‘I Am … Your Are’ (Isaiah 43:8-13)

Morning Service, 03 January 2010

What word describes 2009 which has now gone into the banks of ‘memory past’? What word would you choose to describe 2010 now embarked upon?

Of the various possibilities that ought to come to mind to the Christian, I want to draw your attention to one that is twice stated in our OT reading. We see that it is also central to Jesus’ purpose for our lives as highlighted in Acts 1:8. Indeed the OT reading places a spotlight on to this NT command, helping us to understand what is involved.

In Isaiah 43:10, 12 we read “You are My witnesses”. This is a chapter in which there is a series of contrasts (so common to Isaiah), here given for the purpose of drawing attention to the relationship of grace between God and His people. We read much about God’s self-revelation of who He is and what He does – the “I am”, which lead to the “You are” of “You are My witnesses.” Because of God we both are, and we are what we are to be – witnesses.

While these verses relate initially to Israel, they are equally applicable to every true believer, since each one is a special creation of God. God’s creative power was necessary to turn us from darkness to light and from the power of satan to the power of God. All people have been lost through their sin and need to be redeemed. Everyone who has been redeemed through the penalty that Christ paid on the cross belongs forever to the Lord and should know that nothing can ever happen in their life without God’s definite purpose, and that nothing can happen to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And all who know God in this way ought to declare the truth concerning Him, ought to stand as His witnesses to an unbelieving, deviant and defiant world. So we read firstly of

In v.8-9 God calls both Israel and all the nations together in a courtroom scenario in which Isaiah takes on the role of a court reporter.

Israel is described as both blind and deaf – to the forefront of the gathered assembly is the blind nation of Israel – even though she had eyes and ears. As Harman reminds, ‘Ability to see and hear ordinary things does not mean spiritual perception.’ This too is reminiscent of the Prophets call to ministry in which he is told by God that the response to his message will be such that it will “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes” (6:10).

In v.9 the nations are challenged to bear witness to their gods as those who have the ability to explain the course of events, and are able to do so because they were the gods of action, doing what thy prophesied. The Lord calls on them to present their witness; but the implication is that they cannot.

Then in v.10 God turns to Israel, to the people of God, and says: “You are My witnesses”. This is re-iterated in v.12 (cf 44:8) – stressing the importance of this role, but also that they of all people should’ve been able to. Their whole existence and history was witness to the existence of God, to His uniqueness, holiness, power, and love.

The mandate to be witnesses was reinforced to Israel as they crossed the Jordan into Canaan (Joshua 4:21–24). Solomon too sensed something of the importance of that commission when he prayed for all the foreigners who would visit the Temple (1 Kings 8:41–43)

God raised up Israel to be a witness to the truth of His Word. Being a servant indicates that this witness was their responsibility.

Her very history testified for Yahweh. Even now, scattered throughout the world, their very existence witnesses to the truth of the predictions of God’s Word.

The tragedy is that they said nothing, and so God has to speak for Himself, though the very presence of Israel vindicates His words.

Here we also see that Israel failed in its role as “servant”, which of course highlights the early part of this prophecy in Isa 42 that God would raise up a Servant. He will be a faithful witness! So it is no surprise that we read Jesus in John’s gospel speaking of only bearing witness to those things the Father had given to Him to say. He is the faithful witness to God the Father.

How this impacts on our understanding of Matt 28:19-20 etc. Jesus uses the language of Isaiah in Acts 1:8 “You are My witnesses…” Christians, like Israel, are to be witnesses of God’s mighty acts of salvation. M Henry: God’s people are witnesses for him, and can attest, upon their own knowledge and experience, concerning the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the tenderness of his providence, and the truth of his promise.

God calls us to bear witness to Him and especially in terms of the Gospel of His salvation in Jesus Christ. Taking up this courtroom imagery – who among nations have every heard of, prophesied or described this way of salvation? The message of salvation (God is holy, man is fallen, we must have a mediator, we can’t secure favour of God for ourselves, that Christ is that mediator and has made an atonement for all who would come to Him through the world of the Spirit of God) is not reflected in any other culture or sacred writings of the world.

As Israel was presented before the court to show the reality of His being, power and grace, so we stand before the world. But though Israel was silent, appears as a passive and reluctant exhibit, let us not be so!

The witness that is set before us here is seen to have 3 realities underpinning it. It is,

a. revelational – note here the propositional statements, but also that these are not human-discerned or discovered, but God revealed – His self-revelation to His people. In v.12 we read he has “declared…caused to hear”. Our witness is not human but divine in origin, and so are not fanciful but real, not changeable but stable.

b. redemptive – this revelation comes in a context of redemption and celebrates that redemptive work as the opening verses of this chapter make clear. God reveals Himself as a God of saving grace; and so our witness is essentially redemptive, always connected to it.

c. repeated – in a sense there is nothing new stated here, it has all been given before throughout their history. God is bringing these truths back to their remembrance – from which we learn that we should undertake to keep them central to our remembrance. At a time when the world seeks to block out any notion let alone remembrance of God, we need to recall, retain, reconsider… to know the God we know. In this regard we see that there is no ‘old news’, nor are we to hunger for something new under the guise of a pursuit of ‘relevance’. Our witness to God is always relevant.

d. received – turning back to v.10 we read that Go’s intent for all His people is “that you may know…believe…understand” with reference to God.

