Word of Salvation – June 2022

Precious, Honoured and Loved

Sermon by Rev C. Berends on Isaiah 43:1-7

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

Suggested Song: Build My Life

I wonder what things make you scared, what makes you afraid. What makes you afraid? I did a bit of googling about the kinds of things that people are most afraid of in Australia, and it was interesting.  Social Phobias is number 1 fear in Australia - One in 20 Australians have a social phobia, meaning they get anxious in social situations. Most people are afraid of being judged by others. Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces and crowds, is number 2. Fear of heights. The fourth most common fear in Australia is fear of flying – which I guess is another version of fear of heights. Claustrophobia comes in at #5, personally, that might #1 for me, Tracy has made me watch too many scary movies. Fear of insects, Fear of snakes – Fear of dogs, fear of storms. And the finally in #10 Trypanophobia: fear of needles. Although this was pre Covid-pandemic, and I would suggest that might be higher now, at least 6% of the country. 

The comedian Jerry Seinfeld said once that the #1 fear of people was public speaking – and the #2 fear was dying – noting that at a funeral more people would rather be the guy in the coffin, than the guy giving the eulogy

I wonder what those things are for you. What you fear. Deep down, what makes you anxious, worried, scared. Maybe worry about what other people think of us, scared that people are taking about us behind our back. Maybe we are scared of being alone, friendships that don’t work out. Maybe we are worried about our kids, for those who are parents. Scared about our faith going forward and whether we will be able to stand.

But in the passage that we read before and we want to consider this morning, we find God saying firstly to his people in the time of Isaiah, and secondly to us here today, Fear Not. He tells us not to be afraid. To a people in the day of Isaiah, who were facing the judgment of God for their rebellion against him.  Who were about to live far from the land that God had promised And who were about to live as second class citizens under a foreign government. Who were uncertain about what the future was going to bring. To them - God says - do not be afraid. And to us, who too can face uncertain futures Who fear sometimes what the burden of our sin might mean for our lives. Who are anxious for our kids, our world, our church. Who find it tough to be a Christian and a witness for Christ in our world. To us to – our God says – do not be afraid.

Well, we might say – that’s a fine commandment to give – but I can’t help how I feel. It’s like saying to someone who is grieving, smile. Or like saying to a rock – swim. How can God say – do not be afraid – does he know what I am facing? Does he not know of all of the threats?  Well, in these verses God not only commands us – he tells us why, on what grounds, for what reasons we are not to be afraid – and interestingly its got nothing to do with how big or small the threats are, nothing to do with our own abilities, or the strength of those things that cause us to be afraid. He says this fear not, and these are our three points Because of who he is. Because of who we are to him. Because of what he has done, is doing, and will do. Going to look at each of these in turn

Because of who is he: The Holy One of Israel

First basis then on which he says this – is because of who he is. And I want notice how these verses both start and finish. Look at verse 1 – But now… and in those words Isaiah is making a big change, from the judgment on Israel that was announced in the previous chapter, and what is coming next. But now.. this says the Lord. And look at how God is described – he who created you, he who formed you. Now jump down to verse 7 – because there are two words which are used again – whom I created for my glory, and formed for my name. Created and formed. Interestingly, these are two words used of God’s work in Genesis 1 and 2 – God who created the world, and formed Adam and eve.

You see as God says – do not be afraid he’s reminding us who he is. He’s saying I am the God of all creation – the God who created everything out of nothing, and who formed every human being from the dust of the earth. I am the God who has done all that. But notice – how those words now, created and formed are being used not of all of creation – which is true – but of his people. He is the Lord, who created and formed his people as his very own

But there another description of God in verse 3 which sums this up so wonderfully – I am the Lord, your God. . He is awesome and powerful, and can do all things. And at the same time he is personal, and present, and gentle. The Holy One of Israel. Now that phrase Holy One of Israel might seem a little strange to us. But you’ve ever read through Isaiah it becomes a whole lot more familiar. Used about 25 times in Isaiah, that’s 80% of all the times that its used in the Bible. It’s one Isaiah’s favourite ways to talk about God. And when Isaiah uses this phrase he has this incredible image of God in mind. A God who is majestic and awesome and Holy, and when Isaiah has a vision of him in his throne room he is blown away and falls on his knees in wow, don’t blow me away. But at the same time – he has an image of God who is like a Father. 1:2 and 4 he talks about them as children which he reared – but who have forsaken the holy one of Israel. Also check out Isaiah 57:15. 

