Text: Isa. 22:20-25
Intro:This is a figure of speech (simile) taken from the use of pegs or nail in the wall to hang valuables on. Israel had hung their hopes on a ruler that was a usurper. Their hopes of salvation hung on the nail of nationality.
    A. This was an insecure nail, it failed when the nation went into captivity.
        Eliakim is a figure of Christ verse 22. – Shebna, a scribe had ambitiously climbed to power and many looked to him
        as their “nail in a sure place” but were doomed to disappointment v.25 “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the
        nail that is fastened in  the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be
        cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
    B. Christ is the Nail in a sure place; we can hang all our hopes on Him.
    C. The honor of God’s house rest on Him.
        First Timothy 2:5 says there is “one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  One day He
        will leave the office of mediator and come as the “Smiting stone” to all the wicked nations.
    D. Until He does there are some other things that are sure “a nail in a sure place.”
I. GOD’S WORD IS A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE.  MK.13:31
    A. The enemies of the Jews have been the enemies of the Bible.
        1. They have tried to destroy the Book that has made the Jews what they are.
    B. Infidels from time to time have spent their strength in trying to destroy the Bible.
    C. Rome has done her best to burn it and its readers out of existence.
    D. Modernist and legislation  cannot destroy the Bible though the flames rise high again.
    E. The Bible will be in the judgment at the last day. John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath
        one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
II. THE CHURCH JESUS FOUNDED IS A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE.
    A. The church is built upon Christ the Solid Rock. I Cor. 3:11; Matt. 16:18
        1. She has weathered every storm and shall one-day reign as queen of heaven, the Bride of Christ.
    B. For 2000 years she has been a nail in a sure place. A spiritual house.
    C. Her history is written in the blood of martyrs for truth.
    D. She has circled the globe with the Gospel.
    E.  She is God’s bulwark against invading hordes of modernism
    F. She is the pillar, ground and preserver of the truth. I Tim. 3:15
        1. Truth was delivered to the church to teach and practice. John 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou
            gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed
            that thou didst send me.
    G. Love motivates her members to die for Christ’s sake
III.  EVERY CHILD OF GOD BY FAITH AND POSITION IS IN A SURE PLACE ON THIS NAIL.  Col. 3:3;  II Cor. 5:17;    Rom. 8:33  “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
IV.  THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION IS A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE.  I Thess. 4:13-18;   I Cor. 15:19
V. ALL WHO HANG THEIR HOPES OF SALVATION ON THE BENT AND
RUSTY NAILS OF HUMAN PHILOSOPHIES AND WISDOM HAVE HUNG THEIR HOPES ON A NAIL THAT SHALL FALL TO THE GROUND IN HOPELESSNESS.
    A. They can never reach beyond this life.
    B. I Cor. 1:18-21—Call the roll of the great of this earth: Aristotle? Mohammed?
        Voltaire? Darwin? Ingersol? Thomas Paine?  No answer. Why ? All dead.
    C. But call on Jesus and He answers with peace and hope.
        1. Cain thought he had a nail in a sure place but, when confronted with God, his punishment was more than he could
            bear.  Gen. 4:13
        2. The rich man in Luke 12 thought he had a nail in a sure place, but God’s answer was, “Thou fool, this night shall thy
            soul be required of thee.”
    D. Worldly wisdom designs much for man’s comfort on earth but its all bent nails in eternity.
VI. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY NAIL, “IN A SURE PLACE,” TO HANG OUR HOPES ON.
    A. He is our Mediator.  I Tim. 2:5
    B. His hands were nailed to the cross and bloody that we might have clean hands.
    C. His feet were nailed, wounded and bloody, that we might be shod for streets of gold. Eph. 6:15  “And your feet shod
        with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
    D. His back was beaten with a Roman whip that we might be rid of sins guilt.
        Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from
        shame and spitting.
    E. His brow was pricked and His side was pierced, so a fountain filled with blood.