Difference between revisions of "Isaiah 40: Omnipotent"
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===God's power is displayed in His personal creation (12).=== | ===God's power is displayed in His personal creation (12).=== | ||
Figurative anthropomorphisms demonstrate the vastness of God's power. That which is unfathomable to each of us is a minor task for God. | Figurative anthropomorphisms demonstrate the vastness of God's power. That which is unfathomable to each of us is a minor task for God. | ||
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| + | ====Image: Parallax, the way we measure astronomical distances.==== | ||
| + | Hold your finger out in front of you at arms length. Look at the tip of your finger with one eye closed, then shut the other eye without moving your finger. Did you see your finger bounce between two locations? Your eyes are about three inches from each other and so we can use the apparent movement of your finger to estimate the distance to various objects. Similarly using the sun as the earth revolves in its orbit astronomers can estimate the distance between earth and various stars. The biggest problem, our estimates are just estimates and have huge errors. We cannot measure distances in space. But verse 12 tells us that God simply uses the size of his hand to mark off the distances of the universe. | ||
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===God's power is displayed in His unfathomable intellect (13-14).=== | ===God's power is displayed in His unfathomable intellect (13-14).=== | ||
Creation is one aspect of God's power. But there is more, have you ever heard the phrase knowledge is power? Well, God has that under control as well. | Creation is one aspect of God's power. But there is more, have you ever heard the phrase knowledge is power? Well, God has that under control as well. | ||
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What is the most powerful non-spiritual entity you know? The answer is probably a nation. We really cannot comprehend how vast the power of our country is. We cannot comprehend the budget, national debt, military, etc. To God, these are just a drop in the bucket. | What is the most powerful non-spiritual entity you know? The answer is probably a nation. We really cannot comprehend how vast the power of our country is. We cannot comprehend the budget, national debt, military, etc. To God, these are just a drop in the bucket. | ||
| − | Lebanon, | + | ====The Hebrew word שַׁחַק (dust) refers to the layer of fine dust that might form on the pan of a balance when it is stored.==== |
| + | |||
| + | ====Lebanon, north of Israel, was known for its forests, large cedars.==== | ||
| + | However, even the vast woods of Lebanon could not provide enough woof for a sacrifice worthy of the Lord. Man is nothing before God, but the nations themselves are also nothing before God. God's power is unmeasurable. | ||
| + | ====In verse 18 three distinct words describe the nations אַיִן nothing, אֶפֶס worthless, תֹּהוּ less than nothing (emptiness).==== | ||
===MTR: What conversations do you need to have with the all-powerful, all-knowing God of the universe?=== | ===MTR: What conversations do you need to have with the all-powerful, all-knowing God of the universe?=== | ||
Revision as of 14:58, 17 October 2022
Theological Proposition/Focus:
Homiletical Proposition/Application:
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 1.1 Image:
- 1.2 Need:
- 1.3 Subject:
- 1.4 Text:.
- 1.5 Setting the Stage:
- 1.5.1 We should seek comfort in God's omnipotence Isaiah 40:1-11
- 1.5.1.1 There are times in life when life can only be described as hard. The proper perspective to take in this times is to be reminded of God's omnipotence.
- 1.5.1.2 In verses 3-5 Isaiah calls on the people to prepare the way for the Lord.
- 1.5.1.3 In verses 6-8, a second voice, God, draws a contrast between people and God. People are temporary, God never fails
- 1.5.2 With all of this in mind we see that we need to seek comfort in the omnipotent God. So what does omnipotence mean?
- 1.5.1 We should seek comfort in God's omnipotence Isaiah 40:1-11
- 1.6 Preview: We will see that God's omnipotence means his power is unmeasurable, beyond comparison, displayed in creation, and the source of our strength.
- 2 Body
- 2.1 God's power is unmeasurable (40:12-17)
- 2.1.1 God's power is displayed in His personal creation (12).
- 2.1.2 God's power is displayed in His unfathomable intellect (13-14).
- 2.1.3 God's power is displayed in His dominance over the nations (15-17).
- 2.1.3.1 The Hebrew word שַׁחַק (dust) refers to the layer of fine dust that might form on the pan of a balance when it is stored.
- 2.1.3.2 Lebanon, north of Israel, was known for its forests, large cedars.
