Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Isaiah 42-44
Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Seven times. That wonderful and divine number seven. This number, in the Bible, seems to relate to divine completion. Think about it, in the Book of Hebrews the writer mentions seven titles for Christ, in Matthew 13 Jesus speaks seven parables, in the book of the Revelation there are the seven churches, also in Revelation the seven spirits of God are mentioned, on the sabbath day Jesus performed seven miracles, on and on the list could go.
Seven times the Bible states that the Lord God is the First and the Last. Three of these times is in the Old Testament, all in Isaiah (41:4, 44:6, 48:12). Four times the phrase is used in the book of the Revelation (1:11, 1:17, 2:8, 22:13). It is interesting that in the book of the Chronicles (I & II) nine men’s works are recorded as being the first and the last of that man. They all died. David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Amaziah, Uzziah, Ahaz, and Josiah. Their first and last works are recorded for posterity. But the Lord God… His works continue! Hence the need for prophecy. Since His works, the last of His works, cannot be seen in this realm, He foretells His last works to the world.
In 42:9 God through Isaiah stated clearly all that prophecy is. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. The “former things” are the first things, the “new things” are the last things He will perform. We call those new things that have not yet happened, but will happen, prophecies. He tells us that which He will do before He does it. This way we can know of His first and last things just like the notable kings of Israel. Every king is desirous to have their legacy recorded and extolled. The Lord God of Heaven, the King of Kings, also desires His legacy to be recorded and extolled. Therefore, since we will never see His last works, He records them in the form of prophecy.
In Isaiah, the “First and the Last” is more than His works: it is His person. He is the Lord, the King of Israel, but He is also more. Carefully read today’s verse. Not only is He the Lord, the King of Israel, He also is the redeemer, the Lord of hosts. That title, the Lord of hosts is used in 235 verses of our Bible all in the Old Testament. It is a title for the God of Israel that is very solemn and holy. It speaks of His commanding authority for all the entirety of heaven and earth.
One last thing. In Isaiah, the First and the Last was known as the Lord. In Revelation, the First and the Last is known as Jesus. He said, …I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last… (1:11). Each time that phrase is used in Revelation it is the Lord Jesus using it for Himself. He alone is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To the English speaking world, it is like saying He is the A to the Z. He is everything.
As the First and the Last, the Lord, gives us the overview of His first and last works. In the first works He made all things, in the last works He ends all things of this world and will remake a new world. In between, while it may not seem like it, He has mandated, managed, and maintained all things. Therefore, He alone is to be worshipped, not man-made idols. For the First and the Last has spoken it, I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8
Dr. William T. Howe
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