He is Holy
Notes
Transcript
Warren Brosi
June 7, 2026
Dominant Thought: We are called to honor God’s name.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to understand the different names of God.
I want my listeners to find comfort in the actions of God.
I want my listeners to find ways to praise God and give a witness for Him this week.
Last week, Beth, Hope, and I visited my parents. In the hallway of their house is our family crest with the history of our last name, Brosi. Years ago, I felt compelled to get that for my dad to learn about our family. According to the website and the paper they printed, Brosi is Italian in origin from the name Ambrose. There’s a variety of spellings over the years. One of the forms of Ambrose means immortal. A few years ago when I was studying the words of Jesus, I found our last name in the Sermon on the Mount in Greek. It is the word for vermin, a critter or insect who is a pest.
Do you know the background or the meaning of your name?
In Isaiah 43, we encounter several names for God. In our time together, we’ll explore four names of the LORD and two ways we honor His name.
First, He is LORD (Isaiah 43.2-4, 11, 15).
LORD is the covenant name for God. It is his the name He uses to describe is loyal relationship to His people. He want to have a relationship with His people.
“But now, This is what the LORD says...” (Isaiah 43.1). He talks about creating and forming. We will speak to those actions as we look at God as Creator.
“But now,” transitions from Isaiah 42 where God’s people have not honored His name. In Isaiah 42.24, “Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow His ways; they did not obey His law.” God’s people have dishonored Him. They are in trouble. He hands them over to the consequences of their actions: anger, war, flames (Isaiah 42.25).
We would expect Isaiah 43 to continue the theme of judgment, anger, and punishment. Notice the change of tone.
The LORD commands the people not to be afraid for He has redeemed them and summoned them by name. God has purchased your freedom and knows your name.
Then, He gives three examples of scary experiences: waters, rivers, fire. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God” (Isaiah 43.2-3).
God’s people came through the waters of the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians pursued them into the Sea and drowned. Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise to the LORD after they walked on dry ground through the Red Sea. They sang, “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my defense” (Exodus 15.1-2).
Later in this song of Praise, we hear this verse from Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
It is similar to what Isaiah said in our text for today later in Isaiah 43:11 “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.”
When God’s people were ready to enter the promised land in Joshua’s day, the Jordan River stood against them at flood stage. They walked through the river on dry ground. The priests carried the ark of the covenant which represented the presence of God. When they priests stepped into the flood waters of the Jordan River, they water stopped flowing. The people crossed on dry ground. They carried twelve stones from the middle of the river and placed them at Gilgal the place the first camped in the promised land. Those stones served as a witness for future generations. The stones stood as a reminder “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (Joshua 4:24 ).
When you pass through the fire...In Daniel 3, three young Hebrew boys far from home were challenged to compromise their faith and convictions. They replied in Daniel 3:17–18
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
They were thrown into the fire and they were not burned. There was even a fourth man in the fire. They did not even smell of smoke. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon said, “Praise be tot he God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him...” (Daniel 3.28).
These three examples show God’s rescuing His people from the waters, the rivers, and the fire. Isaiah reminds them, not to be afraid because I am with you (Isaiah 43.5).
Another one of those powerful and memorable verses from Isaiah is Isaiah 7.14. It’s one of those we read around Christmas time. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means “God with us.” God would keep His promise by sending Jesus to walk this earth and meet us in our messes. The LORD is with us in Jesus.
The LORD is with us. And with Him we can give Him praise.
Second, He is the Creator (Isaiah 43.1, 7, 21).
Throughout Isaiah, we encounter God as the Creator. In Isaiah 43.1, “He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel.” Then, in Isaiah 43.7, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, who I formed and made.” And again in Isaiah 43.21, “the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
God creates and forms us. These words echo from Genesis 1-2 when God creates the world and forms mankind. In Isaiah 43.15, the LORD is called, “Israel’s Creator.”
You are not hear by accident or chance. God formed you and created you. It is important to remember we are created by God for a purpose.
In Ephesians 2:10, after the Apostle Paul states we are saved by grace, he writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
One of the responses to these names of God is praise or give Him glory. We are made for God’s glory (Isaiah 43.7). Our response is to proclaim His praise (Isaiah 43.21).
