God is Incomparable

[0:00] So we can measure height. We can measure height by looking. Perhaps it was more difficult with Jerome and I, but don't worry, we've got a ruler. We can do that later. We can also measure other things, can't we? I bought my weighing scales from home today. We can measure things on scales. We can measure flour, we can measure butter, we can measure all sorts of good things in the scales.

[0:25] It's very exciting that we can measure things in life. But can anyone put their hands up and tell me how much water is on the planet?

[0:40] Samuel, can you tell us how much water is on the planet? I'm sure. Approximately 150,674 million litres.

[0:52] Million litres. Maybe. Maybe. Isaac thinks he knows as well. I'm not going to take any other answers. It's more than the planet. Amazing. It's more than land. Yeah, there is more water on the earth than land.

[1:11] And there's definitely more water in the whole earth than is in this jug and that can possibly be in this jug. Okay. Why have I said that?

[1:24] Well, there is someone who knows exactly how much water there is. And I don't mean just oceans. I mean puddles and ponds and streams.

[1:36] Have a look. Isaiah 40. We need our Bibles again. Isaiah 40, verse 12. We might know some measurements, but look.

[1:49] Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hands? Or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

[2:01] Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket or weighed the mountains on scales?

[2:14] Who has done these things? Who knows these measurements? Well, this is talking about God. Verse 13 shows us a little bit that it is talking about God.

[2:26] Who can fathom the spirit of the Lord or instruct the Lord as his counsellor? This passage is talking about God. Verse 18.

[2:36] With whom then will you compare God's? To what image will you liken him? God knows how much water there is on the planet.

[2:49] God knows how much all the dust on the earth weighs on the scales. God knows the exact details of all the subatomic particles on earth, whatever they are.

[3:07] I don't know. In fact, God needed nobody to teach him or show him how to make this or to measure it.

[3:21] When I was younger, I remember my mum teaching me how to bake things like flapjacks. And because of that, I still bake today.

[3:34] Human beings, we need to be taught lots of things, don't we? Some of you go to school Monday to Friday. Some of you go to university or college Monday to Friday.

[3:45] You're going because you're learning. But speak to anybody who's not at school or college or university. All the adults here, they would tell you they're still learning things.

[3:56] Some might say every day is a school day. At the end of every day, I'm on Duolingo and I'm learning my French and I can now learn music on there. It's very exciting. I'm not very good at either of those things, but Duolingo is helping me to learn because I need to learn things.

[4:15] But God has never had to be taught a single thing. He's never had to be sat on his knee and told how to use a ruler to measure the waters of earth.

[4:29] Well, not a ruler of a jug. And nobody told him how to make this world. Look at verse 13 and 14. Who can fathom the spirit of the Lord or instruct the Lord as his counselor?

[4:45] Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him? And who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? No one.

[4:56] No one. No one. For he is God. He is all wisdom, all knowing. Nobody's taught him how to make the trees or form the mountains or how to put a squirrel's body together.

[5:13] God knew those things and he did it. God knew those things and he did it. And this chapter is helping us to see that God is beyond compare.

[5:28] God is beyond compare. If you don't get anything else this morning, know this. God is beyond compare. You can't compare him with anyone. No one like our gods.

[5:41] Look how God sees the nations of our worlds. Surely, verse 15, surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket.

[5:55] They are regarded as dust on the scales. He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. And so the nations, verse 17, before him all the nations are as nothing.

[6:10] They are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. It's not God saying that the nations, the United Kingdom has no particular value or worth.

[6:23] But it's saying that compared with God, they are small and nothing. If you could wrap the whole universe into a box and put nice wrapping paper and a bow on it and give that as a gift to God, that would be too small for God because of how great and mighty and awesome and beyond compare he is.

[6:53] But surely we can compare God with something. Like we like to compare things in life. Like if you were to try a new food and someone was to say, how did that taste?

[7:08] You might say, well, that tastes sort of like chicken. Or get some ice cream and someone said, how's the ice cream for you? It's like being in heaven. We want to get a sense of what something is like.

[7:22] Or for those of us who are a bit more grown up, you might go and compare the market to compare car insurance. What's the best price?

[7:34] How am I going to get the best use of my money this year with my car insurance? Who's offering the best? We like to compare things in life, don't we? And so surely we can compare God with something.

[7:49] And so is God like other gods? Is he like other gods? Verse 19. Have a look. As for an idol, a metal worker casts it.

[8:05] And a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. Talking about idols.

[8:17] Talking about other gods. You could do all sorts of fancy things with an idol, a god that you're making. You can cover it in fancy gold, the finest of materials.

[8:33] But these are no better than verse 20. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.

[8:47] Imagine if you're too poor to decorate your idol with gold. And you've just got a piece of wood like I've got here. That's all it is.