You see sometimes we have an idea of God that is only one of might and power and strength and awesomeness. He might say – don’t be afraid – we might be convinced that he has the power to keep us safe – but we are not sure we can trust him as loving, as present as gentle

Sometimes we might have an idea of God who is present and gentle and close – but we forget that he is awesome – and when he says don’t be afraid we might know that he wants the best for us but we are not convinced he is powerful enough to do anything about. 

But he is both – he is the Holy One of Israel. Great might and power and strength, who is gentle and present, and close. Notice this in verse 2 – look at what he says – when you pass through waters – I will be with you – he close – he’s near – he’s present. But notice – through the rivers – they will not overwhelm you – he’s powerful, he’s mighty, he’s the creator. For I am the Lord your God – the Holy One of Israel. 

Because of who we are to him: Precious, Honoured and Loved

Second basis on which God says – Fear not – because of who we are, to him. Because of what his people mean to him. And not because we deserve it, and not because we are better than everyone else – but simply due to his grace and favour. 

I want to go back to verses 1 and 7 because along with both these verses references God creating and forming us – they both also talk about him calling. So notice verse 1 – read it – I have called you by name. See that – God has called his people, his people Israel and his church today – he has called them, not in a general sense – God throws out a call to everyone. He calls us – by name. 

Most of us like getting invites don’t we – birthday, a graduation, a wedding or an engagement. Trend at the moment, and I am going to in trouble here because a bunch of you have done this recently – and you can do what you want – trend to do it with a Facebook invite. Hey you’re all invited. But I think there is something special about an invite that comes with your name on it. It says, something doesn’t it – your special to me, I want, we want, you there. And what does verse 2 – I called you by name – you are mine. You’re special to me. 

But jump down to verse 7 because there is another calling here and another name but it’s different, isn’t it. It’s talking about God calling to himself his people, his sons and daughters, from the ends of the earth – all kinds of people and look at what is says – everyone who is called by my name. Those God calls by name. He gives to them, he places on them – his name. His mark, his seal of ownership. He’s saying – this one, these ones, these are mine, they belong to me they bear my name. 

Who are we – that God says  do not be afraid – we are people he called by name. Sons and daughters he has gathered from the four corners of the globe, on whom he has placed his name. And what does he think of us – verse 4 – who are we to him…

Firstly, precious in his sight. The word precious is used of rare and valuable materials. Not common, not every day, not ordinary. Out of all of the world, his people are rare and valuable and special to God. But notice, the phrase – in his sight. It is not actually because of anything intrinsic about them – they are actually rebellious – stubborn – read the end of chapter 42 - but God has chosen them to be precious. 

Secondly, honoured. Not that we are honourable, again but the special place that God has given them in his sight, in his purposes and plans. He has raised them up and given them a special standing in the eyes of the world. An honoured place in his purposes and plans. 

Thirdly, he loves us – he is committed to us, tender with us, protector of us, he has chosen to pour out his generous affection towards us. He deals with us like a perfect loving Father deals with his beloved children. 

It’s been observed that in society, in culture today, maybe more than any other – we are on a search for identity, we want to know who we are and where we fit.  And we all sorts of options for doing that – and we have been given permission to find that identity, or define that identity in any way that we want. It’s meant to make us much freer, much less restricted by the expectations of others. No one else gets to define us, put us in a box. And sadly, it is leading to a culture that is more afraid and more anxious than ever before. Anxious about what everyone thinks of us – and anxious about whether we will be accepted for our identity. Worried about the future.