Do you know you were made for God’s glory and praise. It’s been said that Christians are walking Hallelujahs.
Are we able to praise Him in the valleys and the storm? On our own power, No. Through the power of our creator who made us and formed us? Yes.
Third, He is the Holy One (Isaiah 43.3, 14-15, 24-25).
Three times in Isaiah 43, God is called the “Holy One” (Isaiah 43.3, 14-15). To be holy is clean and set apart. There’s no god like our God. To be holy, God is clean. In Him there is no sin.
In another memorable scene in Isaiah 6, we read about a vision Isaiah has where he sees the Lord, high and exalted. The Lord is on his throne, the train of his robe filled the temple. Fiery angelic creatures called seraphim fling around the Lord and calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6.3). Their voices shake the doorposts and thresholds o the temple. Smoke fills the temple. Isaiah cries out, “Woe to me I am ruined! For I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. Then, one of the seraphim flew to Isaiah with a live coal from the altar and touched the lips of Isaiah. The seraph said, “See this had touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6.7). Your sin is covered.
After Isaiah is cleansed from His sin, he hears two questions, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah replies, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6.8). God replies, “God and tell this people...” It’s going to be a message many will not understand or accept. Encountering the Holy God provides cleansing and a commission.
In 2018, Keith and Kristyn Getty wrote a worship song, “His mercy is more.” Here are the words to the chorus.
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Through Jesus Christ, the Holy One cleanses us from our sins. His perfect sacrifice satisfied the demands of a Holy God.
In Isaiah 43.24-25, our Holy God addresses the sins of His people. He tells hos the people have burdened God with their sins. Sin carries a heavy weight. In Isaiah 43.25, we read, “I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers them no more.”
God would ultimately cleanse us from our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus. Through Jesus, our sins were blotted out. They are taken away and remembered no more.
The holiness of God hold sin accountable and provides for the cleansing of sins. What do we say in response to that? Thank you.
Our second response is witness for God, or tell others about Him. We talk about telling your story or giving your testimony. In Isaiah 43.10, God declares, “You are my witnesses...my servant whom I have chosen.”
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
We hear the Psalmist’s response to God’s holiness in Psalm 71:22–24, “...I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, ...”
Who is someone who needs to hear your story?
Fourth, He is Savior (Isaiah 43.2, 11).
At the root of this word is the name for Jesus. His name means Savior. God is able to rescue or save from the waters and fire from Isaiah 43.2. Then, in Isaiah 43.11, we hear again that apart from the LORD there is no savior. In this world that says there are multiple ways to God and to heaven, God says, “He is the only way.” Apart from Him there is no savior.
My story of encountering Jesus as Savior began early in life. I remember always attending church on Sunday. I remember watching my dad lead songs at a small church on a Sunday or Wednesday night. I remember serving as an acolyte in the Methodist Church in Seneca, MO. We had gold robes with white collars and would light the candles before service and carry the the light out at the end of service.
I remember attending youth group for the first time. I was in sixth grade. We went to the youth minister’s home. We played basketball. I was confused why were were at someone’s home having fun and calling it church. Throughout that year at the Christian Church, God’s Word and God’s people found their way into my heart. I was ready to fully surrender to Jesus as my Saving King. I was on the phone with the preacher. It was a rotary dial avocado green wall mounted phone with a cord that could reach around the block. He asked my “Why do you want to baptized?” My heart started to be faster. Then, I answered, “Being a good person isn’t enough. I need God’s grace to save me.” A few days later on a Saturday afternoon, my dad, my sister, and I were baptized into Christ. My life with Christ has had ups and downs. One of the ongoing lessons I’m learning is God loves me. We read it in Isaiah 43.4, “Because I love you.”
That’s some of my story. A story of walking with the LORD who is always faithful. The one who is our Creator who has formed us for His glory. The Holy One who is perfect and will not allow us to stay in our sins. And our Savior who rescues us from the death and darkness we find when we don’t walk with Him.
Parents teach their children to bring honor to your family’s name. When we go on trips with our young people from church, we often say, “Remember who you are representing. Your family. Your church. And most importantly Jesus.” God calls us to honor His name. Two ways we do that from Isaiah 43, we give Him glory and tell others about Him. How will you respond to the name of the God who loves you?
