Isaiah 43:10-19 Preaching a Declaration of God

Isaiah 43:10-19 is controlled by the opening declaration of God: "You are my witnesses..."  The sermon is controlled by the reason for our status as witnesses/servants: "...that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he" (cf. Isaiah 43:10).  This logic should catch us all off guard for a moment.  We don't expect this reason for being witnesses.  We expect to be witnesses for God so that others might know Him.  Instead, we learn that God has allowed us to experience His transforming power so that we might know Him.  It's not, then, about productivity, but about intimacy.  The rest of the section highlights the unique status God has among the gods.  We Christians are the ones who say to the world, "God is who He says He is and can do for you what He's done for me--save."  That implies, of course, that we are experiencing His transforming power.  Notice the question in Isaiah 43:19.  Surely, we are a people who perceive the "new thing" God is doing.

Isaiah 43:1-7 Preaching Prophetic Commands

Mixed in with comforting Scripture in Isaiah 40-66 are comforting commands such as Isaiah 43:1, 5.  Sermons in this section should include some analysis of God's self-description.  Notice all the titles for God that are stated and restated.  Allow the structure of the section to drive the sermon.  In this case, God provides several reasons why His people should not be afraid.  It's always a timely message in a scary world.  If you're looking to allow the Gospel to give the definitive reason why we need not fear, it might be found in Isaiah 43:3-4.  Ultimately, God did not ransom us by giving us Egypt or Cush or Seba.  Instead, we were ransomed when God gave His Son "in exchange" for our lives (cf. Isaiah 43:3-4).  So, fearless Christians are those who believe Isaiah's Gospel.

Isaiah 42:18-25: Theology through a Description of our Collective Condition

Isaiah 42:18-25 is a terrible picture of the collective condition of God's people.  Theology is conveyed through a description of spiritual disabilities (unable to hear and see God's laws), the terrible response of God's punishment, and a question (cf. Isaiah 42:23).  Every Sunday is an opportunity for us to test our listening abilities.  True believers have ears that can hear.  The reason: later in Isaiah 50:5 we learn of God's Servant who has perfect spiritual hearing.  Faith-family members respond to the question in Isaiah 42:23: "We will give ear to this. We will attend and listen..."  Those who are in Christ have inherited His supernatural hearing.  Out of the collective condition of God's people--spiritual deafness--comes a remnant of people who do hear Isaiah's prophecy and "take it to heart" (cf. Isaiah 42:25).

Isaiah 42:5-9: Theology Portrayed By God's Initiative

Isaiah 42:5-9 declares three things that "the Lord" will do to His people: "I have called you...I will take you...I will give you..."  This is a guarantee that His people will serve Him and carry out His purpose in the world.  Cf. Isaiah 42:6-7, especially the goal of being "a light for the nations..."  The theology for the Church is being conveyed through this description of God's initiative, followed by the purpose or goal God has in mind.  If Isaiah 42 is relevant at all it's because of a sequence like this: God's people fail to function as His servants, God's Servant succeeds (through His perfect life, substitutionary death for sin/sinners, resurrection, ascension, dispatching His Spirit), and all who trust Him begin to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy by making disciples all over the globe.

Isaiah 42:1-4: Theology Through Contrast

One key to understanding the theology of Isaiah 42:1-4 is to highlight the contrast between God's Servant (Isaiah 42:1) and the idols of the previous chapter.  Unlike the idols, God's Servant will actually deliver.  That is because He is Spirit-driven or Spirit empowered ("I have put my Spirit upon him").  Then the rest of verse 1 through verse 4 describe what He will do and how He will do it.  The structure is very simple.  The theology is conveyed through the description and is designed to bolster our faith in God alone, rather than choosing to worship all our American idols.  Isaiah 42:3 describes how our Savior deals with us in our weakness.  On the cross Jesus experienced total weakness-to-the-point-of-death so that He could share God's strength with us.  Philippians 2:7-8 describe Jesus like Isaiah did ("servant").  Our Savior will bring justice only because He suffered the wrath of God for our sins.  Because He did that for us, instead of justice, we received mercy so we can now administer justice and mercy to those in need.