Witnesses To Deity Or Delusion - Isaiah 44

1. Everyone Is a Witness. 1. Everyone Is a Witness. A. Either to Yahweh (the God of the Bible) Isaiah 44:8 (ESV) Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.” 1. Everyone Is a Witness. A. Either to Yahweh (the God of the Bible) “And you are my witnesses!” (v. 8) B. Or, to idols (other gods) fi Isaiah 44:9 (ESV) All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not pro t. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. i. Witness to Yahweh as King. Isaiah 6:5 (ESV) And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” i. Witness to Yahweh as King. Isaiah 33:22 (ESV) For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us. ii. Witness to Yahweh as Redeemer. “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts” (v. 6) ii. Witness to Yahweh as Redeemer. “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts” (v. 6) Isaiah 41:14 (ESV) Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. iii. Witness to Yahweh as their eternal and exclusive God. fi “I am the rst, and I am the last; besides me there is no God” (v. 6) iv. Witness to Yahweh as as the exclusive teller of the future as the proof that He is the only God. Isaiah 44:7 (ESV) Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. v. Witness to Yahweh as the only Rock. Isaiah 44:8 (ESV) Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.” 1. Everyone Is a Witness. A. To Yahweh (the God of the Bible) “And you are my witnesses!” (v. 8) B. Or, to idols (other gods) fi Isaiah 44:9 (ESV) All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not pro t. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. “Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.” “Your walk [actions] talks and your talk [words] talks, but your walk [actions] talks louder than your talk [words] talks.” 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). “a deluded [or deceived] heart has led him astray” (v. 20) 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). delude yourself to believe something that is not true, especially because you want to believe it bolding mine; https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/ english/delude. accessed 6 June 2026 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). A. Idolatry begins with the idea that creatures can form a being with superhuman/Creator powers. A. Idolatry begins with the idea that creatures can form a being with superhuman/Creator powers. Isaiah 44:9–10 (ESV) All who fashion [lit. form] idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not pro t. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10Who fashions [lit. forms] a god or casts [lit. pours] an idol that is pro table for nothing? fi fi Isaiah 44:12a (ESV) The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions [lit. forms] it with hammers and works it with his strong arm 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). B. Ironically, the process of making an idol highlights the human needs, weaknesses, and limitations of the ones forming the idol. B. Idol-making exposes human needs, weaknesses, and limitations. Isaiah 44:12 (ESV) The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. B. Idol-making exposes human needs, weaknesses, and limitations. fi Isaiah 44:13 (ESV) The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the gure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. B. Idol-making exposes human needs, weaknesses, and limitations. Isaiah 44:14 (ESV) He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. B. Idol-making exposes human needs, weaknesses, and limitations. fi Isaiah 44:15 (ESV) Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a re and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. fi Isaiah 44:16 (ESV) Half of it he burns in the re. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satis ed. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the re!” fi fi B. Idol-making exposes human needs, weaknesses, and limitations. 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). fi C. In the middle of the very human process of creatures trying to create an image with Creator powers, the humans stupidly worship the fuel for their re. fi Isaiah 44:15–17 (ESV) Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a re and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before 16 it. Half of it he burns in the re. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satis ed. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the re!” 17And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” fi fi fi C. Wood pile worship. Why can’t people see the foolishness of wood pile worship? fi Isaiah 44:19 (ESV) No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the re; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). D. The process of idol-making does not stop once the idol is made and worshipped. The process continues with God’s punishment for idolaters—moral and mental blindness. D. The process of idol-making does not stop once the idol is made and worshipped. The process continues with God’s punishment for idolaters—moral and mental blindness. Isaiah 44:18 (ESV) They know not, nor do they discern, for He [God] has shut [lit. plastered] their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 2. Idolatry Deludes the Witnesses (vv. 9-20). E. The outcome of the process of idolatry is that people can’t ask themselves honest questions about what they have created. E. The outcome of the process of idolatry is that people can’t ask themselves honest questions about what they have created. Isaiah 44:20 (ESV) He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” 1 Corinthians 10:6–7a (ESV) Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not 7 desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; fl 1 Corinthians 10:14 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, ee from idolatry. 1 John 5:21 (ESV) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Isaiah 44:14 (ESV) He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” —John Calvin fi fi Isaiah 44:9–10 (ESV All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not pro t. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that 10 they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is pro table for nothing? fi fi Isaiah 44:9, 11 (ESV) All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not pro t. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that 11 they may be put to shame. . . . Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terri ed; they shall be put to shame together. 3. God Redeems Deluded Witnesses (vv. 21-23). A. God’s attitude toward His failing witnesses. A. God’s attitude toward His failing witnesses. Isaiah 44:21 (ESV) Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. B. God blots out the sins of His failing, idolatrous witnesses when they turn/repent. B. God blots out the sins of His failing, idolatrous witnesses when they turn/repent. Isaiah 44:22–23 (ESV) I have blotted out your transgressions [lit. rebellions] like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. C. God Himself redeems His failing witnesses from their delusions. C. God Himself redeems His failing witnesses from their delusions. fi Isaiah 44:22–23 (ESV) I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. 23Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glori ed in Israel.