Introduction
We are in the third week of our series – Isaiah: Yahweh Alone Is God. Isaiah’s message comes to Israel in response to their persistent rebellion. He paints a vivid picture of their future—a future marked by devastation and judgment. In Chapter 40, God speaks words of comfort to his people, beckoning them to trust Him. Remember, this whole series is about trust – namely, in whom do you trust?
Sadly, in Israel’s rebellion, they have turned away from Yahweh, the one true God, and have turned their faith and trust in the idols of the nations. In Chapter 2 of Isaiah, it says “The land is full of idols…”
When we think of idol worship, our minds might conjure images of ancient cultures or perhaps scenes from Indiana Jones movies. But let’s bring it closer to home—think AI, artificial intelligence. It’s all the buzz these days, thanks to ChatGPT. Some love it, others are terrified by it, mostly thanks to movies like Terminator messing with our heads. But here’s a twist: I recently stumbled upon an article in Christianity Today suggesting that AI might birth a new religion! Worshiping chatbots? It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? But before you rush off to delete your ChatGPT account in a panic, let’s pause and consider this.
Since the Garden of Eden, humans have been vulnerable to being lured away from worshipping the one true God. The sad history of humanity is filled with the foolishness of the creation and worship of idols.
Romans 1 declares this truth: “Although humanity claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images… They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…”
God takes idol worship seriously; it’s right there in the second commandment. Why? Because idols are a poor substitute for the real deal. And that’s what an idol is, a substitute for God.
Tim Keller nails it in his book “Counterfeit gods.”
“An idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. An idol is whatever you look at and say in your heart of hearts: ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel satisfied, significant and secure.’
When you consider Keller’s explanation, Don’t we do this all the time? Whether it’s money, status, possession or pleasure when we trust in these to give us satisfaction over God, we miss the mark. Therefore when we consider the true nature of idolatry, it’s easy to see it’s not an ancient culture problem, it’s a human problem.
So, as we delve into Isaiah 41 today, let’s open our eyes to the stupidity of idols, the supremacy of God, and the satisfaction found only in his servant.
Isaiah 41:21-23
“Present your case,” says the Lord.
“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
“Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
The Stupidity of Idols
Just as we began in Chapter 41, we’re back in the courtroom setting, witnessing a divine challenge as God summons the idols to present their case. What’s on trial? Their supposed power to predict the future. In ancient times, idols were associated with various domains—fertility, agriculture, wealth, and even national strength. But perhaps the pinnacle of their alleged power was their ability to foretell the future.
The Babylonians were fixated on divining the future, resorting to bizarre methods like scrutinizing stars and planets or examining animal entrails in an attempt to unlock destiny’s secrets. Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?
Yet, here stands God, issuing a direct challenge to these idols: “Predict the future, interpret the past, perform any deed—good or bad—that would affirm your divine status.” If these idols truly possessed godly powers, logic dictates that they should excel at such tasks. However, their silence and inability only serve to condemn them in the eyes of the divine court.
And the verdict in verse 24:
But you are less than nothing
and your works are utterly worthless;
whoever chooses you is detestable.
This is strong language from Isaiah, but I imagine God seeing the Israelites like I see my dog Franklin.
Franklin has a problem. He is drawn to trash; wadded-up paper towels, used ziplock bags, snotty Kleenex—things that we throw away, he will find this treasure of trash and he hovers over it. He doesn’t play with it, he doesn’t try to eat it, I don’t think he even enjoys it, rather he just lays on the floor guarding it, clenching his body and growling at us when we come near to him to try to take it away. We call it “Precious mode” because he reminds us of Gollum from Lord of the Rings and like the ring of power that turned Gollum into this hideous creature, Franklin enraptured by this worthless piece of trash turns from this loving family pet into this detestable little creature. We marvel at Franklin’s stupidity as he won’t give up that trash for anything! Not for a delicious bacon treat or his favorite stuffed animal or a ball to chase; he just wants that worthless piece of trash!
And that’s precisely the image Isaiah is portraying here. When we opt for these futile idols, we degrade ourselves. Think about Sex, Money, and Power, the unholy trinity of idols. No matter which one you prioritize, if they become your God, you’ll inevitably exploit people as means to your ends, disregarding the significant individuals in your life. How often have these idols led to ruined lives? We hear about these scandals all the time, particularly within the church. God is revealing the true nature of our idols.