But here we come to a God who says – do not be afraid – and then reminds us who we are when we are in him. Called by name. God says. Joel – you are mine. Leonie. You are mine. Hannah- you are mine. Called by his name. Precious in his eyes,. Honoured. Loved. 

Because of what he has done

Final reason, not just because who he is, and who we are to him, but because of what he has done, and is doing, and will do. You see in a way – God’s people Israel to whom Isaiah is first writing, they did have things to be afraid of. Exile, because of their sin – they have offended God, refused to listen to him and they have ended up in this precarious position. 

And so in these chapters particularly chapters 40-66, God is promising a great act, like he has done in the past. So just like for their ancestors he brought them out of Egypt – what we call the Exodus – so now a new exodus is about to take place.  But its almost two rescues that wound up together. There will be a physical Exodus, a defeating of their enemies and a return to the land. But there will be something greater going on as well. There will be a spiritual Exodus. The cause of that exile, their sin, their guilt and the punishment is going to be dealt with too. 

And the word to describe that work is there in verse 1 – fear not, for I have redeemed you. In verse 3, am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your savour. The word redeem was often used in Exodus to describe his work of saving and rescuing them from Egypt. It is also common throughout Leviticus where redeeming was a task given to Israelites when they relatives got into trouble. A redeemer was a blood relative who rescued a family members possession – by buying it back, or the family member themselves. He took on the role of family protector. While not always explicit, redemption usually implies the payment of a ransom.

Now in verses 3-4 that’s the language that God uses, he will redeem them by giving a ransom. But what is that ransom, what is that payment. Well in verse 3 that ransom is said to be Egypt, and then added in Cush and Seba God is going to redeem his people, by giving Egypt in their place. The reference to Egypt and the Exodus language is meant to take the us back to Egypt and how the Lord brought his people out of there. In that redemption the price paid for the relief of Israel was the first born sons of Egypt. It was through that death that Israel was allowed to go free. But a substitute was given for Israel, the death of a lamb was their payment for their rescue. 

Now God, says, I’m doing that again. A second Exodus. In a similar way God will rescue them from Babylon, a ransom will be paid – Egypt again, and this time added in is Cush and Seab. This is a prophesy that will be fulfilled at the time when Israel is allowed to return to the land, and its probably a reference to Cyrus and his concern with the northern African nations that were rebelling against him. In part his release of Israel was a desire to create a friendly buffer state against these aggressor to his empire. And so again, the Lord brings redemption to his people, through the offering up of Egypt in their place. God uses the affairs of nations and states and rulers, for his purposes. He ordains these large events for the good of his people. 

But what about this other rescue that they need, and that we need. Not just physical things – but from our sin, and our guilt. Well, God is speaking about that too. That too will come through a ransom paid. But this one will not be wicked nations who deserve his punishment. I want to have a look at verse 4, we are nearly done. I give men, it’s the plural of the word Adam. Now if you’ve been part of our Romans series there might be some wheels turning right now. Because we looked at this last week. A second Adam, who will represent his people and stand in their place, taking their punishment on himself.

Why not be afraid  - how can God say – Fear not? Well says I am the Holy One. You are precious in might sight – I love you. See how I love you – I give my own son, in your place, to redeem you, to make you my own. 

You see when our faith is in Jesus, the payment has been fully paid, our sin has been taken, righteousness has been given, our life and our eternity is in him.

Friends, if we are in Christ, we have an enemy who wants us to be afraid. He wants us to doubt. He wants us to fear. He wants us to doubt the love of God. Doubt our salvation. Make us fearful of that our sin is held against us. Joel said in his testimony that in the last couple of weeks he’s had doubts. And in a sense that’s not a surprise. The forgiveness of sin. 

He wants to take our eyes of the Lord Jesus, and maybe have a backup plan, or to think that we have to impress God with our goodness. He wants us in times of trial to crumble and fall, and to doubt God and his love. 

But comes to us and says – Fear Not. I am the Holy One of Israel. I am powerful, near. I have called you by name. You are mine. I have given you my name, your precious, honoured. Loved. You are fully redeemed, your sin is paid for, you are completely forgiven.