Church of Christ Sermons
Bobby Stafford	The Valley of Vision  Sermon Text from Isaiah 22:1-11		Christian Living

The Valley of Vision 

Introduction:

  The prophet Isaiah lived and prophesied during the last half of the eighth century B.C.  People to whom he wrote by inspiration were “deaf and blind.”  They refused to heed his warnings of impending disaster.  The book begins with these words:  “The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  Hear, O Heavens!  Listen, O earth!  For the Lord has spoken:  I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.  The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”  Isaiah 1:1-3.  Jehovah revealed His will to Isaiah.  The message he was to deliver to the people was often a ‘burden,’ a heavy message that was hard for Isaiah to bear. 

Text:  Isaiah 22:1-11 

Body:

  I.  Jerusalem – The Valley of Vision

• Jerusalem was built on several hills, but also was surrounded by higher ones.  It was the center of prophetic activity, the home of vision and revelation.
• The Hebrew word ‘vision’ comes from the verb:  to see, behold, prophesy.  Vision – a revelation  See:  Psalms 89:18-19, Hosea12:9-10,Daniel 2:17-23

II.  A Lack of Vision

• Isaiah 22:8, 11  People were looking at other visions, not God’s vision.
• The danger of having no vision can be that people cast off restraint.  Proverbs 29:18
• Blinded without vision, they had a famine of God’s word.  Amos 8:11-12

III.  God’s Vision for Mankind

• God has not left us without direction.  Hebrews 1:1
• Now His Son has revealed the Father to us.  Hebrews 1:2  It was prophesied of Jesus in Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19
• At both the beginning and end of the New Testament, this same fact is stressed.  Matthew 17:5, Revelation 19:10
• Others were chosen by God to reveal the truth after Christ’s ascension.  Pentecost:  Acts 2:14-18  They were divinely inspired – God’s spokesmen.  Ephesians 3:4-5
• God has now put His final revelation into words so all can read and know God’s will.  I Corinthians 2:7-13

Invitation:

• Are we looking to God’s Word as our vision to help guide us in this world?  Or are our eyes being diverted elsewhere?
• Let us do the following whenever we read a portion of scripture:
  1. What does God’s Word Say?
  2. What lesson is it teaching?
  3. How should I respond to it?

 Bobby Stafford

April 3, 2011