The Supremacy of God
In verse 25, the attention shifts from the Stupidity of idols to the Supremacy of God:
Isaiah 41:25-27
“I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes—
one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads on rulers as if they were mortar,
as if he were a potter treading the clay.
Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know,
or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
no one foretold it,
no one heard any words from you.
I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.
What is God doing here? He’s predicting the future. He’s doing the very thing the idols could not. I have stirred up one from the north, who is this unnamed one from the north? God is going to raise up Cyrus, to be the King of the Persian Empire who would invade the region from the North. He comes – from the rising sun, the Persian Empire was east of Babylon and the sun rises in the ______? EAST. He conquered the rulers of Babylon, crumbling their empire as if he were a potter treading the clay. Historians report that the Babylonians barely put up a fight.
God did, through the prophet Isaiah who wrote this 150 years before it happened. Cyrus wasn’t even born yet! And when Cyrus conquers Babylon he frees the Jews and allows them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, and Cyrus is the messenger of good news given to Jerusalem. This is what Israel was longing for, freedom and restoration!
Yahweh alone is God! He’s the only one who can deliver, he is the one who saves!
But why wasn’t Cyrus named in this passage? Because it isn’t about him. We’ll talk more about him in the coming weeks, but this future deliverance is about the Supremacy of God! It’s God, who raises up Cyrus and through him delivers his people. And God is recording it NOW, so when the next generations witness it happening, they will know that Yahweh Alone is God! He’s the only one who can deliver, HE is the only one who saves!
In verse 29 God expounds on his condemnation of idols:
See, they are all false!
Their deeds amount to nothing;
their images are but wind and confusion.
The word “False” in other translations use the word “vanity.” See, they are all vanity! It’s the same word in Ecclesiastes when Solomon is pleading for his listeners that all his pursuits in life apart from God were meaningless and empty.
These idols offer a false sense of identity and fleeting satisfaction. I’m not just talking about sinful idols like greed or sex outside of God’s design. Idolatry also happens when we take good things and make them ultimate things. Are sports bad? (No) Can they be an idol? (Yes) Are relationships bad? (No) But can they be an idol where you find your significance? (Yes)
Can we take a moment to consider how much time we invest in our phones? They’re supposed to enhance our lives, enabling us to connect digitally with anyone, anywhere, anytime. We carry the sum of human knowledge in our pockets! But here’s the question: How many of us can honestly say that our phones have genuinely improved our well-being, intelligence, health, and overall happiness?
The evidence suggests otherwise. Psychologist Jean Twenge, in her book iGen, highlights that individuals, particularly from Generation Z, who are constantly glued to screens, texting, and engaging with social media, experience rising rates of depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and even suicidal thoughts. Despite having access to vast information and connectivity, we find ourselves far from content.
Moreover, our smartphones aren’t making us smarter either. We’re consuming so much information and visual stimuli that our brains are overloaded, causing our brains to rewire in order to cope, leading to a gradual erosion of our cognitive abilities to think carefully and critically. Spending excessive amounts of time on our phones and screens isn’t just a time waster; it actually dulls our intellect.
Think about it… It’s not really the idols that are stupid. It’s we who are stupid to think that we can fill our hearts desire with what only God is meant to fill. And for those of you who are taking offense at my use of the word stupid, cause when you were growing up it was a naughty word in your house, I’m not trying to offend you, these are the words of the prophet Jeremiah: People who worship idols are stupid and foolish.
In whom or what are you trusting to give you significance, security, and satisfaction?
And beginning in Chapter 42 God offers his people an alternative to the stupidity of their idols.
Satisfaction in the Servant
Isaiah 42:1-4
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, (BEHOLD, LOOK!)
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
Last week we saw that Israel was the LORD’s servant, and next week still in Chapter 42 we will see God is still calling Israel his servant, however here, it’s not Israel. Who is it? It’s Jesus. This is the first of 4 servant songs in Isaiah all fulfilled in Jesus. And you don’t have to be a theologian to know that this is Christ. You simply have to read your Bible. Because the first 4 verses of Chapter 42 are quoted by Matthew 12 in reference to Jesus. So HERE he is, Behold HIM! Look to my servant! Jesus Christ is the alternative to our idols. And he is God’s chosen one, the Christ, and in him there is delight! He is the one who will satisfy the longings and the desires of our hearts! And he won’t do it by might and force, he will do it by the power of the Holy Spirit!
