Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”
One of the most foundational of all the 30-year theological
trademarks of Bethlehem is the priceless truth of the sovereignty of
God. Let’s go right to our text lest even from the beginning we import
something here that does not come from the word of God. This matter is
far too serious, and touches on so many painful realities, that we dare
not trust ourselves here to come up with truth without being told by God
himself.
In Isaiah 46:9
God says, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me.” So the issue in this text is the uniqueness of God among all
the beings of the universe. He is in a class by himself. No one is like
him. The issue is what it means to be God. When something is happening,
or something is being said or thought, and God responds, “I am God!”
(which is what he does in verse 9), the point is: You’re acting like you
don’t know what it means for me to be God.
What It Means to Be God
So he tells them what it means to be the one and only God. He tells
them what’s at the heart of his God-ness. Verse 10: What it means for me
to be God is that “I declare the end from the beginning and from
ancient times things not yet done.” Two statements: One, I declare how things turn out long before they ever happen. Second, I declare not just natural events but human events — doings, things that are not yet done. Verse 10: “I declare from ancient times things not yet done.” I know what these doings will be long before they are done. Continue at John Piper
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