Explore the Bible Lesson Preview April 30, 2006 " Worship No Other " Background : Isaiah 44:1-48:22 Lesson: Isaiah 44:16-22; 46:1-5, 8-9

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview April 30, 2006 " Worship No Other " Background : Isaiah 44:1-48:22 Lesson: Isaiah 44:16-22; 46:1-5, 8-9 Motivation: Of the twenty-six volumes of world literature which claim to be the Word of God, only the Bible provides specific verifiable prophecies to authenticate its message. Prophecy demonstrates God's foreknowledge and therefore His right to exclusive worship. Examination: I. God's Plan (Isa. 44:1-45:5) A. God's Provision for Israel (1-8) 1. Parentage "Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb" (2) A believer's worldview would include origins of creation by God rather than random evolution. God made us and fo rmed us. 2. Purpose "You Jeshurim, whom I have chosen" (2b). Jeshurim is synonymous with Israel. In this case, Israel doesn't refer to just the Northern Kingdom, but rather to all God's children (Israel and Judah). Throughout the Old Testament we read that they were divinely chosen for a purpose. 3. Provision "I will pour water on him who is thirsty...i will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring" (3). Just as water is the key to survival in the wilderness, so His Spirit is the key to survival in God's Kingdom. This pouring of God's Spirit is promised in Prov. 1:23, prophesied in Joel 2:28, Zech. 12:10 and personified in Acts 2:4, Possession "I am the Lord's" (5) A child of God must come to terms that he is a possession of Almighty God (I Cor. 6:20; I Pet. 2:9). As His possession, a Believer loses certain rights, i.e. the "right" to disobey, sin and bring dishonor to God. 5. Power "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; I am the First and the Last; besides Me there is no God" (6) God's power is evidenced by fulfilled prophecy (7) which no one else can produce. Because of His power, His people have no need to fear (8). 1 / 7

2 B. Prohibition of God's Rivals (9-20) 1. Purposeless "all of them are useless" (9c.) 2. Profitless "and their precious things shall not profit" (9b, cf 10). 3. Powerless "they neither see nor knew..." (9c) 4. Parentless "and the workmen, they are mere men" (11-17) Isaiah pointedly remarks that with a tree one makes an idol and with the leftovers of the tree he builds a fire (14-16). 5. Pathetic: in verses we read "they do not know nor understand..." (18), "He has shut their eyes...and their hearts" (18b), "and no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge...nor understanding" (19) "A deceived heart has turned him aside..." (20) "Is there not a lie in my right hand" (20b). Idol worship is so utterly stupid that Isaiah cannot account for its practice other than by deception. Yet, before we are quick to condemn the ancient Israelites for worshipping images of birds, animals and snakes, we should think of the time and money our culture devotes to purchasing automobiles with names like firebird, mustang and viper. (Col. 3:5). C. Promises of God's Restoration 1. Remembrance "you will not be forgotten by Me!" (21) Even in exile in a foreign land, God's people were still on God's radar. 2. Redemption "I have redeemed you" (22b) Redemption was a term used for the practice of purchasing the rights to one in slavery or captivity. In this instance, God predicts that He will redeem a remnant from captivity (26). In a broader sense, redemption is from sin and applies to all who believe. 3. Rejoicing "Sing, O heavens...shout...breakforth into singing...for the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel" (23) Redemption is cause for rejoicing! D. Prophecies of God's Deliverer (24-28) "Who says of Cyrus, He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," and to the temple "Your foundation shall be laid."' 1. The Power: The Lord is Israel's Redeemer (24). He is Lord of all creation (24) and wisdom (25). He has power to fulfill any promise (26). Col. 1:15-19; John 1: The Promise: To a captive people whose last remembrance of their homeland was devastation, God makes four prophetic promises: 2 / 7

3 a. Jerusalem shall be inhabited (44:26). b. The cities of Judah shall be built (44:26). c. Jerusalem shall be built (44:28). d. The temple foundations will be rebuilt (44:28) cf. Ezra 1:2-3, The Provider: About 150 years before his birth, Cyrus, the Persian king, is identified as God's shepherd (ruler). (See Ezra 1 for Cyrus' proclamation to free the Jews and rebuild the temple.) Several truths emerge from this passage: a. God's power is the basis of any good work. Notice the number of times God refers to "I", "Me", "My" reflecting His power. b. God can choose anyone to accomplish His plan. Cyrus was looked upon by the Jews as a pagan. God has a world-wide plan! c. Being used by God is not synonymous with being adopted into His family. Although God refers to Cyrus as "His anointed" (the only instance of this term being applied to a non-hebrew), & quot;whose right hand I have held" (45:1), in 45:4 God says, "I have named you, though you have not known me." Matthew 7:22 II. Uniqueness of the Lord (45:5-46:13) A. God's Power (6-13) 1. God is the Creator: He creates light and darkness (7), peace and calamity (7), righteousness and salvation (8). By His hands were the heavens and earth created (12). 2. God Does Not Operate by Committee: "Woe to him who strives with His Maker!" (9a). We have no more right to challenge God's authority in our lives than does the clay to the potter (9), or a child to the parent (10). 3. God Has Superior Knowledge "Ask Me of things to come..." (11) "He shall build my city and let My exiles go free..." (13) B. God's Plan for Salvation (14-25) 1. Character "There is no other God..." (14b, 18b, 20b, 21b) Even the heathen will one day proclaim God's Lordship (Phil. 2:9-10; Rom. 14:11). 3 / 7