[9:00] Even the fanciest ones, even the gods made of gold are just like a bit of wood. Imagine me saying to this wood, please help me tomorrow. It's not going to work.

[9:19] So don't compare him with other gods. You can't compare him with other gods, we're being told. There is no one like our gods.

[9:32] It seems to me that other gods have sort of been shaped to be a bit like us, to see what we want them to be. Maybe some people try and make our god that we're worshipping this morning, maybe they try and make him like they want him to be.

[9:49] People might say, I wish God was completely loving, so loving that he'd let me do whatever I want. But would that be a good thing? Think about it.

[10:01] If God let you do everything you wanted in your whole life, is that good? There might be really good things you want to do, but also there's probably some pretty evil stuff that you want to do.

[10:13] So it's good that God isn't like us. It's good that God is different from us. If you're a football fan, you might be familiar with this, the Premier League football table.

[10:29] And you'll see that Liverpool at the moment are on the top. But leagues change. Every year the Premier League changes as some teams get relegated and other teams get promoted.

[10:44] Leagues change. And if you were to have a League of Gods, and I asked ChatGP to produce me a League of Gods, and this is what we got.

[10:57] It's got Zeus at the top. If you were to put our God in that League table of Gods, it wouldn't work.

[11:08] Because he is in, well that's gone funny, he's in a League of his own. Our God is in a League of his own. He's completely different. You cannot compare him with anyone.

[11:22] He's not just, he's not better and more powerful than others. He is better. And he is powerful. He's amazing.

[11:35] So think about some of the things that you love in life. I know lots of you love football. Think about your favourite football team.

[11:46] They are not in a League of their own. Even they will lose some games. Even they will have bad days and get tired. But our God, he is in a League of his own.

[12:01] He doesn't get tired or have a bad day. He's always in a League of his own. Or our parents can really help us learn lots of things.

[12:16] As I said, my mum showed me how to make flapjacks. Or parents might show us all sorts of other things. How to tie our shoelaces. But even they've got to learn things.

[12:27] But God never has to learn things. He knows all things. Who can instruct the Lord as his counsellor? Or maybe you have one of these.

[12:41] A mobile phone. And you spend all your time on it. Or lots of your time on it. You love sending messages to people. Phoning people up. Going on the internet.

[12:52] On social media. Playing games. They're great, aren't they? But my phone. If it's like your phone. Has times when it doesn't have signal.

[13:04] My phone runs out of battery. My phone even nowadays. Mysteriously just turns itself off. And I don't know why. And within a year.

[13:17] Our phones are out of date. Because the next one comes out. But God is beyond compare. He doesn't run out of battery or signal.

[13:30] He's always going to hear us when we talk to him. He'll never miss a message or call from us. God is beyond compare.

[13:43] Greater than anything else that you can imagine. And so. Have you not heard? Verse 21.

[13:56] Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

[14:07] He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. From the moment God created the world.

[14:18] He rightfully ruled over it from his throne in heaven. For he is number one. The highest being and beyond all compare.

[14:31] The creator of all things. Who knows all things. He is mighty and great beyond anything else. In a whole league of his own.

[14:43] Ruling over everything. That's who our God is. And we're going to see some more of who he is in a moment. But first. Let's praise him in song.

[14:54] As we sing our next song. Which is. Speaking of how great our God is. The splendor of the king. Clothed in majesty.

[15:05] Let all the earth rejoice. How great is our God. Let's stand. So we've seen. Our God is great. He's beyond compare.

[15:17] And we have heard that from the beginning of time. God sits enthroned forever over all the earth. And as he's enthroned forever over all things.

[15:31] What is his eye view of everything? Heard of a bird's eye view. What about a God's eye view of all things? Verse 22. Have a look.

[15:43] He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. And it's people like grasshoppers. To God.

[15:54] People like these little insects. These grasshoppers. A few weeks ago. Becky and I went. Photos aren't very good.

[16:04] It was a pretty dark day. But we went up to the Shard in London. We went to the tallest building in London. I think it's the tallest building in the UK. And from there.

[16:15] From floors 69 and then 72. We could see down below. And see that everything looked miniature. The trains and cars.

[16:28] Like sort of toy trains. Like a toy train set kind of thing going around. The people looked small. Like grasshoppers or like ants. Even the tallest buildings around us.

[16:40] Looked small. Compared with where we were. And that's just a little bit. Of how God sees us.

[16:51] And this world. To God who is big. And beyond comparison. Beyond compare. In a whole league of his own. He sits enthroned in heaven. And he sees us.

[17:04] Little. Tiny. Tiny creatures. How does God see. The universe. Well. He sees it like a tent.

