Isaiah 46:1-13.  A little note about yesterday’s reading.  The song of praise was in verse 24-25.  Today we begin the fourth of the mini messages all ending with a song of praise to honor God.  This mini message is 46:1-48:22.

In today’s reading we are introduced to two idols Bel (sometimes called Marduk) and Nebo.  These were both Babylonian gods or idols.  In this reading we see these idols being carried on some sort of a beast.  They are being carried away into captivity and are unable to rescue them selves.  In contrast we see a picture of God.  This picture is given to the remnant of leftovers of Israel.  Unlike the idols who have to be carried around on oxen or donkeys or whatever, God is presented to us as a God who produced and carries the people of Israel all of their lives.  The idols of Babylon went into captivity being carried away but God will carry the remnant of Israel to a safe place.

Because of the mini message before this one which named Cyrus the Great, king of Persia as God’s tool to save the Israelites fro bondage in Babylon (about 539 BC) many scholars want to apply this message to the same setting.  The problem is that Bel and Nebo were not “humiliated” when Cyrus conquered Babylon he actually was a follower of Marduk.  The setting of this message fits better with the overthrow of Babylon in 503 BC around the same time that Hezekiah was tempted to make a treaty with them against Assyria.  If this is the setting the next few verses make good sense.  In verses 5-7 the people of Judah, facing Assyrian invasion and tempted to and making alliances with surrounding kingdoms, are challenged about comparing their God to the manmade idols of the people around them.  God asks in verse 5, “Are we really equal?”  Remember he has just pointed out that he made them and has been carrying them through history.  If there is any doubt about the answer God challenges them to remember.  And he has given them proof.  He has consistently told them what was going to happen in history before it did, “declaring the end from the beginning”.  This should be proof enough that he is the real thing.  Then he lets them know that he will finish what he started.  Verse 11 uses a metaphor to refer to a coming conquering king, this king is called a bird of prey from the east.  This is probably a reference to Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who has just conquered (0r is about to conquer) Babylon and is moving west (or will then move west) toward Judah.

Verses 12-13 bring it all back home.  “Listen up!”  The Israelites were stubborn and wanted real protection not some vague God thing.  After reminding them (vv. 3-11) that he has been carrying them through out their history and challenging them to remember God in these verse informs them that he is going to do it right now, he is going to save them very soon.  He will be honored but hey will get the benefit.  Remember that he did save Jerusalem from destruction by Sennacherib in 701 BC.  He did this in spite of their alliances with their neighbors and being tempted to make another one with Babylon.

It is cool that God loves us in spite of our selves.  We screw up and he loves us any way.  Of course that does not give us an excuse.  And as we saw over the last couple of days people who continue to blow God off really lose in the end.  One interesting thing that stood out to me today is that part about God’s glory.  Some people think that God is some kind of ego maniac, a ball hog.  Remember that one of the bid ideas in Isaiah is that God alone deserves to be honored, put up on a pedestal.  It really cuts our pride when we think about giving someone else all of the credit all the time.  But look at the very last line of verse 13, “I will give my glory to Israel”.  Although God gets the credit we get the benefit.  In a way he shares his honor with us.  At the end of the day I don’t care who gets the credit as long as I get cared for.  And God does care for us now and for eternity.  Life from beginning to end to ever after is all a gift from God.  That is the great evil lie of evolution, that life comes from no where and no one.  The world doesn’t want us to see God.  But life is proof of his existence and goodness but we all share in that goodness by being here.  Who God is awesome.  He didn’t have to make the universe or us but he did.  As we read yesterday he made it to be inhabited.  He loves us and deserves our honor.  Thank you God for making me and loving me.  Thank you for making such a hospitable world to live in.  Thank you for making colors and smells and tastes and textures.  Thank you for giving me the ability to appreciate it all.  Thank you for loving us, me.  Thank you for giving us, me, the ability to appreciate all of this.  Thank you for making me the recipient of all the good you do.  Help me honor you with all that I do.