The Solitariness of God is Witnessed in His Sovereignty (Isaiah 46)

The Burden of Idols and the Fall of Babylon

Much better, but I I think we are good today. So today we are going to be in Isaiah.

Chapter.

46 for today. And you might be asking yourself, but that's not the book of Philippians. That's where my bookmark is, right? That's where we have been. We have been in the book of Philippians. However today This week while trying to study for the book of Philippians I I found it that my mind kept on taking me to other places.

And so I I thought what would be a great text? What's been a text? It's been upon my mind here recently in Isaiah 46 is it. It's actually been on my mind ever since the month of February. So I'm really excited to go through this a couple of quick concerns that I want to make sure that everybody in here knows about.

Typically last week I preached on two verses and it was a longer message. I won't lie. I did go over what the time I would desire to go over and so You might be alarmed to look at the whole chapter of Isaiah 46.

Just know that we're gonna be maybe going through verses a little bit more rapid than what we typically do. So I hope that doesn't cause too much alarm. Another thing to be alarmed about is that this is actually one of the very first texts I was able to ever preach on and It was an hour and a half.

So. So the wife the wife says to buckle up so.

Isaiah.

46 I do I do hope to go through these things more rapidly and still being able to take the truths of this text and glorify God with them, so This is the Word of God. We are today just to prepare our minds.

We are doing communion today. We are doing communion a little bit different today. So at the end of the message we're gonna go through those things what the thought processes of the elders are on this and the reason why we're Looking at things a little bit differently when it comes to the Lord's table.

Okay, so Isaiah 46, let's go ahead and pray over this text before we read it. Let's pray Lord God as We have talked about already Lord We would ask that the truths of your word in this text would Be utilized in our minds to glorify you that these truths of who you are would be instilled in our walk for that tomorrow.

When you when we go about in our lives Lord that we would not forget what you have here for us Lord so God Speak to us through your word Lord. Let us not add a single word front to it. Let us not take a single word away, but let it speak the truth that it is inspired Lord.

So God we ask these things in your name Jesus Christ. Amen. Another little change I'm gonna ask you please stand with me. This is a wonderful text. Let's stand in reverence to this text here in Isaiah 46, and I'm sorry I do not know why the mic is doing that it's been doing some strange things these last couple of weeks.

If it does that again, I'll try to switch to a different mic here, but Isaiah chapter 46.

Let's read this whole chapter right now as a church. Bell.

Has bowed down Nebo. Stoops over. Their images are on the beasts and the cattle. The things that you carry are burdensome. A load for the weary beasts. They stooped over. They have bowed down together.

They could not rescue the load but have themselves gone into captivity. Hear me Oh House of Jacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel. You who have been burdening me from birth and have been carried from the womb.

Even to your old age I will be the same and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it and I will carry you and I will bear you and I will rescue you. To whom would you liken me and Make me equal and compare me that we would be alike.

Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god. They fall down indeed. They worship it. They carry it upon the shoulders and bear it.

They set it in its place and it stands There. It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it. It cannot answer it cannot save him from his distress. Remember this and be assured cause it to return to your hearts you transgressors.

Remember the former things long past for I am God and there is no.

Other I.

Am God and there is no one like me. Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done. Saying my counsel Will be established and I will accomplish my good pleasure.

Calling a bird of prey from the east the man of my counsel from a far country.

Truly, I have spoken.

Truly, I will bring it to pass. I have formed it. Surely I will do it. Hear me you stubborn of heart who are far from righteousness. I Bring near my Righteousness, it is not far off in my salvation Will not delay and I will grant salvation in Zion and.

My glory for Israel. This is the Word of God. Let's go ahead and be seated as we pray Lord God. I would ask today.

That our minds our.

Hands our.

Daily things that we do Lord that we would not ever try to make you into something that you have created. Let us not try to make you or compare you to anything other than who you are as revealed in Scripture.

Lord Lord God, though we do not have.

Goldsmith's like we did in this day Lord we have false gods in our lives. Around us in this world. So Lord, let us be assured. Cause it to return to even our own hearts as it did to the hearts of these individuals that this message was given to that we might remember the former things long past and know that you are God and that there is no Other and that there's no one like you.

Lord, let us be assured of this today. We ask this in your holiest name Jesus the Christ. Amen. So as we made mention of earlier, we've been in the book of Philippians. And every single time we open that text up.

It's a running context. We understand what's going on in this chapter in this book. We're jumping right into the middle of it. We we don't know what's come before we don't know what's coming after it because this is a topical message for today.