And how will we find satisfaction in the servant, Jesus Christ? He will bring justice; justice to the nations (verse 1), he will bring forth justice (verse 3), meaning it’s at the forefront of his agenda, and he will establish justice on the earth (verse 4). Justice is coming! Understand the significance of that word, justice. When we hear it, we often think of a courtroom or the legal system—the justice system. And indeed, that’s a part of Biblical justice. But Biblical justice is so much better!
That word translated justice used here is the same word used in Exodus for the plans or the blueprint of the tabernacle. Therefore justice, according to the Bible, is the blueprint for creation, it’s God’s perfect intended plan for humanity. It’s everything set right. It’s life as it’s meant to be. Isn’t that really what we all long for? So when we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are praying for Biblical justice.
He comes to establish justice not as a warlord or a tyrant, no he comes peacefully, gently, full of compassion and kindness. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
Notice how different Jesus, the servant, is from Cyrus, who it says in Chapter 41, verse 25 shall trample on rulers as on mortar. Cyrus comes with might, aggression, and military force.
Jesus on the other hand comes with gentleness with humility. He doesn’t need to subjugate us with his power, though he could, instead, he looks into our broken lives and says, “I want to heal you, I want to restore you, why, because I love you.”
When Isaiah 42:1-4 is quoted in Matthew Chapter 12, do you know what Jesus is doing? He is healing the sick, the lame and the broken. He’s showing compassion to those who are hurting. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
If you feel like a bruised reed ready to break, Jesus is not looking to beat you into the ground, he wants you to experience forgiveness and healing for your weary soul. And If the flame of your faith is smoldering, if you are battling doubt or unbelief and you feel far from God. He doesn’t want to run away, he wants to grow your trust in HIM!
And in verse 5 God speaks directly to his servant, Jesus and his work.
Isaiah 42:5-6
This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
Jesus is going to live a perfectly righteous life – verse 6, He is going to be a covenant, a new covenant for the people. Remember Jesus’ words at the Last Supper before he goes to the cross. “This is my body is going to be broken for you, and This is the new covenant in my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.” This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are reading about and it’s not just for the Israelites, Jesus is going to be the light for the Gentiles; for all people, every tribe, every tongue and every nation!
Nothing can truly set you free apart from God’s Servant, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:7
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
This is the messianic message that you find all over scripture. Jesus is bringing freedom. Spiritual freedom. He’s opening our spiritual eyes to his glory and grace and he’s freeing us from our self-imposed prisons of idolatry and sin.
What makes idolatry so insidious is when you make something an idol in your life, when you make something the ultimate dictator of your dreams, desires, and satisfaction, you can never possess it, rather it will possess you. Perhaps you’ve heard this saying, “Money is a good tool but it’s a merciless tyrant, calling out for more!”
John D. Rockefeller who’s estimated net worth was 1.5% of the entire US Economy, and according to that metric is by far the richest person in US history. You would think he was content, however, when asked how much money is enough, he infamously said, “Just a little bit more.”
Jesus came to free you from the love of this world and all its sinful snares… “it’s for Freedom’s sake, Christ came to set us free,” NOTHING can truly set you free apart from God’s servant, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:8-9
“I am the Lord (I am Yahweh); that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols. See the former things have taken place and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.
All of this glorious work for Israel, and the world; justice, restoration, true freedom, it’s not a mere person, it’s certainly not Cyrus or another king. It’s Yahweh – God himself, who will do this, and he will not allow an idol to get the glory for what only he can do. Spoiler Alert! If you’ve read the end of the book, you know who wins! One day EVERY knee will bow and every tongue will acknowledge God, says Romans 14:11. It’s as if God is telling his people, “Just you wait and see little Israel, because when Jesus comes and all these new things happen as I announce them, the world is going to erupt in praise.”
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them.
Why a new song? Because he’s doing a new thing. Whenever you see “Sing a new song” in scripture, it’s because God has done something new that’s praiseworthy. And here, God through his servant, Jesus, is bringing the Gospel to the world!
Isaiah 42:11-12
Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.
Let them give glory to the Lord
and proclaim his praise in the islands.
This new “thing,” the gospel, is coming to all the world, again, not by force, and domination, but it’s coming to the world and it’s bringing joy! Has the Gospel come to you? Is it your source of joy? Do you sing for joy? Do you proclaim his praise? For when you truly experience the gospel of Jesus in your lives you can’t help but sing, and proclaim his praise!
In verses 13-17, Isaiah’s words once again aim to foster trust and inspire hope.
The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.
