Divine Sentencing and Restoration (God’s Word from the prophets)
After serving for your sins, God will restore you.
Text: Isaiah 40:1-2; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Zachariah 8; Hebrews 12:4-11
Significance of this sermon
So that people will not grow weary while serving their sentences for their sins.
So that people will be aware that God will let them serve a sentence for their sins.
For people to know what to do when they are serving their sentence
The sentence of Miriam and her restoration: the case of an individual
In this account, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, and as punishment, Miriam was struck with leprosy; after seven days, God remembered her, and she was restored (Numbers 12:1-16).
The Babylonian exile and the restoration: the case of the society
God told Judah that they shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11). God also reassured the exiled people that He would fulfil His good word to bring them back to Jerusalem after the 70 years were complete (Jeremiah 29:10).
What happened during the period of the sentence?
This is when God’s anger cools down (Psalm 30:5)
This is when atonement takes place: sins are paid for, and compensations are made.
This is a time when lessons are learnt.
For example, Judah spent70 years in captivity in Babylon as punishment for their sins. This duration is also linked to the idea of the land "enjoying its sabbaths," requiring the land to rest from agricultural exploitation for 70 missed sabbatical years ( 2 Chronicles 36:21). Similar to the principle of tithing (Mal 3:8-11).
The time of God’s favour (e.g, Isaiah 54:7-17)
When the divine sentence is over, God will help you; all things work for you, no weapon works against you.
What should people do when they are serving their sentence because of their sins?
-They should pray for grace to endure the sentence, the hardships, trials, etc
They should not listen to false prophets, running from one church to another