So I want to be somewhat short and reminding us of what's going on here in the book of Isaiah. But Isaiah chapter 46, we actually quoted from earlier in the book of Philippians. We quoted from this earlier in the book of Philippians where it says at the name of Jesus Christ.

Every knee will bow every tongue will confess and that's very words just prior to this chapter in Isaiah 45 verse 23 that to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance. So the book of Philippians is already attributed to whom is Jesus Christ.

The God the one and only God that spoke this text here in Isaiah. That's the testimony of all scripture that even in Isaiah chapter 6 when Isaiah sees God sitting upon his throne John 12 says he saw him and spoke of his glory speaking of Jesus.

So when we see this text we cannot divorce Isaiah from the New Testament and think that oh this is a different way. This is a different individual a different being that God was not the same then and the same today that he's different.

No, we can't say that why because the text explicitly says so that he is the same. We talked about this in the book of Hebrews this last week for Bible study that God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow that Christ Jesus himself is the same yesterday today and tomorrow and.

So when we read this text though, it was written in a day. That was not our own. There's truths in here that are very important for the day like our own. So Isaiah chapter 46, this is written by Isaiah.

He's writing it to a obstinate sinful nation of Israel a People who actually have deserted away from God's promises as we had the kids read today about these covenant of works that this required Obedience did the nation of Israel.

Were they obedient to God? No, they weren't and so Isaiah is prophesying about a day. When so Isaiah he's writing this around this at time of 70 40 BC all the way to set the year 700 BC in that time. It's gonna be years before they go into captivity.

So he's prophesying he's prophesying about a day Israel. You have been sinful. Guess what's coming to you? The hand of Babylon is gonna take you captive. Babylon is going to put you underneath the yoke of slavery.

You're gonna become to them and you're gonna be held. You're gonna be taken from this promised land and it's gonna be terrible. However, God is also prophesying through this prophet Isaiah here by saying some remarkable things.

In this text, we are gonna see direct fulfillment. From the King Cyrus who is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ himself. This is known as dual fulfillment that even though King Cyrus was a type of Christ.

It wasn't fully it wasn't fully fulfilled until Christ himself came. Right. So this is known as dual fulfillment. It's important to understand these things. So here in verse 1 of Isaiah chapter 46, it says Bell has bowed down.

Nebo skips over. What is this painting for us?

What kind of position are these statues in when it talks in this text for us?

Bell sits all down. Nebo has bowed down. What is it picturing for us?

Is it a false God that is standing erect or a false God that has been? Broken and taken down to its knees falling before the people. Talking about a false God that has suffered destructions. What it's talking about.

Their images Are on the backs of the beasts of the cattle. What's remarkable about this? Is that this literally took place? This was a historical event. That when King Cyrus the with the the Medo and Persians they come in they conquer Babylon.

They take the statues of all the different gods that they had created. Is there a single one today that still stands erect like it did that day?

Bell.

Has bowed down. Nebo has stooped over and what did what happened to them? They were dragged out of the city on the backs of cattle. Elowed for the weary beast. If we had more time today, we would go in today to talk about how our idols.

What do they do? Do they weigh us down or they gave us relief? They weigh us down. They take us away from God where we have ultimate freedom in the yoke of Christ. They weigh us down just like the weight of these false gods.

Burdened the cattle of that day. So to our idols do our own backs. But what do they do they stooped over. They had bowed down together meaning that they were conquered at the same time. And when were they conquered?

This is a great question ask when were these idols conquered. Were they conquered when Daniel was first taken into captivity to Babylon? No, they were being erected at that time. King Nebuchadnezzar erected an idol of himself right there.

When do these things happen? When the king comes in and conquers them. That is when the false gods fall down. Listen to what kind of these false gods what they're able to do. What were they able to accomplish in the end of their lifetime these false gods Nebo and Bell?

They could not rescue the load meaning that that they couldn't even bear their own weight. These things weren't just small things. These things were large things and guess what? They didn't actually give any relief for anybody that they only caused a burden for individuals.

That's all that they ever did. They were a load. They could not rescue the load that the gods himself cannot rescue it but have themselves gone into captivity. Now this is remarkable to consider because Isaiah again is prophesying about Israel being taken into captivity.

What is the ultimate result of Babylon and their false gods?

Captivity.

You could ask nation of Israel who has gone into a foreign nation in a foreign land. Who is the victory who isn't who's one in that day of Daniel you go and ask that to a common? Israelite one that was actually bowing the knee to King Nebuchadnezzar and guess what there was their response would most likely Babylon won.

They won we lost we're here. We're Babylonians now. We we've lost this we they won, but Isaiah is saying You're gonna lose for a moment, but guess what? God's going to win. That this king this foreign king is gonna come from the east and he will conquer them.

