When we ended last week I think one of the most striking points made by God is found in Isaiah 44:7 when God says that He "appointed an ancient people". Many folks don't acknowledge the activity of God in the world. "Deus ex machina" is an expression used in most commonly in discussions of literature and stage plays. It means that the author has used a device to alter the story. In Greek plays they would sometimes lower an actor playing a "god" from a crane to change the course of the play. It is generally not viewed as good writing because you've had to change the flow of the events "artificially". Some people have great difficulty in admitting that God has been actively involved in the events of mankind down though the ages. We like to think of him as setting the general guidelines but we often don't think of Him appointing and ancient people and working to keep them for thousands of years. However, you are living proof of God's intervention. You were by naturally corrupt and godless but God redeemed you and made you His own. In Isaiah, God repeatedly declares His past, current, and future involvement in the world. We may have a world in active treason against God but He will not leave it that way and will always be the Redeemer. Although a man may not acknowledge God, He is still the only God and all idols are additional sins and offenses against Him. Keep in mind that idolatry is not just making a god but it can be trying to make God what you want Him to be. That is why Scripture as God's revelation of Himself is such an important part of our lives. In part, we love Scripture to avoid idolatry; i.e., avoid forming a false image of God in our minds.
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 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 terrified; they shall be put to shame together.
Isaiah 44:9-11
Idols do not deliver on the promise assumed by the maker. They don't deliver because they can't. Eventually the futility of placing your trust and devotion in a created thing will break through and result in terror and shame. I think that is part of the lack of peace for a rich man. The rich man idolizes wealth but it brings no peace.
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. 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 figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 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. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!" And 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!"
Isaiah 44:12-17
The futility of idolatry is once more explained graphically. An ironsmith or carpenter who is subject to hunger, weakness, thirst, dehydration, error in measurement, error in executing a plan, is subject to time and forces outside his control, as well as hypothermia … makes a fire with half a log and worships the other half, that he created as his god. Why would anyone make dinner and avoid hypothermia with half a log and then pray to the other half to deliver him? Well we do similar things with money. We work and feed ourselves and then pile up the other half in our retirement accounts and pray that our savings will deliver us and provide freedom. Savings is not inherently bad. Scripture makes that clear but you must not let wealth divide your heart. Anything I make can't deliver me. Only God is my deliverer and I will never outgrow my need to pray "give me this day my daily bread". Abundance is not meant to make us forget our dependence on God and the danger in the persistent sin is God's judgment in giving you want you want.
They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; 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?" 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?"
Isaiah 44:18-20
If God doesn't act then we do not know, discern, see, understand, and consider so that we can realize and discern our error. If we persist in sin then God can give us what seek as a means of correcting out error. Remember the Israelites crying out for meat and complaining about manna until they ate meat until they were sick (Numbers 11:31-34)? When corrected by God you should repent because God will not leave sin forever in your life. He will correct those who are His children. He will not leave you alone.
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. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:21-22
You justification is complete. God has blotted out your transgressions and sins. So when a child of God is in error and sins, the call is to repent or return because you are redeemed. This knowledge that God is active in your life and not passive should motivate you to be holy.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:12-18
This is your sanctification that is in view and a fear of God is appropriate in this activity. However, keep in view that the fear of God is present because you are interacting with Him in your life to see His work come forth. You are not praying to an idol to get what you want in your life. You are praying to God so that you will appropriately participate as He works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. It turns idolatry on its head. It isn't even the same kind of a thing. Prayers of petition are right and good but only if you remember who you are praying to. God is no lucky rabbit's foot. He is Lord of heaven and earth.
Sing, 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 glorified in Israel.
Isaiah 44:23
God sees His work finished. When He speaks it is done. God has redeemed you and will be glorified by you. God's purposeful intention to be glorified in you is another reason to find the fear of God in your heart. He will be glorified in you.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:12-14
In other words, swim with the stream of the Holy Spirit and do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Purpose in your heart to pattern your life like a soldier or athlete and strive for right relationships with people and for that holiness that we will have when we see the Lord.
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins'; who says to the deep, 'Be dry; I will dry up your rivers'; who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
Isaiah 44:24-28
God didn't just recently become aware of you. He saw you in the womb and, as it says in Psalm 139, He had you all figured out even before that. He is the creator God and all council apart from Him is guessing and predicting. God council is based on seeing and revelation to his servants and messengers. God wasn't using Isaiah to predict the reconstruction of the temple in preparation for the Lord of Glory. God saw it done and revealed that to Isaiah. God confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers.
That is why the heavens sing, the depths of the earth shout, every tree on the mountain sings. We stand on the rock of our salvation. We are placed by Grace but we are save in the grip of God for eternity.
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