Scripture Blog for the day: October 20, 2014: Scripture: Isaiah 45: 18 (NIV): “For this is what the LORD says—he who created the heavens, he is God, he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: ‘I am the LORD and there is no other.’ ” Thought: To me, there is only one God Almighty and He is working out His purposes on this earth that He made. Question: Am I blessed or distressed by the fact that God is Supreme? In yesterday’s verse the everlasting power of God-given salvation was declared. This is a huge blessing, to be sure! But today’s verse attaches to that even more evidence of the goodness of God: God’s intended purpose to fill the earth with human life, and, His self-ordained supremacy over this world as its most benevolent Creator. “For…” These little connector words are so vitally important. They bring wonderful continuity to the Word of God. God’s grand scheme of salvation is well established first of all in verse 17; then we learn that the concept of eternal freedom from shame actually lays the groundwork for and establishes the content of today’s verse: that God is Supreme Creator! Of course He is! No one else can guarantee salvation that lasts forever! “…this is what the LORD says…” The spoken Word of God is unparalleled in importance. When we find this phrase in scripture, we should be conditioned to stand in awe of whatever God is about to announce. Get ready! God has a vital news flash! What He says is higher in value than any other spoken word. What is God about to proclaim?? “—he who created the heavens,…” I really believe God invented suspense. It is often used in scripture and in many Bible stories. Perhaps it was created as a way to acquire and hold onto our attention span so that we would really latch on to what is stated. Suspense is used in this verse. Before we can even hear “what the LORD says” we have a long section bookended with dashes! Each part of this “section” describes once again why God is worthy of our attention, praise and love. This first portion reminds us that only He “created the heavens.” Have we meditated recently on the wonders of the universe with its stars, suns, galaxies and planets? I’m thankful God has permitted us the use of our high-powered telescopes. Through them we can see much farther than with the naked eye. Yet even what the naked eye views is utterly amazing, isn’t it? Genesis 15: 5: “He [God] took him [Abram] outside and said, ‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ ” Psalm 19: 1 through 6: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.” “…he is God;” Why do we so easily forget that God made outer space and all that is contained in it? Why also do we so easily forget that He is The Only One Who has done this mighty work? How true it is that man seems bent on purposely forgetting that God exists. Too much accountability, I guess… “…he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it;” Have we ever noticed that God doesn’t really mention any other planets except earth in the Bible? Personally, I believe it is the only inhabited planet in the galaxy—maybe even the universe. But I am only one, small human being. What do I know? The point here is that our entire world, where we live and have our existence, the only world we may ever know, was “fashioned” and “founded” by God. These are two very definitive words. To “fashion” means to “make into a particular or required form.” What did God require when He made earth? Obviously He required the earth be filled with beauty for mankind to appreciate, resources for mankind to utilize and wonders surpassing our understanding—all that we might continue to hold God in a high position of honor and praise. Interestingly, the word “founded” is added as a supplemental word here. The fashioning of the earth, that is, making it meet God’s requirements, is different and separate from “founding” it. Webster gives a synonym for “founded”. It is “established.” In other words, this world is not in danger of dissolving away, or tipping out of orbit, or breaking apart. It has been firmly set by God. That makes me feel very secure! “…he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited…” To me this is a very encouraging phrase. God loves the animal kingdom! God loves humanity! He loves to see our fullness of activity on the surface of the planet that He created as our home. And apparently God is not worried about the threat of “population explosion.” Genesis 1: 22: “God blessed them [the birds and fish] and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.’ ” Genesis 1: 28: “God blessed them [man and woman] and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ ” No other scripture exists to counteract these that God laid down during the first days of Creation. Therefore we must assume they are still in “force” for us to obey. Isaiah is certainly in agreement with that thinking. “he says: ‘I am the LORD and there is no other.’ ” And now the suspense is ended: here is the culmination of today’s verse. And, surprisingly, we have heard this before! God is repeating Himself. Did He forget He said this before? Isaiah 43: 11: “I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.” Isaiah 44: 6: “This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.’ ” Isaiah 45: 5a: “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.’ ” No, God has not “forgotten” that He said this before. He fully intends to reiterate this truth. It bears repeating because we are so prone to forgetting it. In my opinion, to make each day successful, and to properly set a good spiritual “tone” of heart, we need only repeat this deep and beautiful truth to ourselves: “God is the LORD and there is no other!” Permanently and constantly meditating on this immediately begins to arrange everything in its proper order. Prayer: Supreme Father and Sovereign God, thank You for being in charge! I am so glad You are! I can only imagine what horrors would exist, even beyond what already exists, were You not in full command of our planet and our lives. Thank You for fashioning and founding the earth. Thank You for ruling it with complete competency. Help me to move through each day with this powerful truth underlying everything I think, say and do. I ask these things in Christ’s Name, Amen.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 02:25:00 +0000
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