He will conquer them. So who has ultimately won? King Cyrus. Or the Babylonians. Well in the event of this battle that is talked about this conquering of King King Cyrus he absolutely won, but did King Cyrus die is he have a grave that he's still even with us to the day.

Right even he didn't even ultimately win who is the only king that has ever won. Up from the grave he rose. We just we're singing this right. Arching has won. Hear me. Oh house of Jacob. So here is Isaiah saying here God here God wants them to hear all the nation of Israel.

Hear me Oh house of Jacob and All the remnant of the house of Israel. So the remnant speaking about the faithful ones those that are still having faith in Yahweh. They still have faith in the promises.

They still have faith in God himself.

Who.

You.

Who have been burdening me from birth. So so the nation when they were first even formed when they first were born. Each individual. What have they been doing to God? Burdening him meaning that they're sinning against him.

They're continually evil towards him. Again we asked the children this today. What is this covenant of life? It was a covenant of obedience that man was required to obey God and the man broke that God kept on making covenants with these individuals over and over and over and over again.

And what kept on. What did they keep on doing? Breaking those covenants. They were continually disobedient. They were burdening him in this way.

Now.

We have to pause here because in this text we see something that's very remarkable that when when God Communicates to us there. There's to a certain extent. Is there anything in this world that can really?

Besides Jesus Christ because he is the direct image of the invisible God. He is the exact representation. Is there anything in this world that we can compare God to and make an equal with? No, so when it talks about burdening in this text It's not saying that God himself was was getting physically Exhausted right because what does that mean that he has a stamina level right and that he's changing right that yesterday?

He was a little bit more refreshed. He had more coffee and then today he's now more burden. That's can't be the way that we understand this text. The burdening that it is talking about in this text is that God has sent Prophet after prophet after prophet unto his own people Revealing things to them telling them about things calling them to repentance.

And what have they continually done? Sin disobeyed and rejected. That's what they continually do they they're burdening God in this way even. Let me pause and let's go back to verse 3 here and have been carried from the womb.

Who is continually carrying this nation these individuals from the womb?

God is.

We the reason I point this out is when we look at the entirety of the Old Testament as a whole and we look at each one of the books each one Of the stories each one of the figures even in this women's Bible study as we looked at Sarah.

That is not great. So even just as. Can you guys hear me if I just talk loud enough? Okay, so even in the days of these individuals. Was God not sovereignly showing what the end result was going to be was that the Christ was going to come?

That's what he promised back in the garden. That through the woman the seed will come and will he will crush the head of the serpent and you will bruise him on the hill. He promises it back. Then he promises it to Abraham through your seed.

All the nations will be blessed. Galatians 3 says that seed was Christ. We see over and over and over again That there's a sovereign plan and purpose even through the sinful actions of man that is taking place.

Even in this text we'll see this here in a moment. So who is carrying this nation of Israel from the womb. God is because he's sovereign. He has a plan and a purpose for them. And he says then even to your old age.

I will be the same. So when you change physically when you change from day to day your opinions your thoughts your your appearance your hair length when you change I Will stay the same. Even to your graying years, I will bear you.

I Have done it and I will carry you. This is God notice the pronouns in here. Does he say anyone else? Does he say you will be carried by this person or this being and he says I will do this. Yahweh himself the all-powerful God that we worship says I am the same.

When you change I do not.

What.

What is this known as. This is a theological term known as immutability. Listen brothers and sisters. This is this is remarkable to consider. Look the God who has saved us is the same God before creation ever happened in Genesis 1.

When it says in the beginning God It means that there was a time where God was just alone as being God. That he was the same God today as he was then. He hasn't changed at all.

To whom.

Would you like in me? Let me pause here first and let's look at here at Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1 through 3. God Having spoken long ago to the fathers and the prophets in many portions and in many ways in these last days has spoken to us His son whom he appointed heirs of all things through whom he also made the worlds who is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature and.

Upholds.

All things.

By the power of his word by the word of his power. Who having accomplished? Cleansing for sins sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. When you read this text and you see I will carry you I will bury you.

You must know that that is speaking of the exact same theological truth that is spoken of in Hebrews chapter 1 that he upholds.

All.

Things.

Jesus Christ himself will uphold all things. He's still doing so today.

To whom.

Would you like in me and Make me equal and compare me that we would be alike. To whom would we do this church to to what? What false God would we all ever elevate to being that like our one and only triune God?

What about Nebo. Does Nebo compare to our one and only God. What about bail? What about the riches of this life. What about any form of self-righteousness that we have. What about your other silly small false gods?

