Isaiah 45:14-25, Odds n Ends on “Jehovah”

 Today’s post contains short observations.  Short does not mean unimportant.

·       We often like to highlight the “I AM” claims of Christ in John’s Gospel, and rightfully so.  Lately I have been reminded of various “I am” statements by God in the OT.  These kinds of statements are found all over the OT, and as in the case of Jesus’ claims, they tell us something fundamental to the nature of God.  IF you note the italicized words in your typical English translation, there is no word for “am.”  I mention it here to remind you to not glide over these. Some are quite important in their context.  For example …

o   Gen. 15:1: To Abram, “I am your shield and exceeding great reward.”

o   Gen. 15:7: “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans.”

o   Gen. 17:1: “I am God (El) Almighty (Shaddai).”

o   Ex. 3:6: To Moses, “I am the God of your father.

o   Ex. 6:2: “I am the LORD.”

o   Ex. 20:2: To Israel, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

o   Deut. 32:39: “I, even I (used twice for added emphasis) am He, and there is no God besides Me” (used twice more in this verse: I kill and make alive, I wound and heal). This is quoted frequently in Isaiah, inc. in today’s passage.

·       The context of today’s passage involves idolatry and the affirmation that there is only one God, and no other, and that one God is the LORD (YAHWEH).  In 45:23 it is clearly stated that every knee shall bow and every tongue take an oath, saying “In the LORD (YAHWEH) I have righteousness and strength.”  It goes on to say that all men shall come to Him, and in Him Israel shall be justified and shall glory.  If, as is the case, every knee bows, and there is only one God, then it is powerful when God gives this name and honor to Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:10-11; Rom. 14:11).  It is true.  Only in Him do we have righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21) and strength (Phil. 4:13).  Jesus Christ, humbled to the point of the cross, is YAHWEH, Jehovah.  There cannot be two to whom every knee shall bow.

·       And now, a brief reminder from Ephesians that confirms and explains a deep truth in Deuteronomy.  Dt. 29:4 says that God withheld truth from the people of Israel, but that He would, at a later time, do what needed to be done that they might be God’s people in truth (De. 30:6).  Paul says that the NT truth, the “mystery” of the New Covenant and all that it means, was “in other ages not known” (Eph. 3:5).  It was “hidden in ages past” (Col. 1:23), “hidden in God” (Eph. 3:9), but now was made known (Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:10).  The “hiddenness” dated back to eternity when the Father made the plan to bless His Son with a great inheritance (Ps. 2:6-9; Eph. 1:9-10).  It was hidden because the execution of the mystery depended on the cross of Christ and His empty tomb.  But now, it is to be preached (Col. 4:3; Eph. 6:18-20).