Isaiah 44:6-8--Besides Me There Is No God

Isaiah 44:6-8
English Standard Version
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Besides Me There Is No God
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
    and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
    besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
    Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
    have I not told you from of old and declared it?
    And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
    There is no Rock; I know not any.”

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The LORD reminds His people once again that He alone is God.  He is their Redeemer (they are bought with a price; they are not their own) and He is the LORD of Hosts (the Lord of the angelic armies and the stars in the heavens).  He is the First and the Last (the Alpha and the Omega).  He is really no such thing as another god (nothing else is worthy of worship).

No one and nothing else in in the same category (or we might say "in the same league") as God.  He is the Uncreated One who spoke everything into existence from nothing.  Everything else in heaven and on earth is created.  Who is able to save a people unto Himself?  No one but our God.  Who is able to appoint boundaries for the people and the nations and for the seas and all that live in them?  Who controls heaven and earth and all that is in them?  No one but the LORD--there is no one like Him.

This may strike fear in our hearts, but if we belong to Him, we have no reason to fear Him.  Should children fear their father who loves them?  Only when they have done wrong and fear His discipline, but they eventually learn that discipline is tempered with love.  We need not fear the wrath of God that is reserved for the ungodly if we are His people.  It is a call to repentance though for those of us who read this and are not His children (no, we are not "all God's children" as we are only His children when we are "born again" by His Spirit.  Those who have never been born again are sons of Adam and children of their father the devil).  The LORD is the only Rock they know--a place of refuge and a sure foundation to build on.  All of these names and images are used in the New Testament to refer to Jesus as well (or Jesus even took these names upon Himself so that it was clear to His audience that He was claiming that He was the LORD, the one and only God in human flesh, and that He was worthy of their worship).  We will see all heaven and earth worship Him in the end.