Fear Not (Isaiah 43:1-7)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
4 September 2022
No one lives life without some degree of fear. Fear of financial loss; fear of death; fear for one's family, all these fears are common to human existence.
Israel had fears. She was in captivity. There was fear of national extermination; fear of God’s abandonment; fear of failure to fulfil her divine destiny.
But now in the midst of fear the prophet Isaiah tells Israel, “fear not”. "But now" is significant for it indicates a contrast. Hitherto there was fear "but now” fear is removed.
Observe from Isaiah 42:23-43:7 reasons why Israel should not fear. These reasons apply also to Christians. Fear not. The Lord is with you.
You are God's creation. Israel existed because God created her. Christians exist because they are the new creation of God. What he creates is good and he will look after it.
You belong to God. Israel was God's property. The church belongs to God — purchased by the blood of Christ Jesus. You are his children; members of his household. God loves his family.
You have been redeemed. The basic idea of redemption is the recovery of what belongs to you. Israel belonged to God and was recovered. The Church is redeemed by the blood of Christ and is recovered.
The Lord is present with you. He told Israel, ”I am with you.” Jesus says the same to the church (Matt.28:20). He is with his people wherever and whenever they meet.
The Lord protects you. Israel would be protected in the fire and the storm. In the storms and fire of life believers have the protection of Jesus. Jesus stilled the storm.
He is the Master of your storms. Finally, do not fear because God has a purpose for you. Israel would be kept alive because through her the Lord’s people worldwide would be called. The church has a purpose. God will use her to proclaim the gospel so that his people will be called to the faith.
In all these reasons for not fearing we see the Lord Jesus Christ. He redeems his people. They belong to him. He is present with them. He protects them from all harm. And through the witness of the church God will call in his elect people.
God works purposefully. Israel and the church though confronted with difficult days will not perish. Fear not. If God is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).