1576. IV. Beside Me There Is No God

IV. Beside Me There Is No God

"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and His Redeemer the Lord of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God" (Isa_44:6).

In his forty-fourth chapter, Isaiah ascribes five things to Israel's God, and he is positive in saying that there is no God besides Him, no Rock.

1. Israel's God is a King. We mentioned this a moment ago, we stress it more just now. When Jesus Christ was born, the wise man made inquiry, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?"

Jesus Christ was heralded by John the Baptist as King, for John said: "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Jesus Christ was presented and rejected as King, when He wept over the city of Jerusalem (see Luke 19).

Jesus Christ was crucified as King. They put up over His head His accusation written, "King of the Jews."

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection was questioned concerning His Kingdom, "Wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" (Act_1:6).

Jesus Christ will return as King (see Rev_19:16).

When David saw Christ crucified, he knew that God must raise Him up, because God had given Him promise that of the fruit of his loins, One should sit upon His throne (see Act_2:30).

2. Israel's God is a Redeemer. Jesus Christ is a Redeemer, and therefore He is Israel's God.

"He hath visited and redeemed His people" (Luk_1:68).

"In Whom we have redemption, * * the forgiveness of our sins" (Eph_1:7).

"Redeemed * * with the precious Blood of Christ" (1Pe_1:18-19).

3. Israel's God is the first and the last. These words can be said only of God, but they are said of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John saw Jesus Christ walking in the midst of His Churches, and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet as one dead. Then a hand was laid upon him, and he heard a voice saying: "I am the first and the last, and the Living One; and I was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore" (Rev_1:17-18, \1911 Bible).

Unto the Church at Smyrna the Lord wrote: "These things saith the First and the Last, Who was dead and is alive" (Rev_2:8).

Isaiah states of Israel's God that He was the first and the last, and then he says, "Beside Me there is no God."

Revelation, however, tells us that the One Who died upon the Cross and Who lived again, is the first and the last; surely then the Christ of the believing Gentiles, is the God of believing Israel.

This King, this Redeemer, this First and the Last, is the One Who formed Israel in the womb. He is the Lord Who made all things, the God Who stretched forth the Heavens.

Jesus Christ was all of this to His people.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR