Sunday School Pentecost 8

The Text

Review last week:

Author: Isaiah, a significant Prophet to Judah

Audience: The King and the People of Judah (Southern Kingdom)

Occasion: Assyrian Crisis, Fall of Northern Kingdom

Emphasis of the Book:

First emphasis: A call to repentance for God’s people as the calamities are brought about by disobedience.

Second Emphasis: Comfort and Hope to later people

Third Emphasis: Arrival of a suffering servant.

Chapter 44: In the section that is meant to comfort returning Exiles, an assurance that exile is not the result of being overpowered by foreign Gods.

Isaiah 44:6–8 “This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says:

Titles of God

Yehova: Existing one.

Melek Yisrael: The true king.

Sa’al: Restores the people that are enslaved to sin.

Yehova Saba: Not only ruling but ruling in context of battle.

I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.

Holiness of God: The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others. Believers are called to be holy as God is holy.

Quick Video

Development of God in Israel’s History…

Who, like me, can announce the future? Let him say so and make a case before me, since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare the coming things, and what will take place.

Claims so far: Existing, true king, redeemer, warrior, unique, only God.

Calls for a test, let the other gods answer.

Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any.”

In light of what has come so far, do not be afraid. God is a promise keeping God. Israel exists to make him known. There is no thing that is needed along side God’s providential care.

Applications.

In your life you can know that God exists, that God reigns, God redeems, God fights for you.

Being shaped into the image of God means becoming Holy like God is Holy.

God has no interest in competing with other “saving” things or gods in our lives.