Irony – Heaven on Earth • A Sermon Series on Irony in the Bible | Light of the World | Messianic

Exploring Biblical Irony and the Kingdom of God

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the literary tool of irony as it is employed throughout the Bible to reveal profound truths about God’s nature and his plan for the world. The sermon highlights how biblical authors, under God’s guidance, utilise ironic images and inverted scenarios to challenge conventional worldly understandings of power and strength.

The speaker introduces the concept of irony by noting the seemingly paradoxical idea of experiencing “heaven on earth.” He explains that the Bible is replete with examples of irony, where the expected outcome or the visible reality is subverted to demonstrate God’s unique way of working. Classic illustrations include the younger serving the older, the weak prevailing against the strong, Joseph’s rise in Egypt, Moses confronting Pharaoh, Yael and Sisera, and David’s victory over Goliath. The story of Esther and Haman’s downfall is also presented as an instance of ironic reversal.

These occurrences are deemed ironic because the world we observe often appears to be governed by those with power, influence, privilege, and the capacity to inflict harm. However, the Bible consistently inverts this perspective, asserting that true strength in God’s eyes is found not in worldly might but elsewhere. This ancient text boldly objects to the notion that earthly power dictates ultimate reality, proclaiming that God demonstrates strength in a fundamentally different manner, one that has conquered, is conquering, and will ultimately conquer all. The teaching anticipates a future day when God’s complete governance will be evident throughout the world, and the knowledge of Him will blanket the earth.

This future reality is identified in the New Testament as the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, or, in the Gospel of John, eternal life. The foundational vision is of a good creation where God desired community, leading to the creation of humankind as his image-bearers, tasked with ruling and caring for the earth in partnership with Him, as described in Genesis 1:28. However, humanity chose to determine good and evil independently by partaking of the forbidden fruit.

Consequently, the world has become shaped by human conceptions of good and evil, rather than God’s life-giving wisdom. Despite humanity’s introduction of violence, judgment, power-grabbing, and sin, the Word of God offers a message of hope. The prophecy in Isaiah 11, read during the Torah portion, provides a vision of hope for the exiled people of Judah in Babylon, a time when they felt abandoned by God despite His past deliverance from Egypt and the establishment of the temple.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Embrace Forgiveness: Choose not to retaliate with evil when wronged, understanding that forgiveness stops the spread of negativity and reflects the nature of God’s kingdom.
• Stand Against Evil: Actively resist injustice and sin in the world, being a force that pushes back against darkness.
• Live as Kingdom Ambassadors: Recognise that the Kingdom of God is both present and future, and strive to embody its values (love, mercy, justice, peace) in your daily interactions.
• Cultivate Hope: Maintain a hopeful vision grounded in God’s promises, allowing it to motivate and guide your actions even when the desired outcome is not immediately visible.
• Practice Active Faith: Understand that faith is more than just belief; it is an active way of living that demonstrates the reality of God’s kingdom through your actions and treatment of others.
• Seek Transformation: Be open to the paradigm shift that comes with being “born again,” allowing God to change your perspective on the world and your role in it.
• Persevere Through Struggles: Draw encouragement from the flawed examples of faith in Hebrews 11, knowing that even in imperfection, a focus on God’s promises can lead to His blessings.
• Use Your Words Carefully: Be mindful of the power of your tongue to either build up or tear down, choosing words that reflect the love and peace of God’s kingdom rather than contributing to negativity.

References

• Genesis 1:28 – https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-28.htm
• Isaiah 11 – https://biblehub.com/isaiah/11.htm
• Isaiah 11:6 – https://biblehub.com/isaiah/11-6.htm
• Isaiah 11:9 – https://biblehub.com/isaiah/11-9.htm
• Matthew 6:10 (Lord’s Prayer) – https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-10.htm
• Hebrews 11:1 – https://biblehub.com/hebrews/11-1.htm
• Isaiah 25 – https://biblehub.com/isaiah/25.htm
• Hebrews 11 – https://biblehub.com/hebrews/11.htm
• Hebrews 11:39 – https://biblehub.com/hebrews/11-39.htm
• James 3 – https://biblehub.com/james/3.htm
• Matthew 23 – https://biblehub.com/matthew/23.htm

Books and Resources Mentioned

• The Bible
• Moana (movie)