God’s People are Set
Free by His promise:
He Will help Israel & (Redeemed Believers), (Isaiah 44:1–28).
1Listen to me, O my servant
Israel, O my chosen ones:
2The
Lord who made you, who will help you, says: O servant of mine, don’t be afraid.
O Jerusalem, my chosen ones, don’t be afraid. 3For I will give you
abundant water for your thirst and for your parched fields. And I will pour out
my Spirit and my blessings on your children. 4They shall thrive like
watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. 5“I am the Lord’s,”
they’ll proudlya say, or “I am a Jew,” and tattoo upon their hands the
name of God or the honored name of Israel.
6The
Lord, the King of Israel, says—yes, it is Israel’s Redeemer, the Lord Almighty,
who says it—I am the First and Last; there is no other God. 7Who
else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you
if they can and prove their power. Let them do as I have done since ancient
times. 8Don’t, don’t be afraid. Haven’t I proclaimed from ages past
that I would save youb? You are my witnesses—is there any
other God? No! None that I know about! There is no other Rock!
9What
fools they are who manufacture idols for their gods. Their hopes remain
unanswered. They themselves are witnesses that this is so, for their idols
neither see nor know. No wonder those who worship them are so ashamed. 10Who
but a fool would make his own god—an idol that can help him not one whit! 11All
that worship these will stand before the Lord in shame, along with all these
carpenters—mere men—who claim that they have made a god. Together they will
stand in terror. 12The metalsmith stands at his forge to make an ax,
pounding on it with all his might. He grows hungry and thirsty, weak and faint.
13Then the woodcarver takes the ax and uses it to make an idol. He
measures and marks out a block of wood and carves the figure of a man. Now he
has a wonderful idol that can’t so much as move from where it is placed. 14He
cuts down cedars, he selects the cypress and the oak, he plants the ash in the
forest to be nourished by the rain. 15And after his care, he uses
part of the wood to make a fire to warm himself and bake his bread, and then—he
really does—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god—a god for men to
worship! An idol to fall down before and praise! 16Part of the tree
he burns to roast his meat and to keep him warm and fed and well content, 17and
with what’s left he makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down before it and
worships it and prays to it. “Deliver me,” he says. “You are my god!”
18Such
stupidity and ignorance! God has shut their eyes so that they cannot see and
closed their minds from understanding. 19The man never stops to
think or figure out, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I’ve burned it for heat
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a
god? Should I fall down before a chunk of wood?” 20The poor, deluded
fool feeds on ashes; he is trusting what can never give him any help at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this thing, this idol that I’m holding
in my hand, a lie?”
21Pay
attention, Israel, for you are my servant; I made you, and I will not forget to
help you. 22I’ve blotted out your sins; they are gone like morning
mist at noon! Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.
23Sing,
O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout, O earth; break
forth into song, O mountains and forests, yes, and every tree; for the Lord
redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel! 24The Lord, your Redeemer
who made you, says: All things were made by me; I alone stretched out the
heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it.
25I am the one who shows what liars all false prophets are, by causing something else to happen than the things they say. I make wise men give opposite advice to what they should and make them into fools. 26But what my prophets say, I do; when they say Jerusalem will be delivered and the cities of Judah lived in once again—it shall be done! 27When I speak to the rivers and say, “Be dry!” they shall be dry. 28When I say of Cyrus,c “He is my shepherd,” he will certainly do as I say; and Jerusalem will be rebuilt and the Temple restored, for I have spoken it.[1]
E. Set Free by the Lord, the Only Living & True God, 44:1–28
1.
God’s
people are set free by His promise: He will help
Israel (redeemed believers), (44:1–8).
2. God’s people are set free by knowing the
folly of idolatry
3. God’s people are set free by returning to the Lord & by renewing their great hope in the promised land
E. Set Free by the Lord, the Only Living and
True God, Isaiah 44:1–28
(44:1–28) Introduction: freedom is one of the most prized possessions of the human race. People who live in a free nation are usually able to move around without restraints, exercise their initiatives, pursue their ambitions, choose their work, marry the person of their choice, and worship freely. But people who are not free are severely restricted, sometimes even persecuted or enslaved. In a restrictive, oppressive society, people often have to deal with prejudice, discrimination, and favoritism. They are seldom allowed to travel freely, worship, or choose the work they want to do. Personal ambition, goals, and initiative are usually repressed, and people have to work at jobs determined by government officials, which includes forced labor.
