They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 46:8-11
Explanation:
There is yet another contrast between the True and Living God and idols.
Notice what is said of the idol in verse 7.
“Yea, one shall cry unto him, yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of trouble.”
You can cry all you want to the false, dead idol, but they can do nothing for you.
Now notice what God says rightly about Himself. God calls for us to remember the “former things of old.” He’s referring to things that He had done in the past. The Jews to which Isaiah was writing certainly could recount all that God had done in the past, from creation, to the flood, the exodus, and all that he had done for them when they were entering into the Promised Land. God’s reputation for working in their history could not be questioned.
God also pointed out His track record for predicting His works. Notice in verse 10 where He reminds them that He had been “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times that things that are not yet done.” God prophesied over and over again things that had already been accomplished and things that have yet to be accomplished. Then he makes this definitive statement based on this track record. He says, “my counsel shall stand.” If He says it is going to happen, it will happen.
He goes on say “I will do all my pleasure.” God is going to do what He wants to do and whatever He wants to do and does will be right. An example of this is also described here when He said: “Calling a ravenous bird from the East, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country.” Many commentators think that this is speaking of Cyrus, King of Persia, who in this context would be used to conquer Babylon.
Notice four action verbs that God attributes to Himself when he says, “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
• Spoken it
• Bring it
• Purposed it
• Do it.
All of these expressions describe a God who is both active and authoritative.
Idols cannot work, while God is at work in the past, the present and will accomplish what He says He will accomplish in the future.
Application:
God has an amazing track record. He is predictable in that what He says will happen will happen. He is worthy of our worship and none other is worthy of our worship. We should worship him because of what he has done. We should worship Him because of what He will do. He is active. We should prioritize Him over everything else.
Response:
How has God worked in your past? How is God working in your life now? Take a few moments to praise Him for His activity in your life!