Do they compare to the one and only powerful all-powerful God? They do not and We cannot. I I can't be clear in saying this. We cannot as Christians Try to lower God to any other false God of this world.

To do so would be not to admire him in the proper place of who God is.

This.

Theological principle of immutability that has been spoken of on this text is also Paired with the solitarious. I can't even say that word that God alone is in a class himself. That we cannot take him and try to make him like us.

To do so would be guest to what we'd be making a Nebo. We'd be making a bail. We'd be making a false God to do such. Who are we gonna compare our God to when we do such we are no better than these Babylonians who made false gods out of metal.

Those who lavish gold from the purse and weighed silver on the scale. They hire goldsmiths and he makes it into a God they fall down indeed. They worship it. If you want I would encourage you to please turn with me to.

Romans chapter 1 verse 18 through 25. Romans chapter 1 verse 18 through 25. Romans 1 verse 18 through 25 says this for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of Men who suppress the truth and unrighteousness?

So men, what do men do they suppress the truth and they do this in unrighteousness. Because that which is known about God is evident within them. For God made it evident to them all man in all places at all times have always known that there is one God.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes both his eternal powers and divine nature Have been clearly seen. Being understood through what has been made. So they are without excuse creation shouts that there is a creator yet.

We have people that deny such. For even though they knew God they did not glorify him as God or give thanks. But they became futile in their thoughts and their foolish heart was darkened professing to be wise they became fools.

Exchanged the listen to this brothers and sisters and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of a corruptible man and of a bird and a four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over to Gave him over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and Worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever.

Amen. What happens when we create a false God or what happens if we take the one and only God and we try to? Exchange the glory of the truths of who he is and we exchange that for what we can understand a man.

Four-footed beast and we lower him from whom he really is what happens we exchange the truth of God for a lie. Can you and I worship a lie and be saved. Faith is only as good as the object that we put it in and if we have faith in a lie in a God that is not the one and only God and we bow down and we worship it.

Does that God take the burden from our backs? No, it has only created a burden. It's no better than the days of Babylonia about Babylon.

Turn back with me to Isaiah 46 if you would I want you to hear.

What verse 7 says? They carry it upon the shoulders and bear it. It does not move from its place meaning It's a God that doesn't really do anything. It's a false God. It just stands there. Who's the one that's moved this false God.

Man is the one that has moved this false God. Man is better than this false God. Man has the authority over this false God to do with this false God. Whatever man would like to do. Who is the sovereign in this text when we consider this?

Man is.

When there's a false God and we can move it around who's the one that has the authority to shape the hand to whatever image.

We want.

Who has the right to shape the nose of this false God to whatever image they want? What about putting them in an action pose? We can think about all these Greek Statues and all these different poses that they were in who have the authority to make them into those statues.

Manshaped it. Brothers and sisters we have to run away from any sort of man-centered theology that we possibly could ever have with inside of us because what will it create a False God that is shaped to our own image to what we want to have God be rather than who God is.

Remember this. Remember this brothers and sisters remember this this is what the text says. I want you to to remember this. Remember this and be assured God says that this is going to assure us in our thoughts of who God is.

Remember this be assured we can't even read the next sentence without saying that we are we need to preach this to ourselves and This principle is to do what this text even says it is to cause it to remember your heart.

You transgressor so cause it. So so take this truth of God make your heart know this preach it to yourself. Why am I pausing on this and making it clear that we have to preach this to ourselves? Because mankind will exchange the truth of God for a proverb of ash or A thought of a tear ickling tear ear tickling saying or any of those wonderful Bad theological home decor mottos that we might see in somebody's house.

This is a hard saying brothers and sisters. This is the Word of God though. Remember this and be assured remember the former things long past for I am God and There is no other I am God and there is no one like me.

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done. Saying my counsel I Will I will be established my counsel will be established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.

Brothers and sisters remember this. Preach it to your hearts. Do not forget this the thing that separates the one and only God From all other false gods is actually the sovereignty of God.

Why?

Did the false gods ever move from their places? Do the false gods ever? Predict declare predestined the future. Did they ever bring about the wonderful story of the Christ? Did they ever do that? No, they stood there.

They stayed there and man went about. What separates our one and only God from the idols of this world. It's because our God has declared the end from the beginning and All things that take place are according to this plan and he says I will accomplish all my good pleasure.

The same God that has always been this one and only God has never changed he has created all creation. Why do we think for a moment that this one and only God that upholds all things would ever change that.

He doesn't he won't he can't. Because he is the same yesterday today and tomorrow though. Our hairs will change. He stays the same. You might sound say that this sounds strange Braden and doesn't make sense to me.