[17:15] We're told. In verse 22. He stretches out the heavens. Like a canopy. And spreads them out. Like a tent. To live in. Now most of us.

[17:26] I guess. Live in. In houses. Or flats. Or apartments. We live in. Much bigger buildings. Than a tent. But sometimes. Some of us. Like to. To go on holiday.

[17:36] In a tent. In a smaller. Less convenient. Place. To live in. A less comfy. Thing. But some of us. Find it fun. To the God.

[17:49] Of the universe. Our universe. Is like that. Like a tent. A less comfy. A less comfy. A less comfy. A less comfy. But to us. Who are like grasshoppers.

[17:59] We look at the universe. And think it looks massive. That's a God. God's eye view. Of the universe. We see the bigness of it.

[18:15] We can be amazed by it. But. As we see in. The bigness of it. Then think. Well God. Is even bigger. And we see the beauty.

[18:26] Of the stars. And maybe. You caught sight. Of the northern lights. This week. Or like I did. Saw the photos. Online. Of the northern lights. And thought. That's beautiful.

[18:37] What an amazing thing. And it should lead us. To see how even amazing. Even more amazing. The creator of it is.

[18:50] Brighton. May feel like a pretty big place. To us. Go to London. And you'll spend even more time. Looking up at tall buildings. And be amazed.

[19:02] Or look at the oceans. On our planet. And see all the water. Covering the earth. As Isaac said. More water. More ocean. On earth.

[19:13] Than land. But it's all tiny. Compared with. The bigness. And greatness. Of our God. Who is beyond.

[19:24] Compare. And how does God see. Rulists. Those who are ruling. Those who are in authority.

[19:36] Verse 23. He brings princes to naught. And reduces the rulers of this world. To nothing. Now I wonder.

[19:47] Who has ever made a sandcastle. Pop your hand up. If you've made a sandcastle. Some of us have. Amazing. You can pop your hand down. I love making sandcastles.

[19:59] Even now. They're fun. And. Sadly. We can't really do that very well. On Brighton Beach. But go to other beaches. And you can. Those sandcastles.

[20:10] Unless you made one this morning. They are not there now. The sea has come. And washed them away. We get to enjoy them for a time. But then a few hours later.

[20:22] Next day. They're gone. And this is what Isaiah says. Happens to people. Who are in charge of our world. Have a look at verse 24.

[20:34] No sooner are they. The rulers planted. No sooner are they so. No sooner do they take root in the ground. Than he blows on them. And they wither. And a whirlwind.

[20:45] Sweeps them away. Like chaff. Rulers may think they are here. And they are powerful. And they are. But.

[20:55] They might think they're here to stay. But God says. Compared to his rule. They are gone very quickly. Like the sandcastles. Or like the flowers.

[21:06] Which. Last for a while. But then die. As you might think. Joe Biden. And. We don't know yet. But Donald Trump. Or Kamala Harris. They might think they are powerful.

[21:18] Or Putin. Or Netanyahu. Or Zelensky. Or Keir Starmer. Or Emmanuel Macron. We might think they are powerful. And they do have power.

[21:28] To rule their countries. And to some extent. Power in the world. But. Compared with our God. The King. They just don't compare. Their rule is tiny.

[21:40] Minuscule. Compared to God's. Last for a moment. And then like a sandcastle. Or a flower. They are quickly gone. But our incomparable God.

[21:51] He has been ruling. Since the beginning. No ruler can compare to him. And so this is a God's eye view of things. People like grasshoppers.

[22:03] The universe like a tent. Rulers like a sandcastle. A flower. Quickly gone. And so. We need to lift up our eyes.

[22:14] To see. Our great God. Verse 25. To whom will you compare me? Or who. Is my equal?

[22:25] Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes. And look to the heavens. Who created. All these. Things. Lift up our eyes.

[22:38] To see. Our gods. Our great. Incomparable gods. Who rules. Over all things. And we have seen.

[22:50] Over these last six Sundays. Some marvelous things. About God. We've seen that he's the. Uncreated creator. Who's given us life. And breath. We've seen.

[23:01] That he is. Trinity. Three. Persons in one. One in three. Hard to get our mind around. Who else is there. Like this.

[23:13] We've seen that he is. The one who never changes. Whereas. Everything else on earth. We. Ourselves. We change. But God never changes. Who is like him.

[23:25] We've seen that he is completely. Unutterly. Holy. Who else is like him. Who else.

[23:36] But our God. Who is equal. Who is equal. To him. He is beyond. Comparison. And so when. The rulers.

[23:47] Of our world. Are against. Each other. And we fear. What their. Rule and power. Might do. We can tell.

[23:58] One another. That God is bigger than them. That he is greater. And he's stronger. And his rule. Doesn't compare. To theirs. He is like nobody else. When life feels scary.