Freedom is
the subject of the present Scripture. The Lord clearly shows that He has a
vital interest in people being set free from the bondages and enslavements of
this life. Remember that Isaiah is predicting the Babylonian captivity of the
Jews. But he also predicts that God will use human events in order to set His
people free from their captivity. By His own power, God will liberate and
restore His people to the promised land. But more important, true liberty—an
inner peace and freedom—can come only through the Lord, the only living and
true God. He and He alone have the power to set people free from the
enslavements of this life, including the terrifying bondages of sin and death.
This is the subject of the present Scripture: Set Free by the Lord, the Only Living and True God, 44:1–28.
1.
God’s people are set free by His promise:
He will help Israel (redeemed
believers) (vv. 1–8).
2.
God’s people are set free by knowing the
folly of idolatry (vv. 9–20).
3. God’s people are set free by returning to the Lord and by renewing their great hope in the promised land (vv. 21–28).
God’s People are set Free by His promise:
He Will help Israel & (Redeemed Believers), (vv. 1–8).
1Listen
to me, O my servant Israel, O my chosen ones:
2The
Lord who made you, who will help you, says: O servant of mine, don’t be afraid.
O Jerusalem, my chosen ones, don’t be afraid. 3For I will give you
abundant water for your thirst and for your parched fields. And I will pour out
my Spirit and my blessings on your children. 4They shall thrive like
watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. 5“I am the Lord’s,”
they’ll proudlya say, or “I am a Jew,” and tattoo upon their hands the
name of God or the honored name of Israel.
6The Lord, the King of Israel, says—yes, it is Israel’s Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, who says it—I am the First and Last; there is no other God. 7Who else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you if they can and prove their power. Let them do as I have done since ancient times. 8Don’t, don’t be afraid. Haven’t I proclaimed from ages past that I would save youb? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! None that I know about! There is no other Rock![2] (44:1–8)
God’s
people are set free by His wonderful promise to help them as they walk through life. Note verse 2, where
the Lord claims to be the only true God, the only One who can truly help people
and deliver them from fear (v. 2; also see v. 8). The striking opening
words, “now hear” (or “now listen”), set this Scripture off sharply from what
has just been said. At the close of chapter 43, the Lord pronounced
judgment upon the Israelites (vv. 26–28). But now the Lord
gives an astounding promise: the destruction and shame of His people will not
be total. He will not allow them to be completely destroyed, for they are His servant, whom He has chosen to be His
righteous people. They are His witnesses to unbelievers who rebel against Him.
Note in
God’s address to the people that the names “Jacob” and “Israel” are both used
to refer to the entire nation. In God’s mind, there is no Northern or
Southern Kingdom. His people are one nation, one people before Him. Hereafter,
the division of the nation will be a thing of the past. His people are not
to be divided but rather united in serving Him.
But as seen in the previous chapter, as well as throughout the book of Isaiah, the vast majority of the Israelites failed to serve God. Consequently, the hand of God’s judgment fell upon them. Even in the present Scripture, Isaiah predicts the future destruction of the nation and the exile of the survivors, as well as their return from captivity (vv. 8, 24–28). And yet again God makes a remarkable the most wonderful promise: in the midst of this terrifying trial, He will assist His people by helping them in six specific ways:
1. God’s people are set free by His promise: He will help Israel (redeemed believers)
A. God Will
Help His People by Assuring Them That They Belong to Him (V. 2). They are
His people, His possession. This is a wonderful truth that should give every
believer great reassurance. When believers know that they belong to God, they
know that the Lord loves and cares for them and will provide whatever security,
protection, and provision they need. Note that God gives believers three
assurances to prove that they belong to Him:
Ø
God created them and formed them from the
womb. This has a twofold application with Israel. Not only was each
Israelite created by God, but also the nation as a whole. As a nation, Israel
was created when God delivered the people from Egyptian bondage and based their
society upon His laws at Mount Sinai. As individuals and as a nation, they were
the Lord’s, and they belonged to Him because He was their Creator.
Ø
God chose the Israelites to be His servants,
His very special witnesses to the world. Therefore, they could expect to
have a very distinctive relationship with the Lord, a relationship that assured
them of His presence and care.
Ø
God helps His people as they walk through
life day by day. Hence, they need not fear when they face enemies and the
hardships of life (vv. 2, 8).
V “Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ep. 1:3–5).
V “But ye are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are
now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy” (1 Pe. 2:9–10).
V “For thou art
a holy people unto the Lord thy God: The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a
special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (De. 7:6).
