Tuesday, October 01, 2019

2019.10.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Isaiah 43:1-13

Questions from the Scripture text: Who is speaking in Isaiah 43:1? What has He done to Jacob/Israel in verse 1ab? What in verse 1c? What does He conclude, based upon this creation and redemption? Does this mean they will have little trouble or none at all (Isaiah 43:2)? But who will be with them? And what will not happen to them? What does God call Himself in Isaiah 43:3? What has He given for His people (Isaiah 43:3-4)? What three reasons does He give for doing this? What does He tell them not to do in Isaiah 43:5? Whom does He say that He will gather to Himself in Isaiah 43:5-6? What reasons does He give for this in Isaiah 43:7? How does He describe the nations in Isaiah 43:8? What does He challenge them about their inability to do in Isaiah 43:9? What role has He given to His people in Isaiah 43:10? As they fulfill this role, what is God teaching them about Himself (Isaiah 43:10-13)—who is He? What has He done? 
This week’s Call to Worship, Invocation, Confession of Sin, and Song of Adoration came from Isaiah 43:1-13. This passage presents salvation as an act of creation (Isaiah 43:1) in which the Lord has loved a people, determined to find them precious and to honor them (Isaiah 43:4). So, He creates them; He forms them by redeeming them (Isaiah 43:7).

Why? So that they may know His glory and be called by His name and be His witnesses and recognize that He is God, and there is no other (Isaiah 43:9-12). This is ultimately what eternal life is all about: coming to know and understand who God is.

If we look at Jesus’s high priestly prayer in John 17, we find that it is all about this ultimate love of God and glory of God. He has decided to share Himself. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed in perfect love and fellowship and glory outside of time, from all eternity.

Now, He has created a people to whom He would extend love as big as He is. And He makes them to see and enjoy His glory. And to be called by His name.

This is the secret to all of history. The nations think that it is about them, but they literally exist so that God can create and love and save this people (Isaiah 43:3)! What, then can hurt the redeemed? Even the most painful trials are driven by this loving purpose, and the Lord Himself is with them in the midst of it all (Isaiah 43:2)!
What trials do you find yourself in? What is their purpose? Who is with you?
Suggested songs: ARP103B “Bless the Lord, My Soul” or TPH103E “O Come, My Soul”

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