- 2.1.3.3 In verse 18 three distinct words describe the nations אַיִן nothing, אֶפֶס worthless, תֹּהוּ less than nothing (emptiness).
- 2.1.4 MTR: What conversations do you need to have with the all-powerful, all-knowing God of the universe?
- 2.2 God's power is beyond comparison (18-24).
- 2.3 God's power is displayed in creation (25-26).
- 2.4 God's power should be your source of strength (27-31)
- 2.1 God's power is unmeasurable (40:12-17)
- 3 Conclusion:
Introduction:
Image:
Need:
Subject:
Text:.
Setting the Stage:
We should seek comfort in God's omnipotence Isaiah 40:1-11
In Isaiah 40-48 Isaiah reminds the people that a time of deliverance is coming because of God's greatness and His care for His people. Chapter 40 focuses in on the majesty of the great God. Isaiah warned the people that a time of exile was coming. a time when the people of Israel would be held captive. However, the people could take comfort in God. The word comfort in verse 1 is repeated twice for emphasis. In verse two Jerusalem is addressed tenderly and we note that her time in captivity is described as hard service.
There are times in life when life can only be described as hard. The proper perspective to take in this times is to be reminded of God's omnipotence.
In verses 3-5 Isaiah calls on the people to prepare the way for the Lord.
All four Gospels applied this to John.
The point is that in the midst of hardship we need to be reminded to prepare ourselves for the mighty God to step in.
In verses 6-8, a second voice, God, draws a contrast between people and God. People are temporary, God never fails
In the midst of hardship we need to be reminded that the mighty God will fulfill his word.
As in verse 10 we need to recognize that the sovereign Lord is at work.
With all of this in mind we see that we need to seek comfort in the omnipotent God. So what does omnipotence mean?
Preview: We will see that God's omnipotence means his power is unmeasurable, beyond comparison, displayed in creation, and the source of our strength.
Body
God's power is unmeasurable (40:12-17)
Isaiah moves into a series of rhetorical questions arguing that God's power allowed him to create the universe without the aid of anyone else.
God's power is displayed in His personal creation (12).
Figurative anthropomorphisms demonstrate the vastness of God's power. That which is unfathomable to each of us is a minor task for God.
Image: Parallax, the way we measure astronomical distances.
Hold your finger out in front of you at arms length. Look at the tip of your finger with one eye closed, then shut the other eye without moving your finger. Did you see your finger bounce between two locations? Your eyes are about three inches from each other and so we can use the apparent movement of your finger to estimate the distance to various objects. Similarly using the sun as the earth revolves in its orbit astronomers can estimate the distance between earth and various stars. The biggest problem, our estimates are just estimates and have huge errors. We cannot measure distances in space. But verse 12 tells us that God simply uses the size of his hand to mark off the distances of the universe.
God's power is displayed in His unfathomable intellect (13-14).
Creation is one aspect of God's power. But there is more, have you ever heard the phrase knowledge is power? Well, God has that under control as well. We cannot fathom what it would be like to truly know everything. God does know everything. No one can fathom God's knowledge. No one can teach God anything.
Image: Working on my dissertation and discussing it with God.
When I was working on my dissertation my thesis advisor went on Sabbatical and moved away for a year. In number theory, there are not a whole lot of people who know any given specialized topic. In reality in the entire country there were probably less than a half dozen people who understood the problem I was working to solve. There were times when it was a little lonely because I had no-one to talk to about my ideas. Then one day it hit me. God understood my problem and even understood the solution. I distinctly remember one night laying in bed and talking with God about the technique I was planning to use. My regular discussions with God about my Number Theory became very useful to me. We often separate spiritual and everything else. We need to understand that God knows everything there is to know.
God's power is displayed in His dominance over the nations (15-17).
What is the most powerful non-spiritual entity you know? The answer is probably a nation. We really cannot comprehend how vast the power of our country is. We cannot comprehend the budget, national debt, military, etc. To God, these are just a drop in the bucket.
The Hebrew word שַׁחַק (dust) refers to the layer of fine dust that might form on the pan of a balance when it is stored.
Lebanon, north of Israel, was known for its forests, large cedars.
However, even the vast woods of Lebanon could not provide enough woof for a sacrifice worthy of the Lord. Man is nothing before God, but the nations themselves are also nothing before God. God's power is unmeasurable.
