Text: Isaiah 44                                                                                                  10 October 2000

PROMISES OF GOD Isa. 44:1-5

1. The Promise of "help" Isa. 44:2

2. The Promise of "water"
"I will pour water on him who is thirsty… and floods on the dry ground…" Isa. 44:3

3. The Promise of God's "Spirit" "I will pour My Spirit on your descendants…" Isa 44:3

4. The Promise of "blessings" Isa. 44:3 "And My blessings on your offspring…"
a) "They will spring up…" Isa. 44:4
b) "One will say, 'I am the Lord's' " Isa. 44:5
c) "Another will call himself by the name of Jacob…" Isa. 44:5

THE BASIS OF GOD'S PROMISES

God's Relationship with Israel… God as the LORD… Israel as His servant Isa. 44:1-2

CHALLENGE TO CAST OFF ALL FEARS
"Fear not…" Isa. 44:2,8

CHALLENGE TO BEAR WITNESS FOR THE LORD
"You are My Witnesses" Isa. 44:8

A STUDY OF CONTRAST BETWEEN THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL AND IDOLS

1. "BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD…" Isa. 44:6
a) "The King of Israel" Isa. 44:6
b) The "Redeemer" Isa. 44:6
c) "The LORD of Hosts" Isa.44:6
d) "The First and the Last" Isa. 44:6
e) The One who can "proclaim" as He does Isa. 44:7

2. THE FOLLY OF IDOLATRY
a) A mere "image" that cannot "see or know" (Ps. 115:5). They are made by craftsmen who are also not able to see or know what they are doing when they make idols
b) The workmen (those who make idols) comprise the blacksmith, the craftsman etc are "mere men" Isa. 44:10-13
c) He takes wood to make idols he worships; he also takes the same wood to make a fire to warm himself Isa. 44:14-17
d) There is no discernment or understanding with reference to those who practise idolatry Isa. 44:18-20
e) There is "deception" Isa. 44:20
f) Judicial pronouncement by God Isa. 44:18

3. LEARNING TO EXULT IN THE LORD
"Remember… you are My Servant…" Isa. 44:21

1. That we will never be forgotten by God Isa. 44:21
2. That all our sins have been blotted out Isa. 44:22
3. That there should be rejoicing in the Lord's Redemption Isa. 44:23
4. God glorified in His servant Isa. 44:23
5. In deep knowledge of who God is Isa. 44:24-28
     a) As the One who is Redeemer and Lord
     b) As the One frustrates all who are "babblers, diviners etc" (dabbling with the occult)
     c) As the One who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers
     d) As the One who performs the impossible
     e) As the One who raises up a foreign ruler to do His will (Cyrus the King who gave permission           to the exiled Jews to return home to build a Temple)