those days’), a determined place (“in the desert”), and a delivering call (“repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand”).  We also sandwiched in between (from John 3), “you must be born again.”  Our saturation in Matthew 3:1-3, has shown an intense and critical, imperative message of change divinely initiated and requiring a response.  There is no middle ground.  This is “Let’s prepare the way, the King is here!”  Or it is “well,  I don’t know, I’m not sure, I’m okay.”

                Instrument Of The Cry- vs 3.  “The Voice:” The Greek word used is where we get our word  phone.  It is primarily a “sound” or tone.  It is also as from an instrument making the sound and is related to a word phaino, for disclosure.  In Matthew 24:30-31 we see the angels sent with a great “mega-phone (voice-sound) of a trumpet to gather the elect.  In John 10:24-27 Jesus is surrounded by a crowd and many say “tell us plainly if you are the Christ.”  Jesus responds in vs. 27 “My sheep hear my voice (phone-disclosure) and follow me.  Look at Luke 19:37 (37-48 is powerful).  Jesus is making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The disciples praise God with a loud voice (phone-sound, disclosure), “blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.”   Hey!  Their “phones were ringing” out praise and hope of the Kingdom!!   Yes, there was opposition, but oh how God is desiring  “voices,” and instruments in these days that carries the sound of His message instead of the sounds of “brass or tinkling cymbal” (I Cor. 12:1).  We shall explore the message of the “voice-phone” later.  John the Baptist was the “voice” (John 1:23)

                Intensity of The Cry- vs 3.  “The Voice of One Crying:” This word (bo-ah-o) is loud and  tumultuous.  This is used in Luke 18:38 by the blind man on the Jericho road.  “Have mercy on me.”  This is used in Acts 8:7 of the demons that were cast out (“crying with a loud voice”).  This was used by Jesus in Mark 15:34.  Jesus cried with a loud voice,“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  “Cried” is this tumultuous, desperate imploring for help, and “loud” is the mega-exceeding volume of this cry.  Make no mistake, this is not a “what will be will be” philosophy.  This is not a “to each his own” mentality.  This is not an “if you build it they will come strategy.”  This is an intense, alarming shout not only to John but from John to the body.  He is screaming, urging His people to prepare the way of the Lord.  I need to know what He is saying.  John was the voice of one “crying.”

                The Instruction of The Cry- vs 3.   “The Voice of one crying... Prepare.”  In the East it became the custom to clear away all the brush and rubble to make way for the King or Queen.  All obstacles were to be brought down, filled in or tunneled through.  The poetic and picturesque nature of Isaiah’s language, and the fact it is a prophecy that covers present and future events, must be taken into account.  This language then is both figurative and futuristic.  We must go to Isaiah 40 to catch the whole “message” at one time.

                1.  Isaiah 40:1- “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” (nâcham) There is no doubt that pity and compassion is in this word, but the real surprise is that in this word’s primary meaning is also repentance.  Strange that comfort and repentance would be in the same word.  Unless we realize that in the New Testament there are two words for repent, one meaning sorrow and the other meaning a new mind or change of thought.  There is NO comfort in staying in the same place that has brought misery.  Real problems do not need just agreement they need “a way” out.

                2. Isaiah 40:2a- “Speak ye comfortably (leb-heart) to Jerusalem.”  This is another amazing use of words.  This word “comfortably” means heart, and the literal translation of this phrase is to speak “lovingly to the heart.”  We NEED to speak to the heart that which can only come to us from the written and revealed Word!

                3. Isaiah 40 2b: The message is (a). The warfare is accomplished, (b). Her iniquity or moral condition is pardoned, and (c) She has gone through plenty for her sins, and that will end.  What a message, the battle is His now, her actions and her state are satisfied in Him!

                4. Isaiah 40:4-8- This is tremendous.  All the obstacles will be removed for change.  Verse 6, the “voice” is told to cry out flesh is grass, and its’ grace is a field flower.  That will wither and fade but oh the Word will endure forever.  Fleshly wisdom won’t heal, flowery presentations won’t help, ah..but the Word.

Summary: A “mega-phone” voice desperately beg’s God people to “prepare the Way of the Lord.”  Can  we live any longer for “our ways” which has never met the needs of the world?  It has only met our need to be left alone, the institutions need to survive, and has made our activity “mountains” to be brought low.  We must have the stuff of our lives cleaned out, and make a “highway” for Him use our “phone” to present Himself to our world.