And I'm going to read from verses 10 to 12 from Isaiah chapter 10.
So, beginning at verse 10.
Isaiah 40.
Sorry, did I say that?
Yeah, pardon me.
Isaiah 40, page 725.
So I'm reading from verse 10 of chapter 40.
See, the sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd.
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
He gently leads those that are young.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?
Or with the breath of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket?
Or weighed the mountains on the scales?
And the hills in a balance?
Can fathom the spirit of the Lord?
Or instruct the Lord as his counsellor?
Who 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?
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket.
They are regarded as dust on the scales.
He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
Before him all the nations are as nothing.
They are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
With whom then will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
As an idol, a metal worker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,
and fashion it silvers, chains for it.
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.
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?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught,
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sold,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
Thanks, sir.
Good morning, everybody.
Happy New Year to you all.
This text raises a question this morning.
God promises to be our shepherd
and care for us in the coming year,
but can he actually come through on that promise?
Does he have what it takes to do it?
It was a sunny June evening back in 2018,
and I had just become a dad.
My wife, Yelena, had a work thing on this particular evening,
meaning I was left in charge,
caring for our six-week-old daughter,
on my own, for the very first time.
Now, I was pumped.
I knew that I could handle this.
I mean, I was the dad after all.
I was made for this moment.
So I got to wondering,
what would I do on this evening with my daughter?
And in my great wisdom of being a dad for six weeks,
I decided we would go for a nice long walk
around the Crosshaven walkway,
which I'd been looking forward to doing for some time.
I popped her in the buggy.
She drifted off to sleep,
and all was going great
until Elodie woke up screaming
40 minutes down the Crosshaven walkway.
I had no bottle to feed her
and no way to get home quickly.
I knew I was in trouble.
I knew that my only option
was to ring my parents-in-law.
Now, you can imagine,
that was a very humbling phone call
for me to make.
But I had little time to worry about that, okay?
Thankfully, Rob and Maria arrived within minutes,
and they whisked the baby off home,
safe and sound.
And I was left there,
on the side of the road,
with a buggy that wouldn't fit in their boot.
And I got to wondering,
how on earth did I think
that was a good idea?
I was so foolish
as to think that would be a good thing to do
with my daughter that evening.
You see, I had promised with all my heart
to take care of this baby girl.
The problem was not a lack of desire
on my part.
Oh, that was all there.
The problem was that I was a rookie dad,
and I lacked the wisdom
and the wherewithal
to actually care for her
on that evening.
And sometimes we think about God
and his promises
in the same way.
Okay?
We read his promise
in verse 11,
to tend his flock
like a shepherd.
He promises to gather you
in his arms,
to carry you
close to his heart,
to gently
lead you
through this
coming year.
I mean,
who doesn't
want that?
What a wonderful
promise.
But is it all
just platitudes?
Is it all
just empty
words,
empty promises?
Just like I
failed to come
through on my promise
to care for my daughter
that evening,
we doubt that God
can really come through
on his promise
to care
for us.
Does God
have the power
and wisdom
to make it happen?
That's the big
question today.
And Isaiah knows
that the people
of Judah
in this context
here,
they are also
doubting God's
care for them.
See,
in just the chapter
before,
God tells them
that the Babylonian
army
are about to
come and destroy
Jerusalem,
carrying them
off
as exiles.
So,
this promise
of God's
shepherding
care over them
does not come
to these people
at a time
of peace
and prosperity
when everything's
going hunky-dory.
No.
It comes to them
in the middle
of their worst-case
scenario
when the outlook
is bleak.
And no doubt
they were wondering,
just like we
would be,
is God
really caring
for us
in the middle
of this?
And how many
of us
on this first
Sunday
in the new
year
look out
for the
coming year
and if we're
honest
it looks
bleak.
Maybe you go
into it
facing loneliness
or illness
or old age.
Maybe you
are anxious
about relationships,
work,
or school.
Maybe you go
into it
knowing you're
so far
from where
you want
to be
at this
point
in your
life.
The outlook
in lots
of different
ways
might be
bleak.