[24:12] We can remind ourselves. How. How God is bigger. Than all the things. We're scared of. He is bigger than the little spiders. We're scared of. He is unending light.

[24:24] Compared to the darkness of night. That we might be afraid of. We can remind each other. Of our God. Who is like nobody else.

[24:35] Yes. But one. Final thing. Does God. Care for us. Like I don't know about you.

[24:47] But when you think about. Really important people. In life. You might think. I mustn't bother them. They are too busy. And too important.

[24:58] To hear from me. And if we're talking. About God. As the one. Who is beyond compare. Who has all power. And authority. Then maybe.

[25:11] We might be tempted. To think. Well. Don't bother him. Does God. Care for us.

[25:23] Well. Yes. He does. God is. Interested. In you. He is interested. In his creation. Have a look.

[25:35] At verse. Verse 26. First of all. He's created. All these things. He who brings out. The starry host. One by one.

[25:46] And calls forth. Each of them. By name. Because of his. Great power. And mighty strength. Not one of them. Is missing. Look at the stars. In the sky.

[25:56] And. And know. That God knows. Each one of them. By name. Not one of them. Is missing. What about us?

[26:08] We are his creation too. Does he care about us? Does he care about human beings? Verse 28. Do you not know? Have you not heard?

[26:19] The Lord is the everlasting God. The creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary. And his understanding. No one can fathom. God.

[26:31] God. A reminder of God. Our incomparable God. Who will never grow tired or weak. But verse 29. Have a look. He gives strength.

[26:43] To the weary. And increases the power of the weak. He is. Interested in us. God is not growing weary and tired.

[26:56] God is not weak. But we are. God. And God. It says God gives us strength. He increases. The power of the weak.

[27:09] Verse 30. Even youths grow tired. And young men stumble and fall. Even the youngest and the strongest and the fittest amongst us.

[27:21] Get tired and weak. We have to go to sleep. We have to go to sleep at night. And if we try not to go to sleep. Sleep will catch up with us. Because we are creatures. Not the creator.

[27:35] And even athletes. Even marathon runners will get tired. I ran a half marathon earlier this year. But last Monday I went for a run.

[27:46] I went for five minutes. And I was out of breath. And really struggling. To remind me of my humanness. So.

[27:56] Verse 31. Those who hope in the Lord's will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.

[28:08] They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Those who are looking to God. Those who are trusting in him. To save them.

[28:18] Looking to him for help and strength in life. God strengthens us.

[28:30] We remember that we are small. We are like grasshoppers compared to him. But if we look to him he will help us. He is not saying we will never get tired. And never get weak and hungry.

[28:41] But he is saying by looking to the Lord. You all know life that is so wonderful. Because it comes from our incomparable gods. Living life as it is meant to be lived.

[28:52] In him under his rule. For he cares. He cares for you. He knows how you are made.

[29:04] He might see you as a tiny grasshopper. But he cares for you as a human being. Made in his image. And we see that most clearly in Jesus.

[29:16] Jesus who is God come down to live amongst us. As one of us. As a human being. He got hungry and thirsty. He knew what it was to grow tired and weary.

[29:29] To stumble and fall. And we see this most clearly displayed in Jesus at the cross. Where God in human flesh.

[29:42] Took on our sin. As he bled and died on the cross. As he looked so helpless and weak. There he was suffering for us.

[29:55] Suffering for us. Because he cares for us. Suffering for us. Stepping into our place. Because he wanted to save us.

[30:07] He knows our humanness. He knows our smallness. He knows our weakness. And in that he says. Come to me. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened.

[30:23] And I will give you rest. And so if you're feeling overwhelmed this morning. With the struggles of life.

[30:36] If you're feeling weighed down by guilt and sin. And you have seen this morning. How great and beyond compare God is.

[30:48] See also. That in him there is love and compassion beyond compare. And so you can come to Jesus. And you can rest in him.

[31:02] If you want to know more about that. More about Jesus. More about how to find him as saviour. Do come and speak to me. After the service this morning.

[31:13] Or someone you know here and trust. Who is a Christian. We'd love to tell you more about Jesus. But as we end.

[31:24] Our service together. We're going to sing. The praises of our incomparable God together. We're going to sing. Not that song. We're going to sing this.

[31:36] Which picks up some of the words. Of Isaiah 40. Who has held the oceans in his hands. Who has numbered every grain of sand.

[31:48] Kings and nations. Tremble at his voice. All creation rises to rejoice. Behold our God. Come.

[31:59] Let us adore him. Behold our king. Nothing. Nothing. Can compare. Come. Let us adore him. Let's stand. And let's sing this song together.

[32:12] Let us desde. Thank you.