V “But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him” (Ps. 4:3).
B. God Will Help His People by Blessing Them Both Physically and Spiritually (Vv. 3–5). Physically they will prosper because the Lord will send rain to water their fields and produce rich crops. Spiritually they will prosper because the Lord will pour out His Spirit on believers and their descendants. The same power that created physical life will create spiritual life. And by the power of God’s Spirit, the believer becomes a new creation, a new person (2 Co. 5:17; Ga. 6:15; Ep. 2:15; Ep. 4:22–24; Col. 3:10). Centuries earlier, the Lord had predicted the coming of His Spirit through Moses and the prophets (Nu. 11:29; Is. 32:15; 59:21; Eze. 36:24–28; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:25–29; Zec. 12:10). This prophecy was fulfilled by the coming of Christ to save and empower His people (Ac. 1:1–8; 2:1–4, 14–36). He empowers them through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit that causes believers to spring up and multiply in number as rapidly as grass and trees near streams of water (v. 4). Through the power of God’s Spirit, unbelievers will turn to the Lord and unashamedly identify with Him and His people (v. 5). True believers will profess that they belong to the Lord, and they will call themselves true Israelites (true Christians). With boldness, they will honor the Lord by confessing His Name.
Thought 1. The work of the Holy Spirit
in the lives of believers cannot be overemphasized. His work is stressed time
and again throughout Scripture. Here are several of the Spirit’s major
functions:
(1)
The Holy Spirit Comforts Believers, just as
Christ Comforted His Followers When He Was on Earth.
V “And I will pray the Father, and he shall
give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (Jn. 14:16).
V “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of
God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together” (Ro. 8:16–17).
V “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Ga. 4:6).
V “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he
in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 Jn. 4:13).
(2)
The Holy Spirit Teaches Believers.
V “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you” (Jn.
14:26).
V “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall
he speak, and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13).
V “Which things also we speak, not in the words
which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing
spiritual things with spiritual” (1
Co. 2:13).
V “But the anointing which ye have received of
him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 Jn. 2:27).
(3)
The Holy Spirit Bears Strong Witness to
The Work of Christ and Salvation.
V “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will
send unto you from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me”
(Jn. 15:26).
V “He [the Holy Spirit] shall glorify me: for
he shall receive of mine and shall show it
unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he
shall take of mine, and shall show it
unto you” (Jn. 16:14–15).
V “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only,
but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the
Spirit is truth” (1 Jn. 5:6).
(4)
The Holy Spirit Convicts Believers of
Their Sin, Their Lack of Righteousness, and The Coming Judgment.
V “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come,
he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of
sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged” (Jn. 16:7–11).
(5)
The Holy Spirit Leads and Guides Believers.
V “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall
he speak, and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13).
V “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God” (Ro.
8:14).
(6)
The Holy Spirit Quickens or Gives Life
to, Believers.
V “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life” (Jn. 6:63).
V “But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Ro. 8:11).
V “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Pe. 3:18).
(7) The Holy Spirit Dwells Within Believers, Making Them the Very Temples of God Himself.
V “Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in
you” (Jn. 14:17).
V “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Ro. 8:9).
V “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you?” (1 Co. 3:16).
V “What? know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a
price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God’s” (1 Co. 6:19–20).
V “That good thing which was committed unto
thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (2 Ti. 1:14).
V “But the anointing which ye have received of
him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 Jn. 2:27).
V “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 Jn. 3:24).
C. God Will
Help His People by Declaring Who He Is, The Majestic Nature of His Being (V.
6). The four titles claimed by God should give great assurance to believers.
1) The Lord
is the King and Redeemer of His people. As their King, He rules over
them, governing and taking care of them, making sure their most basic needs are
met. As Redeemer, He saves His people from all the bondages and enslavements of
this life.
2) The Lord
is the Lord of Hosts, or the Lord Almighty. The Lord possesses supreme
power in the universe and controls all the hosts of beings, both in heaven and
on earth. Thus, the believer can rest assured of God’s help when needs arise.
No matter the severity of hardship or trial, the Lord Almighty will help His
people. He is able to help them because He has the power to control all the
beings in the universe.
3) The Lord
Is the First and Last, The Eternal Being, Who Exists Above the Universe and
Oversees Its Entire Operation. He was first, existing before the
universe was created; and He will be last, existing when the history of the
present universe ends. The Lord has always been on the scene, and He will be on
the scene when it disappears in flames with a loud roar (2 Pe. 3:10–13).