And in this
context we,
like the people
of Judah,
we naturally
begin to
wonder,
can God
actually come
through on
his promise
to care for
us this year?
And the answer
that this text
gives us
is a resounding
yes,
he can.
The reason
why is first
given to us
in verse 10.
Have a look
down at it.
See,
the sovereign
Lord comes
with power
and he
rules
with a
mighty
arm.
God can
shepherd us
this year
because he
is in
sovereign
control
over
all
things.
here's a
definition
for God's
sovereignty
by a famous
author.
He says,
God's sovereignty
is his
right
and power
to do
all
that he
decides
to do.
And if you
have believed
in Jesus,
if you're in
Christ
this day,
then remember
this one
thing.
the sovereign
wise
ruler of
the universe
is your
shepherd.
That is
why he
is able
to care
for you.
If he
has all
the power
and all
the wisdom,
put those
two together,
he is more
than able
to care
for you,
to lead
you and
guide you
through
2025.
We're
going to
see all
of this
in the
text,
but first
let's just
pray and
ask God
for his
help.
Lord,
give us
new eyes
today to
see your
sovereignty
over all.
Give us
that fresh
vision of
how strong
and wise
you are
so that we
can trust
in your
promise to
care for
us this
year.
We need
you now.
Amen.
First thing
we're going
to do is
see God's
sovereignty
in this
text and
then his
wisdom and
we'll finish
then with
one big
implication
for our
lives.
So first,
your shepherd
is the
sovereign ruler
over all.
And the
first thing
we see is
that he's
sovereign over
creation.
Just look
down at
verse 12
there.
It says,
who has
measured the
waters in
the hollow
of his
hand or
with the
breath of
his hand
marked off
the heavens?
Who has
held the
dust of
the earth
in a
basket or
weighed the
mountains on
the scales
and the
hills in a
balance?
You know,
God is
that just
a tender
shepherd.
He's bigger
than our
wildest
imaginations,
so big that
he measures
the whole
universe with
a hand
span.
Look at
verse 25.
He says,
to whom
will you
compare me?
Who is
my equal?
Says the
Holy One.
Lift up
your eyes
and look
to the
heavens.
Who created
all these?
He who
brings out
the starry
host one
by one
and calls
forth each
of them
by name
because of
his great
power and
mighty strength.
Not one
of them
is missing.
It couldn't
be clearer.
God is
sovereign over
his creation.
The billions
of planets
spin at
his command.
So we
might look
at our
struggles that
we face
this year
and think
they're too
big for
God, but
we need to
correct that
misunderstanding.
Your shepherd
is the ruler
of the
universe.
Don't
underestimate
what his
great power
can do.
Secondly,
God's
sovereign over
the nations.
He's bigger
than all the
world's
superpowers.
In fact,
they only
exist because
of his
ultimate
purpose.
Look at
verse 15.
Surely
the nations
are like a
drop in
a bucket.
They are
regarded as
dust on
the scales.
He weighs
the islands
as though
they were
fine dust.
Verse 17.
Before him
all the
nations are
as nothing.
They are
regarded by
him as
worthless and
less than
nothing.
Don't look
at China
or Russia
or the
EU or
USA.
Don't look
at them and
say, oh,
who could
stand against
their power?
They're
invincible.
No, we
shouldn't say
that in
light of
this text.
Despite
all their
military and
financial wealth,
to God they
are less than
nothing.
That's how
small they
are.
That's how
weak they
are.
I think
that's a
wonderful
reassurance.
They can
only act
within the
bounds of
God's
ultimate
purposes.
God's
love.
And we
might think
that their
leaders are
the ones who
rule the
world.
But actually,
if you look
down on
verse 21,
we find
something
different.
Verse 21,
God is
the true
king,
reigning on
the only
throne that
matters this
morning.
all other
kings and
presidents
sit in
their tiny
worthless
thrones.
And look
at verse
23.
He says,
God brings
princes to
naught.
He reduces
the rulers
of this
world to
nothing.
No sooner
are they
planted,
no sooner
are they
sown,
no sooner
do they
take root
in the
ground,
than he
blows on
them,
and they
wither.
