PENTECOST 20 – Oct. 18, 2020 – Isaiah 45:1-7
“GOD KNOWS ALL, DOES ALL”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament lesson just read, from Isaiah 45. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There is much consternation, worrying, and fearfulness as we approach another election in a few weeks. It seems that much is at stake and feelings are running deep and strong.
- Usually, when we think about such things, we believe that it is purely a human endeavor – a matter of campaigning, or of speechifying, or of convincing others, and then, of voting. I believe most candidates feel this way as well.
- In our text we see that God involves Himself in the politics and leadership of nations, and even in determining the life span of nations and empires. Perhaps you remember what Paul stated to the Athenian philosophers: “God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.” [Acts 17:26,27]
- So, is God involved in politics? It is much more than that! God “determines allotted periods and boundaries . . . of every nation of mankind.”
- Now, it is not our prerogative to know in advance whom God has chosen for these offices, and what nations He has determined to be world leaders, or who will run those countries. It does, however, have to do with pleasing Him and exercising rule in accord with His will.
- In our text, however, God does reveal who is going to be the ruler of a vast Near Eastern empire, that of the Medes and Persians. His name was Cyrus. But as we see in our text:
I. God Prepared Cyrus For His Role As Conqueror And Emperor
A. God Announced This Through His Prophet Isaiah Some 150 Years Prior To Cyrus’ Conquest Of Babylon, Even Before Cyrus Was Born
Text: “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped.”
B. He Actually Anointed Cyrus For Conquest
Text: “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the belts of kings.”
C. The Purpose Of God’s Intervention In These Historical Affairs Is That More People Might Know Him As He Truly Is – The Only True And Living God, Almighty, Imminent, And Loving
Text: “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. I name you, though you do not know Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know Me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.”
Statement: I suppose one could conclude, on the basis of Holy Scripture that following mankind’s fall into sin, and the subsequent ignorance of God in every human being, that this has been His purpose in everything that occurs in human history – that people might know that He is the only God, and that He is full of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation! This is why He sent His Son to be our Savior, and how Jesus reveals the love of God to all mankind.
Application: Knowing these things enables us to have clues to a somewhat better understanding of contemporary human affairs – including the politics of our own nation and the place of other nations in God’s plans. We can’t see directly what God is planning, but we know that He acts in accordance with the goal and desire that all nations know Him. Certainly included in His criteria are moral issues of a nation, and of candidates, as well as their regard and respect for Him, or lack thereof. As Christians living in a democracy, we should by all means take these things into consideration as we evaluate candidates and who to vote for. And we should look honestly at the morality of our own national politics – including issues of abortion, sexual immorality, and gambling. Further, it is certainly a concern to God how rulers of the nations treat His people, for in our text we clearly see that:
II. God Orders All Things For The Benefit Of His Dear People Of Faith
Romans 8:31-34 “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One Who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed is interceding for us!”
A. This Is True Whether God Is Bringing Well-Being
Text: “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being.”
B. It Is Also True When God Creates Calamity
Text: “I make well-being and I create calamity. I am the Lord, Who does all these things.”
Statement: You see the importance then of being one of God’s people of faith. He orders all things for the ultimate good, well-being, and blessedness of His Church, the people He dearly loves. The children of Israel, conquered and punished by the Babylonians, were freed by Cyrus and the Persians. However, when God’s purpose for Cyrus was fulfilled, his evils were repaid to him by Alexander the Great. So it is to this day with the nations.
Application: Politicians and citizens who look at US history in a flat and superficial way – as though our existence, our elections, our failures, and our good points have nothing to do with God, concern Him not at all – are in fact a bane to our national life and threaten our future under God. They are oblivious to the true dynamics which govern our nation’s good and welfare, the Laws of God Who rules over all nations and dictates all of human history!
Conclusion: Thankfully, God reveals to us His intimate concern with the history of the nations, and His ultimate determination of human history. We are blessed to know these things through His Word. We should take this wisdom to heart and act upon it accordingly.
Likewise we have the comfort and peace of knowing that our elections and our history are in the hands of God, and He is doing what is best for the spread of the Gospel and the true knowledge of God. We are privileged to participate in this good and gracious will of God through our life together in the church!
So, let us take our tasks and responsibilities seriously as we consider the current political season. Let us pray God for wisdom and understanding, not only for ourselves but for our whole nation. Let us pray that good causes – for life, for morality, for decency, and for the good of all – may be advanced in this next election.
But let us keep the peace of God in our hearts and minds, knowing that His kingdom will ultimately prevail. Thanks and praise be to God, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.