Bible Studies
The Ultimate Purpose—The Glory of God (Isa. 43:1-7)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. Isa. 1:1 identifies the time period of the vision of Isaiah: “during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. This is the period leading up to and including their being taken captive by the Babylonian empire. 3. The passage we have just read reminds them that they are and continue to be God’s special people. He created them. He will preserve them.a. “I have redeemed you.”
b. “I have called you by name; You are mine.” (Covenant language.)
c. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” (Recall the Red Sea.)
d. “When you walk through rivers, they will not overflow you.” (Recall the crossing of the Jordan.)
4. Verse 7 says, “I have created for My glory.” This is not a reference to the creation of Gen. 1-2, but a reference to the creation of Israel, the people of God. But the text is reflective of God’s ultimate purpose in whatever creative activity He is involved in—His own glorification. 5. We may look at this purpose from our sin marred perspective and ask, “What kind of God is this who creates for His own glorification? Isn’t this selfish? Even self-centered?” Not any more than a parent seeing their own reflection in their own child—and being glad for how that reflection is a benefit to that child. 6. There is no deficit in God that is benefited by our glorifying Him. He rejoices in our receiving the benefits of His glory. 7. The rest of Isa. 43 anticipates the unfolding of God’s plan including release from captivity. And the book of Isaiah anticipates the culmination of God’s redemptive work in the Messianic kingdom of which we are a part. 8. Yes, God has created for His glory. But how is this presented in Scripture? And how does it apply to us? What is our part in this “new creation,” a new creation necessitated by idolatry and sin?Discussion:
I. God’s purpose of glorifying Himself is evident throughout history.A. It is suggested in Gen. 1:28.
1. The purpose of God’s creation of man in His image is that we reflect His image.
2. We are to fill the earth with image bearers.
3. This great image was marred by sin (Gen. 3-4), but not lost (Gen. 4:25ff).
a. In the lineage of Seth “men began to call upon the name of the Lord.” In Psa. 8:1, 9 the creation of man is presented as that which affirms God’s majestic name in all the earth.
b. At the time of the flood there is only a “flicker” left.
4. God’s objective in man is that the whole earth be full of His glory (Hab. 2:14).
B. Israel’s exodus from Egypt was for God’s glory.
1. Before the plague of hail God said to Pharaoh, “For this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go” (Ex. 9:16).
2. God told Moses, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord” (ESV, Ex. 14:4, 18).
3. Israel experienced the glory of the Lord on Sinai (Ex. 24:16-17).
4. The tabernacle established the glory of God in the midst of Israel. “I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God” (Ex. 29:43, 45-46).
C. The conquest of Canaan, the establishment of the Davidic kingdom and the construction of the temple were all for the glory of God.
1. You may recall that David wanted to build a house for the Lord. Even Nathan the prophet thought this a good idea.
2. But God said, “NO,” I will build a house for you.
3. David in humiliation asked, “Who am I that YOU have brought me this far?” He reflected on how God had brought the nation out of Egypt, how He had redeemed a people for Himself, and established them. Then David prayed, “Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken, concerning your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, that Your name may be magnified forever” (2 Sam. 7:25-26)
D. The exile and the restoration was for God’s glory.
1. Isa. 48:9-11: “For the sake of My name I delayed My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.”
2. The call to come out from Babylon (Isa. 52:11) is quoted in Rom. 10:15 of the call of the gospel. Paul sees the message of the gospel as the call out of Babylon and therefore “for God’s glory.” Cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1.
E. The life, death and resurrection, and the future coming of Jesus Christ is for God’s glory.
1. Jesus glorified God in his life (Jn. 17:4).
2. His death was for the glory of God (Jn. 12:28-34).
3. God glorified Him when He raised Him from the dead (1 Pet. 1:21).
4. In His final coming (and judgment against unbelievers) he will be glorified in His saints (2 Thess. 1:9-10).
F. The whole of history is moving toward the new heavens and the new earth, and the new Jerusalem illumined by the glory of God (Rev. 21).
II. Behold then what sort of people we ought to be!A. Our chief purpose, as those created in His image, is to glorify and honor Him. It is for our benefit (cf. Deut. 6:24).
B. The people of God are the object of His glorification.
1. The whole story of redemption is about our experiencing the benefits of His glorification.
2. We are His new creation, the result and the culmination of His glorification of Himself.
C. Although we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, His glory has raised us to walk in newness of life. Rom. 6:4: “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
D. The old man is dead. We are raised. Col. 3:1ff tells us how we should then live. Note esp. v. 17: doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus (i.e. to glorify Him), giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
E. We are created in Christ Jesus for the glory of God.
1. His kindness and great mercy has transformed us (Titus 2:11-3:8).
2. He has created us for good works (Eph. 2:8-10).
F. Since we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth Peter admonishes us: “Since you look for these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, spotless and blameless . . . be on guard so that you are not carried away by error . . . but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Pet. 3:14-18).
Conclusion:
1. Will you align yourself with the purpose of God? 2. Will you glorify Him and be glorified with Him who is our glory?