And the
whirlwind
sweeps them
away like
chaff.
That's an
amazing image,
isn't it?
Like little
saplings
planted in
the ground,
God plants
the kings
and governments
of this
world,
and with a
puff of
his breath,
they're
brought down,
swept away.
God is
in control.
Whether it's
Putin or
Trump or
Mihoi
Martin,
the leaders
of the
world make
their decisions
for good or
ill,
God's
love,
but none
of them
outside the
bounds of
God's
ultimate
control.
Now that
all leads
us to a
really
difficult
question.
Is God
sovereign
over
evil?
Because how
can we say
God's in
control over
those who
are in
power when
they often
abuse that
power,
causing
great harm
to people?
And whether
it's Putin
or your
boss at
work or
the principal
of your
school or
a manager
of your
football team,
we just
read that
God plants
all leaders
in their
positions of
power.
But does
that mean
that God
is morally
responsible
for the
evil choices
that they
make?
The Bible's
answer is
no.
God is
not
morally
responsible
for
people's
evil.
God is
holy.
There is
no
darkness
or evil
in him.
And think
about
Nebuchadnezzar,
the king
of Babylon.
He was
on his
way to
defeat
the people
of Judah.
We know
from the
history books
he burned
Jerusalem to
the ground
and he
deported
most of
those who
weren't
killed.
He was
violent
and greedy
and God
would hold
him to
account for
that.
In some
mysterious
way,
the king's
evil choices
ultimately
fulfilled God's
good plan
for his
people.
And this
is seen
many places
in scripture
but I want
to read out
one other
place.
And this
is when
Peter,
after Jesus'
death and
resurrection,
was speaking
to the
crowd in
Jerusalem.
Just listen
to what he
says in
Acts chapter
2.
This is
what he
says.
Fellow
Israelites,
listen to
this.
Jesus of
Nazareth
was handed
over to
you by
God's
deliberate
plan and
foreknowledge.
And you,
with the
help of
wicked
man,
put him
to death
by nailing
him to
the cross.
Notice
there that
Peter clearly
implies that
the people of
Jerusalem,
they freely
chose to put
Jesus to
death.
It wasn't
like someone
forced them
to do it.
No,
they wanted
to kill
Jesus out
of the evil
desires of
their hearts.
And they
were responsible
for that.
God's
and yet
equally
true.
It was
that this
was somehow
part of
God's
deliberate
plan for
all time,
which
accomplished
our
salvation.
You see,
people are
responsible for
their free
choices.
And yet
God
somehow
is still
sovereign
over all
of those
choices,
carrying out
his
deliberate
plan.
How those
two realities
work together
in practice,
well,
that's a
mystery,
isn't it?
We cannot
fully comprehend
it.
And for
the people
of Judah,
it was
extremely
difficult
to trust
God with
the evil
he allowed
to happen
to them
in the
face of
King
Nebuchadnezzar.
But this
text doesn't
just teach
us that
God is
a sovereign
ruler.
He can
do
whatever
he pleases.
If that
were all,
it would
only be
some
comfort,
but not
enough.
See,
this passage
also shows
that God
is the
wise ruler.
And that
is doubly
good news
for Judah
and for
you and
I.
Just look
at verse
13 with
me.
It says
this,
Who can
fathom the
spirit of
the Lord
or instruct
the Lord
as his
counselor?
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?
The answer
is no
one.
No one
taught
God.
God does
not need
any advice
on how to
run his
universe
because he
knows all
things.
He has
full
understanding.
He sees
the end
of time
from the
beginning.
All his
judgments
are
perfect.
he doesn't
get it
wrong.
Now the
people of
Judah,
you and I
included,
at many
times
thought that
he was
getting it
wrong.
But who
were they
to advise
God?
Could they
see everything
from his
eternal
perspective?
He alone
knows what
is best.
comfort that
is for us
today.
Not just
to know
that God
has the
sovereign
power to
do whatever
he pleases,
but that
every single
action that
he takes
is always
right,
always just,
always wise,
and we can
hold on to
that this
year.
