I WILL CARRY AND SUSTAIN YOU

Passage: Isaiah 46:1-13

Key verse: 4

NIV

Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
2 They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.(D)

3 “Listen(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(G)
    and have carried(H) since you were born.(I)
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs(J)
    I am he,(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(L) you and I will rescue you.

5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(M)
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(O)
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(R)
    it cannot save(S) them from their troubles.

8 “Remember(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(U)
9 Remember the former things,(V) those of long ago;(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(X)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(Y)
    from ancient times,(Z) what is still to come.(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(AC) a bird of prey;(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(AE) that I will do.(AF)
12 Listen(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(AI)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(AL)
    my splendor(AM) to Israel.

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Footnotes
  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

46 (A)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
    their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
    as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together;
    they cannot save the burden,
    but (B)themselves go into captivity.

3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(C)who have been borne by me from before your birth,
    carried from the womb;
4 (D)even to your old age I am he,
    and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
    I will carry and will save.

5 (E)“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
    and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 (F)Those who lavish gold from the purse,
    and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
    (G)then they fall down and worship!
7 (H)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
    they set it in its place, and it stands there;
    (I)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
    or save him from his trouble.

8 “Remember this and stand firm,
    recall it to mind, (J)you transgressors,
9     remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,
10 (K)declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (L)‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 (M)calling a bird of prey from the east,
    the man of my counsel from a far country.
(N)I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
    I have purposed, and I will do it.

12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
    you who are far from righteousness:
13 (O)I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
    and my salvation will not delay;
(P)I will put salvation in Zion,
    for Israel my glory.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

     

In spite of Babylon’s great power, her gods, Bel and Nebo, were nothing but worthless idols that had to be carried by people or animals. They could not save anyone. They were burdens put on overloaded donkeys. They exhausted people and solved nothing. We pursue what we covet and what we pursue most passionately becomes our god. But idols cannot save us nor answer our prayers. Success, power, money, romantic love may ruin us or add to our burden. Only God our Creator can unburden us by carrying our burdens. He sustains us through life with his unchangeable love. Our God is a burden carrier (53:4,11; Ps 68:19).

The people of Israel forgot what God did for them as well as who God is. God predicts the future, makes promises, and carries out his plans. He is the true God and the only God. As predicted, God raised Cyrus to fulfill his purpose to bring his people out of Babylonian captivity. The Israelites were far from God’s righteousness, but God would save them from captivity by his sovereign grace. No one can obtain God’s righteousness by their own works. It is to be received through faith in God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is purely the grace of God.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for caring for me and sustaining me with your unfailing love and for taking away my burden of sin by your grace. Cleanse me of all idolatry so that I may worship you and serve you only. 

One Word: My burdens are lifted at Calvary