Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Oct 5 2019 - Isaiah 41:1-14 – The Lord will help his people

The chapter begins with a challenge. The Lord has promised strength to his people (Isaiah 40:29-31), now he challenges the nations to strengthen themselves by their gods and to come and show their power (41:1). He challenges them to see that he is the one who is raising up a new power from the east which is now subduing nations and cutting down kingdoms (vv. 2-4). This is the Persian Empire with Cyrus at its head, a power which will soon overthrow that of Babylon. The Lord is raising up this power for the benefit and blessing of his people Israel. Other nations may busy themselves in making new and expensive idols and seeking help from their idol-gods against the tide of history, but they will do so in vain (vv. 5-7).

Israel's God however is the living God. He is the God who chose Abraham to be his friend (v. 8). This remarkable description of Abraham reminds me of the words of Jesus to his disciples in John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." The difference between a servant and a friend is that a servant has to obey his master without asking questions about his master's plans. A friend is someone with whom you share your heart and mind. Jesus shared his heart with his disciples and revealed to them all that God purposed to do for the salvation of the world through his death and resurrection. God chose Abraham and shared with him his purpose not only to bless him but also to bless all nations through him and his descendants. God was pleased to call Abraham his friend.

And now Israel, Abraham's descendants, is called God's servant. They are to be the means through which God will continue to work out his saving purposes for the world. God has chosen them and despite their rebellion against him which resulted in their exile, he has not rejected them (v. 9). God is with them for he is their God. In the midst of the uncertain events of history and the changing fortunes of empires, his people need not be afraid for God holds them in his "righteous right hand"; he will uphold and strengthen them (vv. 9-10).

This theme is repeated in the closing verses of today's reading. God's people may feel themselves to be powerless pawns, moved at the whim of powerful empires, but God encourages them saying:

I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,’ declares the LORD,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

I am again reminded of Jesus' words to his disciples in Luke 12:32: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."

As these words from the Lord Jesus have reminded us, we also are a people to whom God has revealed his heart and mind – we also have been made his friends. He has chosen us to be his people, he has blessed us with the riches of his grace in the Lord Jesus and he has called us to be those who minister his blessing to a confused, confusing and turbulent world. We may find this a terrifying prospect, for we are all too aware of our own weakness and insignificance. But these words spoken long ago to Israel are spoken also to us, "Do not be afraid… little [flock] …for I myself will help you, declares the LORD, your Redeemer."

Lord Jesus, you have redeemed us and chosen us to be your disciples that we might learn of you and bear fruit that will last for eternity by continuing your kingdom-building mission in this world. Help us to remember that we can do nothing in our own strength. Fill us with your Spirit and with a powerful sense of your presence with us that we may be enabled to serve you to the blessing of those around us and to the glory of your great name.

Oct 5 2020 - Hebrews 1:1-14 – He has spoken to us by his Son

When Paul was in Athens, he observed that the city was full of altars to the many gods in their pantheon. He also saw an altar inscribed "to the unknown god". Paul used this altar as an opportunity to tell the Athenians of the god of whom they were ignorant.

Before the philosophers of Athens, Paul could speak with confidence about the living God because God has not left us in ignorance concerning himself. Our God has spoken, and in speaking has revealed his heart and mind and purpose. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the many times and various ways in which God spoke to his people in times past. And he not only spoke, he also acted to save; indeed the two are intimately connected. For instance, God's word through Moses not only revealed his purpose to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, his word accomplished what he promised. The threats against Pharaoh and against the Egyptians were not mere words; they brought the plagues and broke the power of Egypt. God's promise of salvation was not mere words; it parted the Red Sea, rescued the Israelites from slavery and brought them into freedom. God's word is powerful. At many times and in various ways God had revealed himself through his word and in acts of saving power.

"But", says the author of this letter, "in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:2-3). In Jesus, God has spoken his final word. All that God had said and done beforehand was leading up to this final word. The word has now become incarnate; God has revealed himself in the person of Jesus the Christ. Here we have the clearest revelation of the heart and mind and purpose of God.

God's final word, spoken in Jesus, is also no mere word of revelation, it is a word of power. God has not only spoken in Jesus, he has acted in Jesus. In Jesus God has accomplished his final act of salvation for his people. The one through whom all things were made and by whom all things were and are sustained became part of the world he had created. He who is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being became one of us. And he did this that he might save us. He "provided purification for [our] sins" (1:3) so that in him we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. He who is now one of us has "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven"; he is the firstfruits, the guarantor that we shall have a place with him in glory.

Here is God's final word: the focus and conclusion of all that God has said and done in revealing himself to his people; the sum and substance of all that he has to say to us and all that he will do for us. His throne – his kingdom – will last for even and ever. It's all about Jesus. And who could ask for anything more?

Living God, we thank you for every revelation of your grace and goodness in every page of Scripture. But we praise you especially for all that you have revealed of yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ. You have spoken to us in him. Help us to hear clearly all that you have to say to us and to be obedient to your call upon our lives in him. You have saved us through your Son. Help us to live as those who are no longer our own but who belong to you and live for the glory of the Saviour.

Peter Misselbrook