4 2. Confusion "They shall go in confusion together, who are makers of idols" (16b). Man always seeks a substitute for the true God. Alternatives to God result in the followers being "ashamed or disgraced forever and ever" (17b). Those who follow false gods "have no knowledge" (20) They follow "a god that cannot save" (20b). Hosea 4:6 3. Covenant "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other" (22) Acts 4:12; Heb. 12:2 God's plan for salvation is... a. Immutable (unchangeable) "Look to Me" (45:22) John 3: b. Imperative "be saved" (45:22) "You must be born again" John 3:7. c. Impartial "All you ends of the earth" (45:22) "ev ery knee shall bow" (45:23, Phil. 2:10). Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Titus 2:11-14 d. Incredible "Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength" (24) "In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory" (25) Israel's salvation is in the Lord. As His people accept His righteousness they shall be blessed; as they rebel against His precepts, they will be judged. Jer. 23:6; 29:11 C. God's Prophecy Declares His Authenticity (46:1-13) 1. Dead Idols have no power (1-7). Bel (Marduk - the god of the Babylonians) and Nebo (Son of Marduk in the Babylonian pantheon of gods) must bow to God (1). They are made by the hands of men and have no power to - "a nswer nor save him out of his trouble" (7b). 2. God Declares His Power through Prophecy "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me, 4 / 7

5 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." (9-10) Specific verifiable prophecy is more than a parlor trick with God. Prophecy is used to establish His credentials (as opposed to the false gods and idols 44:7 cf. 45:11-13). 3. God uses Cyrus to accomplish the salvation and redemption of Jews (11-13). The "bird of prey" (11) refers to Cyrus (45:1). The "salvation&qu ot; (13) refers to the relocation of the captives to Israel. Inasmuch as Cyrus is an Old Testament type of Christ, this specific, limited salvation is contrasted in the New Testament by Christ's universal appeal to receive His salvation (John 1:12; 3:16). III. Fall of Babylon (47:1-15) Several characteristics for which Babylon is judged may sound familiar to students of North American culture: 1) viewed herself as the "Lady of Kingdoms" (5), 2) Lack of mercy, especially toward the defenseless (6), 3) failure to learn the lesson from other fallen nations (7), 4) "given to pleasures" (8), 5) False security in armed might (8), 6) Sorceries, enchantments, astrology (9, 12, 13), 7) Warped by earthly wisdom and knowledge (10, cf. James 3:13-18), 8) Pride (9 & 10b) "wearied in the multitude of your counsels" (13) - when God is not the authority, all truth is relative. Because of these sins, "desolation shall come upon you suddenly which you shall not know" (11b, 14-15; Jer. 30:7). A. Perceived power is not the same as real power (46:1-7). From men's perspective, Bel and Nebo the Babylonian deities were all-powerful. Through prophecy, Isaiah sees their idols being loaded up on carts and carried away captive. B. Temporal circumstances do not always indicate eternal plans. (46:8-10) God says in a time of trial to remember; hindsight is 20/20. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 C. Nothing is impossible with God (47:11-15). Babylon was perceived as unconquerable "O virgin." God's "bird of prey from the East" (46:11) would be used to accomplish what most people thought was impossible, to defeat Babylon and set the Jews free. Mark 10:27; John 15:5 5 / 7

6 IV. Redemption of Israel (48:1-22) "holy city" (48:2) This is the first time that Jerusalem is called the holy city, cf. 52:1. "Lord God and His Spirit have sent me" (48:16) Another Servant passage which clearly points to the Trinity. "The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob" (48:20) This is the theme of the entire chapter. Israel's transgressions are listed (1-5), their accountability is established (6-8), God's plan and authority is outlined (9-15), and the Redeemer is proclaimed (16-22). Application 1. Just as God redeemed Israel from captivity in Babylon, so he can redeem mankind from the captivity of sin, guilt, and fear. 2. We must adopt God's perspective to allow us to interpret our present circumstances. 3. God offers prophecy as a true test of His Word. Adult Teachers Packet: Item 14 Handout: "Divine-Human Roles" Biblical Illustrator, p. 22 "Cyrus the Great" Notes & Dates: April 28 - FBA Auction, April 29 - Widow/Widower's Luncheon (FSC), April 30 -Luis Palau Kick-off Sunday, April 30 -Student Ministry Church wide Picnic, May 7 - Senior Adult Recognition and H-Town Project Promo., May 12 -Women's Mother's Day Event, May 21 - Graduate Recognition, May 28 - Mem. Day (1 Svc. 10 am SS opt.), May 31 - June 4 - Middle School Camp, June Vacation Bible School, June 13 - Women's Ministry Event, June High School Camp, 6 / 7

7 June 17 - HCDE Summer Conf., June EE Clinic. 7 / 7