AMP and RVR 1960

CONTEXT:

The first 39 Chapters of Isaiah are spent describing the transgressions against God of the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel. Calling upon the people to repent from their evil 1:6; 1:16.

Chapters 40-55 Isaiah speaks of the restoration of the nation and return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. This section also includes the prophecy of the coming Messiah c.53

In chapters 56-66, we find the prophecy of the new heaven and earth where all things will be new 65:17

Chapter 43 consists of two parts, the beginning v.1-13 speaks of Israel’s restoration through a coming Savior and v.14-28 Israel’s deliverance by a merciful God.

Our text for today is supported throughout the middle Chapters 44:6,8; and 45:5,6,14,18,21 where Isaiah makes the ongoing proclamation under inspiration of the Holy Spirit “There is no God beside Me”

BREAKDOWN:

I, – Isaiah may be physically writing but there can be no doubt who is speaking. God, the creator of all.

I am the Lord, – I am Jehovah, the same God who spoke to Moses “I am who I am” Exod 3:14

and besides me – rhetorical perhaps? Yet I think it is meant for us to ponder not only His eternal existence but His power and glory as well.

there is no savior. – The final EXCLAMATION ! ! ! God proclaims for all to hear (read) I alone am the Savior of the world. The world has many gods, many false idols but only one true God, one true Savior.

APPLICATION:

I remember well when I first heard that I was a sinner condemned to eternal hell by my own acts. Further aggravating and disheartening was the fact that the bible claimed there was only one way to escape this eternal torment in hell. Sounded awful dogmatic to me. I mean I wasn’t that bad (at the time) and surely all these “spiritual” folks couldn’t all be wrong.

So I like any good sceptic began to do research and found that the Christian bible not made sense (logically) it held up to the highest scrutiny (morally). No other “religious” dogma, doctrine or set of beliefs came close, God really was “I am who I am.”

So today if you are one of those sceptics I encourage you to do your own research. Put aside all prejudice (we all have them) and seek truth. You will be amazed at what you find. If you are a “Christian” I pray you grow daily by getting in the Word, systematically reading through the bible. DO NOT skip the hard parts, research and study them 2 Timothy 3:16-17