The
people of
Judah could
trust their
sovereign,
wise shepherd
to care for
them,
because every
single action
was ultimately
right and
always fulfilling
his good
plan for
them.
So all
this leads
to one
final
implication
for us
today.
God is
the sovereign
wise ruler
over creation,
over the
nations and
their rulers,
then God
must also be
the sovereign
and wise
ruler over
all of my
life and
all of
yours.
And that
I think is
the most
compelling
reason to
trust in
God's
shepherding
care for
you and
I this
year.
He's
sovereign
over your
situation,
where you
live,
work or
go to
school.
None of
these are
random.
The
family that
you are
in,
the friends
that you
have,
God has
placed you
there for
a good
reason,
even if
you don't
want to
be there.
David
says in
Psalm 139,
all the
days ordained
for me
were written
in your
book before
one of
them came
to be.
That's
true.
And if
he has
ordained
everything
that will
happen in
your days
in 2025,
then that
means he's
also sovereign
over the
pain and
struggle that
you will
face in
those days.
God
and that's
why it's
really
important to
know that
he is
also wise.
If he
allows it
in your
life, it
is ultimately
for your
good and
his glory.
When you
suffer with
illness, you
can turn to
him and say,
this illness
is not what
I wanted,
and I
asked that
you would
take it
away, but
Lord, you
have allowed
it in my
life for
a good
reason, and
you will
help me
through this.
When you
suffer under
the sin
that other
people commit
against you,
you can turn
to your
shepherd and
say, Lord,
this was
wrong.
It should
never have
happened,
but I
believe you
allowed it
for a good
reason.
And Father,
you will
give me the
grace to
get through.
When you
suffer under
the burden
of stress,
you can turn
to him and
say, Lord,
this is too
much for me
to bear, but
you are
sovereign even
over this,
and you
will help me
to find a
way through.
Now, you
may wonder,
how can I
trust God
to shepherd
me if he
allows such
pain into
my life?
And God's
answer is,
yes, you
can trust me
to shepherd
you because
everything is
within my
ultimate
control.
So hear God's
words to you
today.
your pain
or suffering
is not
out of
control.
That's what
it's saying
to us.
No joy
or pain
can happen
to us
in the
coming year
unless our
sovereign
shepherd
allows it
in his
wisdom.
We do
not serve
a weak
God who
is unable
to stop
the wrong
things that
happen in
our lives.
No.
our God
is sovereign
over all
and wise
in everything
he does
and that's
a rock
solid
foundation
as we
move out
into this
new year.
So as we
finish,
let's go back
to the question
we started
with today.
God has
promised us
his tender
shepherding
care this
year.
but does
he have
the power
and the
wisdom
to make
it happen?
Well Isaiah's
answer is
yes,
isn't it?
Because your
shepherd
is the
sovereign
and wise
ruler
of the
universe.
The shepherd
who cares
for you
has written
all of
history
for the
good of
his sheep
and the
glory
of his
name.
So how
should we
respond?
Rest.
We rest
in our
shepherd's
sovereign
wise
rule
over us
in this
coming year.
Trust him
to guide
you on the
right path,
to comfort
you in the
dark
valleys,
to provide
everything
that you
need.
He's more
than strong
enough.
He is
more than
wise enough
to care
for you.
He is
more than
able to
keep his
promise
to shepherd
you.
We're
going to
sing a
song now
and it's
Psalm 23,
the Lord's
my shepherd.
I think
this is a
good song
for us
to finish
with because
hearing about
how God
is sovereign
over
everything
and control
of this
whole
universe,
but he's
all powerful
and all
wise.
Now we
need to
sing about
how he is
our shepherd,
our tender
shepherd.
He is
able to
care for
us like
that.
So that's
what this
song is
all about.
It's an
opportunity
for us to
place our
trust in
him again.
Before we
do that,
let me just
pray.
Lord, you
have told us
that you
are the
sovereign and
wise ruler
over all.
help us
now to
place our
trust in
your
sovereign
shepherding
care over
us in
2025.
For your
glory and
our good.
Amen.