God had brought them to know the truth about Him and as a result to believe and come to understand (to see to the heart of a matter, to discern) that the Lord is unique. The construction behind believe me mostly means ‘believe what I say’ but does include trusting the person. (Motyer)

From which we are reminded that ‘Faith arises out of facts and issues in insight.’ (Motyer).

But we also see that facts in the head are not enough; we must also have truths in the heart. In other words this is not mere truth intellectually grasped, but truth that grasped them, it transformed their lives. So also in 1 Thess 1:6-7 we read “…having received the Word in much affliction with joy in the Spirit so you became examples to all…” – it had taken hold of and was seen in their lives.

They, and we also, are not to be dispassionate witnesses to the truth; speaking of things known, having embraced and known the power of in our lives. Say what you know! But makes sure that what you know, believe and understand is based on God’s revelation. Yet the implication is that we also should grow in what you know, believe and understand so that you may say more.

In v.7 God said He created them, named them with His name, and formed them – but also that He did so “for My glory” – cf v.21, “The people I formed for Myself… proclaim My praise”. It is by the witness which we bear to God that is described in v.11-13 that we see how we will glorify Him, that forms the substance of our praise to and about Him.

As we read these words “I have formed him” (ie changed us), and we think of God re-forming the old nature into a new nature such that sin is seen as our enemy and we love God and we want to serve Him, that is our conversion to Christ – and we see that we are to bear witness to God’s glory, to praise Him for who He is and make known what He has done.

Peter seems to have this passage of Isaiah in mind in 1 Peter 2:9-10 where he describes the purpose for God’s making us a holy priesthood and a royal nation: “…that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” The confession God’s people are to make concerning God centres on:

1. The eternity of God – “before Me no god was formed, nor…after Me”. He is the “I am”. He has no beginning. He has no end. He is eternal. To the question of v.9, God answers in v.10 ‘I am the one’ –literally “I, I Lord” ie the “I, I, the I am” The emphasis leaves us in no doubts as to God’s assertion. He alone, there is no other; but the formula also contains the truth of the changeless self-consistency of the Lord (Yahweh). When we read Jesus say “I am…” we are to understand it in these terms, as identification with the nature of God. This of course excludes any fruit of human imagination.

2. The only Saviour – v.11 Here we see what it is that God glories in, and it is not so much that He is the only ruler (though He is) but that He is the only Saviour. He delights in mercy and to do good. All that God does is subservient to this reality, He is a Saviour. There may be many claimants, but there is no other who can deliver, no other who does deliver. There is salvation in no-one else. God alone is Saviour. And at the heart of our witness to God is that He is that Saviour – and linked to the reality of His eternity we see He will always be so and His salvation cannot be undone or overcome, nor will there ever be apart from His salvation so freely offered.

So we read concerning the Lord Jesus Christ: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There are only two religious paths: the broad way of works salvation leading to eternal death, and the narrow way of faith in Jesus, leading to eternal life (Matt. 7:13, 14; cf. John 10:7, 8; 14:6).

3. Consistently Faithful – “I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed” v.12 (note in a tense that speaks of accomplishment). ‘I have shown, but, I have saved, not only foretold what none else could foresee, but done what none else could do – and I have done it all in the open, putting my reputation on the line by making in known beforehand.’ In other words, what God promises He does, and what He does He maintains. As it is put in Psalm 36:5b, “Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds”. Then in v.13,

4. Absolutely Sovereign – “And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” As Motyer points out, “deliver” speaks of His sovereignty in deciding what to do with people. And “reverse” speaks of His sovereignty in determining the course of events. As with His Word so is His work, it is invincible ( cf Isa 14:27 and Deut 32:39; Dan 4:35).

What is necessary for true faith is that we know who is our God and that it is He who we worship and serve, and no other. How we need to guard our minds and our churches also from the foolish speculations and opinions of men.

In all the days of 2010, indeed in all of our life we are witnesses to the Triune God, we are to be witnesses to God. But is this the essence of our witness? Are we making God known as He has made Himself known in His Word? Are we even concerned t know Him better in tis way as each day progresses?

In many ways this passage is a rebuke to Israel for it appeared as reluctant and passive witness. God is indirectly reproaches their ingratitude, and our ingratitude, if we do not only declare everything that is necessary for maintaining the glory of God in this world.

Such witness that brings glory to God, and to Him alone, we should willingly give and which ought to be heard of with tones of praise for so He is to us, and tones of hope for so He promises to be to all who seek Him. May God give us the grace to consistently acknowledge and display our awareness of His interest, involvement and commitment to us in the ups and downs of daily life.

It is because of who ‘God is’ that ‘we are’ – and that includes being witnesses to Him: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem…to the end of the earth.”