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I. AS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD. "I am God, and there is none else." The Bible establishes the doctrine of monotheism. This doctrine —

1. Agrees with our spiritual nature. The whole soul, both in its searches after truth and love, one for the intellect, the other for the heart, struggles after unity; it turns to the centre, as the needle to the pole, as the flower to the sun

2. Explains the harmony of the universe. How is it that all things in their constitution fit into each other, and in their operations are so harmonious and uniform? The whole machine shows in all its parts and revolutions that it had but one Architect.

3. Makes clear human obligation. If there be but one God, His will should be the supreme law of all our activities; His being should be the centre of our sympathies and love. Were there more gods than one we might be distracted on the question as to who should have our love and obedience.

II. AS ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THE FUTURITIES OF THE UNIVERSE. "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done." There is one mind in the universe, and only one, whose infinite glance comprehended all, swept over all space, and over all durations. Though such a fact baffles all our attempts at comprehension, its denial would undeify God. The whole history of the universe, from beginning to end, was in His mind before it took active shapes, or concrete embodiments. Hence —

(1)  He can have no surprises.

(2)  He can have no disappointments.

III. AS PURPOSING NOTING THAT CAN BY ANY POSSIBILITY FAIL. "My counsel shall stand," &c.

1. God has a concern for His pleasure. The apostle calls His pleasure a "good pleasure." What is it? The pleasure of disinterested benevolence.

2. All God's purposes point to His pleasure. Whatever will make His creatures happy is His pleasure; and the whole universe is constructed on this principle.

3. None of God's purposes shall fail. "My purposes shall stand." The special purpose here referred to was terribly realised (Daniel 5:30). Our purposes are constantly being broken; the vast shore of human history is crowded with the wrecks of broken purposes. Our purposes are broken sometimes —

(1)  Through the lack of power to carry them out.

(2)  Through the lack of time to carry them out. God has ample power and ample time to carry out His purposes.

IV. AS HAVING ABSOLUTE POWER TO SUBORDINATE EVEN UNGODLY MEN TO HIS SERVICE. "Calling a ravenous bird," &c. In God's great moral kingdom He has two classes of servants.

(1)  Those who serve Him by their will — all holy angels and sainted men.

(2)  Those who serve Him against their will — wicked men and devils.Conclusion — What an ennobling view of our God! He is One: let us centre our souls on Him; He knows all futurities, let us trust His providence. He will fulfil all His purposes, let us acquiesce in His arrangements. He renders even His moral enemies subservient to His own will, therefore let us "trust in Him who liveth for ever."

(Homilist.)

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KJV: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

WEB: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; [I am] God, and there is none like me;