The Lord is the First and Last, the Beginning and Ending.
4) The Lord Alone is God. Apart from Him, there is no God. All other gods claimed by people are false. Therefore, believers who truly follow the Lord can rest assured that they have the Lord’s help. As the only living and true God, the Lord obviously loves His creation and possesses the power to help all who truly believe and follow Him.
D. God Will
Help His People by Proving That No One—No Person and No So-Called God—Is Like
Him (V. 7). If any people think that they or their gods are equal to the
Lord, let them stand up and defend their claim. Here, Isaiah is painting a
picture of a legal trial. God puts these people and their gods on trial. They must appear before God and
show that the prophecies they have proclaimed have actually come true.
As far as the Lord is concerned, He can prove His case. By calling Abraham, He
chose and established Israel to be His people (Ge. 12:1–3; 15:1–21).
Then He not only foretold the building of a nation from this one man,
but He also predicted event after event throughout the nation’s history.
And now He is predicting their future captivity by Babylon and their
release by the Persians (vv. 8, 21–28). No one is like the Lord, for He
alone is omniscient. He alone knows all things and as such, He alone
is able to foretell the future. Believers can be assured of God’s help and
care in the future, for nothing takes Him
by surprise.
V “And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master,
thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he”
(Mk. 12:32).
V “Who is
like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is
like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in
praises, doing wonders?” (Ex.
15:11).
V “Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according
to all that we have heard with our ears” (2 S. 7:22).
V “And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven
above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants
that walk before thee with all their heart” (1 K. 8:23).
V “For who in the heaven can be compared unto
the Lord? who among the sons of the
mighty can be likened unto the Lord?” (Ps. 89:6).
V “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Is. 40:18).
E. God Will
Help His People by Delivering Them—The Redeemed—From Fear and Captivity (V. 8).
This promise of help will be a great encouragement to God’s people, especially
to those who will be taken captive by Babylon. Note that Isaiah is
foretelling the Babylonian captivity years before it will take place. If God
foresees the captivity and it actually takes place, the people can rest
in His promise of their release and return to the promised land. Restoration is
a certainty. Note why: because they are God’s witnesses, a people very
special to Him. They are His people, His servants. There is no chance He will
forget His people or forsake His servants.
V “But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt. 10:30–31).
V “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage” (He. 2:14–15).
V “Fear thou not; for I am with thee be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I
will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Is. 41:10).
V “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Is. 43:1–2).
F. God Will
Help His People by Assuring Them That He Is the Rock, The Very Foundation of
Life. No other person or so-called god can claim to be the Rock of life. No
one can build a foundation solid enough for people to build their lives and
faith upon, not eternally. Only the Lord is the Rock, the foundation that can
provide eternal stability and security for people. As the Rock, the Lord is the
believer’s foundation, strength, refuge, and security, both in this life and
the next.
V “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and
it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Mt. 7:24–27).
V “Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he
that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (1 Pe. 2:6).
V “He is
the Rock, his work is perfect: for
all his ways are judgment: a God of
truth and without iniquity, just and right is
he” (De. 32:4).
V “For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges” (De. 32:31).
V “There
is none holy as the Lord: for there is
none beside thee: neither is there
any rock like our God” (1 S. 2:2).
V “The Lord is
my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will
trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Ps.
18:2).
V “For who is
God save the Lord? or who is a rock
save our God?” (Ps. 18:31).
V “Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not
silent to me: lest, if thou be silent
to me, I become like them that go down into the pit” (Ps. 28:1).
V “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly
moved” (Ps. 62:1–2).
V “But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Ps. 94:22).[3]
Has the time come
in your life as with Israel that you are proud of belonging to God? If we are
truly God’s, we should be unashamed and delighted to let everyone know about
our relationship with him (44:8).
Remember, the manufactured idols were guilty of false advertising. They made big promises, but they were worthless and helpless. In contrast, God fulfills his claims and delivers on all his promises. God challenges us to be his witnesses. When we share our faith with those who can find no meaning in life or have no hope of eternal life, we are not proclaiming anything shoddy or unreliable. God is real and life with him is best. Pray for boldness in your life to share your faith in Christ with friends, relatives, and neighbors.[4]
& and
a 44:5
proudly, implied.
b 44:8
that I would save you,
implied.
c 44:28
This was written many years before Cyrus began his meteoric rise to
power.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
a 44:5 proudly, implied.
b 44:8
that I would save you,
implied.
[2] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[4] Life Application
Bible Notes. 2007. Tyndale.
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