Consider this. Consider this. I want to read to you a quote from a brother in Christ named James White. He says this. Christians believe that a virgin gave birth to the Son of God is. This not just as foolish as believing.

God is sovereign. Not the author of evil and that we are responsible. Christians believe that this baby was fully God and fully man infinite and finite at the same time. Is this not just as foolish as believing God is sovereign?

Not the author of evil and that we are responsible. Christians believe God Almighty spent his infancy being taken care of by a woman nurse and diapered. Is this not just as foolish as believing? God is sovereign not the author of evil and that we are responsible.

Christians believe that God Almighty had a job. He was a carpenter. It's this not just as foolish as believing. God is sovereign not the author of evil and that we are responsible. Christians believe that a man deemed to be a criminal by his own people and by the governing powers was God and flesh.

God Almighty the most powerful force that is was nailed to a cross and died in weakness. Is this not just as foolish as believing? God is sovereign not the author of evil and that we are responsible. Christians believe that God has communicated to us via a book.

The book is perfect, even though written by sinful human hands. The book is authored by God the Holy Spirit. Is this not just as foolish as believing? God is sovereign not the author of evil and that we are responsible.

This of course, this is what James says. This of course is only a partial list. We could go on. Exploring more facets of Christian theology. Christians often forget the deep mysteries of the faith. There are simply facets of Christianity that can't be dissected philosophically or understood completely but God's sovereignty and Human responsibility is just as mysterious as all of those things listed above.

We have to when we take God brothers and sisters. We can't just pick and choose and and believe on what we want to make sense of. We can't just we can't just pick and choose the parts of God that we want to want to make our own False God out of we have to take all of the truths of God listed in his word and that's who he is.

We have to make a class that is totally unique to whom God is and recognize that and know that. Because is there anything else like God?

No.

We just read that from the inspired where nothing else is like him. I would echo.

Another quote from a wonderful brother in Christ named CH Spurgeon. Charles Spurgeon on this topic as well. And you might even be thinking this to yourself. So let's let's let's address it. You will say this morning It's now 1210.

So it's this evening this afternoon. Now you will now say this morning. Our minister is a fatalist. Your minister is no such thing. Some will say ah, he believes in fate. He does not believe in fate at all.

What is fate. Fate is this whatever is must be. But there is a difference between that and Providence. Providence says whatever God ordains must be. But the wisdom of God never ordains anything without a purpose.

Everything in this world is working for some one great and fate does not say that. Fate simply says that the things must be. Providence says God moves the wheel along and There they are. If anything would go wrong God puts it right and if there is anything that the world that would move awry He puts his hand and alters it.

He comes to the same thing. But there is a difference as to the object. There is all the difference between fate and Providence. That there is between a man with good eyes and a blind man. Fate is a blind thing.

It is an avalanche crushing the village down below and destroying thousands. Providence is not an avalanche. It is a rolling river rippling at the first like a rail down the side of the mountain. Followed by minor streams till it rolls in the broad ocean of everlasting love.

Work.

Working for the good of the human race the doctrine of Providence is not that what is must be but that what is. Works together for the good of our race and especially for the good of the chosen people of God.

The wheels are full of eyes not blind wheels. Romans 8 28 for we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God to those Who are called according to his purpose? Consider this truth when it comes to the time of Israel in the day of Isaiah.

They have not been defeated yet as a nation. It's the year 700 BC. Yet God says to them. Remember in the days the past the days before that I had declared predestined your captivity. The worship of false idols the erection of the false gods the pagan people in the nation whom will enact judgment against the Holy Nation of Israel.

And God has also predestined the release of the captives through the actions of a king. This teaches us that in all these actions there was always purpose. That was what separates God from the false gods was the sovereignty of God who predestined their creation in their defeat.

It's according to his good pleasure. This is a remarkable theological truth a mystery to us that must be handled with care and precision. But it is a theological truth nonetheless. Look here now and just think through this.

Why is this so important. Because he's declared the ends from the beginning and from ancient time things which have not been done. Saying my Council will be established and I will camp accomplish all my good pleasure.

Calling a bird of prey from the east now. This is a very very strange thing to hear right calling the bird of prey from the east. King Cyrus was known as this bird of prey and If you look at a map during these years.

Israel.

Is Israel right? Where's Babylon located at?

To the east of them. Where was Israel taken into captivity at?

Where is Medo-Persia. Where did King Cyrus himself come from? To the east. To the east of Babylon, so this is a true prophecy about King Cyrus, but listen to this. This also has theological implications for us, too.

Genesis 3 24 so he drove the man so after they broke this promise this covenant of life as we read with the little ones today. And At the he so he drove man out and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.