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The Book of Isaiah 40-66
I AM God, there is none like me
Mon 6 Sept: Isaiah 42:1-9
In contrast to the idols, the Lord presents his Servant. The gentleness of the Servant portrayed so beautifully here should not mask the strength of the Servant who alone is the hope of all creation.
The Lord takes his Servant by the hand to present him before all peoples, he is the covenant made with all nations. All that God has promised by covenant is achieved, fulfilled in this Servant.
This is the new thing the Lord declares, his covenant will be fulfilled in this One, presented as a Servant.
We are right to see in these Servant passages in Isaiah a wonderful declaration before time of the Lord Jesus and his saving work for us, for he is the one who opens blind eyes and sets the captives free, Matt 11:2-6.
prayer: Father, we thank you for your faithfulness to your covenant, all you promised you have done. We praise you for this wonderful way of achieving your purposes in your Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tue 7 Sept: Isaiah 42:10-17
A call to worship, a time for singing new songs of praise.
All the earth is to sing, no one left out, God’s glory is to be praised in and by all creation.
The Lord is now keeping his promises, he is doing all that he said he would. No weakness will hinder him, no enemy frustrate, God will save his people. How many phrases from these verses are picked up in the Gospels to describe the coming of the Lord Jesus?
prayer: Father, open our eyes that we might see you coming to save your people in Jesus Christ your Son. Fill our mouths with songs of joy as we praise you for your salvation.
Wed 8 Sept: Isaiah 42:18-25
In this passage the servant who is blind and needs saving is Israel. The people of God were to be a light for the nations, a servant of the nations to bring them to God. But the servant people fell into sin and rebellion against their God. Because they cannot see they cannot lead any other and cannot be the servant people the Lord wants them to be.
All the servant promises associated with Israel are now taken over by the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Israel, without sin or blindness, who can in righteousness serve both God and creation to achieve God’s salvation.
prayer: Father, we long to be your servants. Make us fit to serve you in Jesus Christ our Lord upon whom we depend.
Thu 9 Sept: Isaiah 43:1-7
We all need assurance, now and then. We don’t need to be afraid of anything when we know the Lord as our Creator and Redeemer. My salvation does not depend upon me, but upon the Lord desire to display his own glory in saving me. God makes all things new in Jesus Christ that we might know his salvation.
prayer: Father, we praise you for this wonderful salvation you have worked and achieved for us. Teach our hearts not to fear as we rely upon you.
Fri 10 Sept: Isaiah 43:8-13
Compared with God the nations are blind and deaf. We cannot declare God’s salvation and eternal purposes, unless he declares them first. God makes these things known to us that we might be his witnesses, not telling what we have found out, but proclaiming what God has revealed.
prayer: Father, open our eyes, fix our ears, we long to see you and to hear all that you would say to us. Be glorified in all creation as we bear witness to the salvation you have for us in Jesus Christ.
Sat 11 Sept: Isaiah 43:14-21
The exile was the greatest disaster to befall the nation of Judah, the people of Israel. And yet, here we learn that it was God who brought his people into the experience of exile. The Babylonians were only serving God’s purpose of judging his children’s sin. The Creator God is in control.
Now God declares that he will do a new thing. He will make a way for his people to return from exile. All creation will be reshaped to bring his children home. Everything God has made will worship him and praise his glory.
Only the Lord, this great God could do all this. He is God, there is no other.
prayer: Father, judge our sin, but in mercy, judge our sin on the cross of Christ that we might find grace secured for us by his death in our place.
Sun 12 Sept: Isaiah 43:22-28
Where the Lord might reasonably look for a sacrifice from the people he redeems, thanks and praise from the exiles he has brought home, he finds only sin.
Our on going rebellion against our God is a great ingratitude, a wicked failure to worship the only God who loves and saves. We do not come to him and depend upon him.
God forgives his people, not because we are good, but because he chooses to forgive. We can bring nothing before our God to suggest to him that we deserve his mercy or forgiveness.
Apart from God’s great mercy we would be utterly destroyed, without God and without hope in the world. And yet, for his own sake, to display his own glory, our God saves!
What a wonderful word this is, a great assurance, a foundation on which we can stand and live for God’s glory until Christ comes again.
prayer: Father, remove from us any boasting of our goodness, for we have none. Do all things for your glory, save us that your name might be praised for eternity.
The Book of Isaiah 40-66
I AM God, there is none like me
These are some questions we will discuss at our meeting on Tuesday 14th September at 12.30 p.m.
1. Isaiah 42:1-9 – What do these verses teach us of the servant of the Lord? In what sense do you think the Lord Jesus is the covenant of the Lord for the people?
2. Isaiah 42:18-25 – in what ways was Israel intended to be the servant of the Lord? How does the Lord Jesus become the true Israel?
3. Isaiah 43:1-7 – why is it important that we confess God as Creator of all things? Why can we live without being afraid?
4. Isaiah 43:14-21 – why was the exile such a disaster for God’s people? How does God reverse the exile?
5. Isaiah 43:22-28 – why do God’s people not honour him? Why does God remain faithful and save them? Site Last Updated - 04/09/2010 17:23:28
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