THE LORD ALONE IS GOD

Isaiah 44:1-28 / Keywords 44:6

"This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

 

44:1 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,

    Israel, whom I have chosen.

2 This is what the Lord says—

    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,

    and who will help you:

Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,

    Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

    and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,

    and my blessing on your descendants.

4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

    like poplar trees by flowing streams.

5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;

    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;

still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’

    and will take the name Israel.

6 “This is what the Lord says—

    Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:

I am the first and I am the last;

    apart from me there is no God.

7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.

    Let him declare and lay out before me

what has happened since I established my ancient people,

    and what is yet to come—

    yes, let them foretell what will come.

8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.

    Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?

You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?

    No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

9 All who make idols are nothing,

    and the things they treasure are worthless.

Those who would speak up for them are blind;

    they are ignorant, to their own shame.

10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,

    which can profit nothing?

11 People who do that will be put to shame;

    such craftsmen are only human beings.

Let them all come together and take their stand;

    they will be brought down to terror and shame.

12 The blacksmith takes a tool

    and works with it in the coals;

he shapes an idol with hammers,

    he forges it with the might of his arm.

He gets hungry and loses his strength;

    he drinks no water and grows faint.

13 The carpenter measures with a line

    and makes an outline with a marker;

he roughs it out with chisels

    and marks it with compasses.

He shapes it in human form,

    human form in all its glory,

    that it may dwell in a shrine.

14 He cut down cedars,

    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.

He let it grow among the trees of the forest,

    or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

15 It is used as fuel for burning;

    some of it he takes and warms himself,

    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

But he also fashions a god and worships it;

    he makes an idol and bows down to it.

16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;

    over it he prepares his meal,

    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.

He also warms himself and says,

    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”

17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;

    he bows down to it and worships.

He prays to it and says,

    “Save me! You are my god!”

18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;

    their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,

    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19 No one stops to think,

    no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,

“Half of it I used for fuel;

    I even baked bread over its coals,

    I roasted meat and I ate.

Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?

    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

20 Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;

    he cannot save himself, or say,

    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

21 “Remember these things, Jacob,

    for you, Israel, are my servant.

I have made you, you are my servant;

    Israel, I will not forget you.

22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

    your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,

    for I have redeemed you.”

23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;

    shout aloud, you earth beneath.

Burst into song, you mountains,

    you forests and all your trees,

for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

    he displays his glory in Israel.

24 “This is what the Lord says—

    your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:

I am the Lord,

    the Maker of all things,

    who stretches out the heavens,

    who spreads out the earth by myself,

25 who foils the signs of false prophets

    and makes fools of diviners,

who overthrows the learning of the wise

    and turns it into nonsense,

26 who carries out the words of his servants

    and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’

    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’

    and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’

27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,

    and I will dry up your streams,’

28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd

    and will accomplish all that I please;

he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,”

    and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.

 

1. Do not be afraid my servant (1-5). Israel's past unfaithfulness (43:24) was contrasted with God promise of a bright future for his people. God's election remained. He would help them. In exile, God's people felt hopeless and afraid. But God promised to pour out his Spirit on their offspring. God would make their descendants numerous and fruitful. Even those not called “Israel” (Gentiles) would belong to the Lord. These prophecies look forward to Jesus. Those who have turned to Jesus are also “The Lord's”.

 

2. There is no other Rock (6-23). There is no Rock but God. God humorously contrasts himself with idols and those who make them. The blacksmith works hard to make an idol which cannot even help when he is hungry. The carpenter cuts down a tree he planted and uses half the wood to cook. The other half he uses to make an idol and prays to it. God is the maker of all things and the ruler over all creation. One day he would command Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem which was unimaginable to the Jews in exile. He sweeps away our sins like the morning mist through Jesus. God's people must remember these things.

 

Prayer Lord, you alone are God over all creation. Remove all idols from my heart.

One Word Apart from the Lord there is no God