Just like a pregnant mother who waits until the time is right for her to give birth to her child, God has been waiting until the right time to deliver—Christ as the deliverer! But guess what? It will be worth the wait!
Just like the Israelites were going to have to wait for their deliverance, just like King David waited on the Lord hiding for his life in a cave, sometimes we must wait on God for our satisfaction. But we are often not good at waiting. And in the waiting, it’s so easy to turn back to our idols, and not only do we miss out on all God has for us, we find ourselves dissatisfied.
When I first knew God was calling me into full-time ministry, I knew I had found my purpose. I went and talked with wise people in my life which included my pastor. And the message I received was “Yes but not yet.” And my pastor even said, “I’m hearing the word “wait.” This of course was not what I wanted to hear. But instead of focusing on the Lord and waiting, I threw myself even deeper into my work at my company.
Like so many career-minded people work was my identity, where I found value. So I expanded our already busy company. And by all measures of man, it was a success. And the more I poured myself into the business and the more success I found, the farther away I was from God and more dissatisfied with my life. I was so empty, I had everything that you would think would make a man satisfied; I had money, a big house on the golf course, a beautiful family, my company was winning awards for innovation and marketing, however, I was empty. However, my obsession with work didn’t just affect me, it was so hard on Martha.
Praise God, HE is the God of second chances and after a painful wait and a lesson learned, here I am! In retrospect, I was so foolish, considering God had given me the promise to fulfill my purpose in life in ministry and I simply had to wait and trust him to deliver, but I ran back to my idol of work. Is God inviting you to trust him because you are waiting for him to deliver? If he promised it, he will make a way!
Isaiah 42:15
I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.
Today, we effortlessly traverse through the mountains via freeways. We enjoy hikes on well-maintained trails and we cross sturdy bridges over expansive rivers and lakes. Yet, in Isaiah’s day, these routes were perilous for travel. Nevertheless, God is removing the obstacles, clearing the path, a new path, HIS path.
Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
God often refers to Israel as the blind. And here God is saying this new thing will be a new way a new path to deliverance, and it’s unfamiliar. When Christ came, he didn’t abolish the law, he fulfilled it, but it didn’t look the way Israel wanted it to look and many rejected Jesus. But for those who trust in Christ, who walk in obedience, he will lead to new adventures, he will do things in our lives that we could never dream of.
He is so good, but we have to fix our eyes on Jesus and wait. It’s so easy to go back to our idols. And in verse 17 Isaiah gives a final warning about our idols.
But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’will be turned back in utter shame.
When we put our trust in things other than God for our ultimate happiness, for our identity, for our security, for our satisfaction, eventually we turned back in shame. It may not be today or even tomorrow, but eventually the idol will let you down.
If you live for your career, just remember, your career can’t die for your sins. In fact if you put your hope in your career and you fail, it will punish you. If you succeed, yes, it will feel good, yes it will have rewards, but if it becomes your substitute to save and satisfy you, it will punish those around you, worse yet, it could punish you forever.
And I could say that about possessions, your body image, your relationships… None of those can die for your sins. And the ultimate shame for idolaters is to be turned back from eternal life, for according to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, idolaters will not inherit eternal life.
If anything, other than God is sitting on the throne of your heart, if anything is the compass by which you live your life, then you’re in danger.
So practically speaking, what do we do? Because you might be saying, “Yes I believe Jesus died for my sins, but what is actually going to help me pull my heart away from these things I really love more than Jesus?” Because I’ll tell you what doesn’t work, and that’s to try to love these other things less. It just doesn’t work, we have to love Jesus more! And the only way it’s ever worked in my life is these three words (and no, it’s not saying ‘I love you’):
Seek Jesus First. In Matthew 6, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people who didn’t have enough food, a nice enough house, or the right drip (that’s clothes). And he said these words that everyone of us should say every day: Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you.
There is no substitute for Jesus… your idols can’t die for your sins.
When we seek Jesus first, when we prioritize him in our lives—immersing ourselves in his word, prayer, worship, and fellowship, and begin walking in obedience—we begin to truly grasp all that he is and all that he’s done for us. That sense of love and gratitude begins to break through to our crusty hearts, dethroning whatever is there, so you don’t have to try to love something less than Jesus, you will simply love him more.
There is no substitute for Jesus. Furthermore, your idols can’t die for your sins. And while we were busy searching for idols to substitute for God, God came down as a man and hung, and died on a cross as your substitute, as my substitute. Praise God!