“Who is like the Lord our God? This challenge will never be answered. None can be compared with Him. Israel’s God is without parallel. Our God in covenant stands alone. None are like Him. Even those He has made like Himself, are not like Him…” – Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury Of David
“Proud people make themselves equal with God, covetous people make their money equal with God, and whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we equal with God, which is the highest affront imaginable to Him Who is God over all.” – Matthew Henry
The Prophet Isaiah was stuck – so to speak – on the topic of the incomparableness of the God of the Scriptures. He recognized Him for who He was – great, glorious, powerful, and worthy of the confidence of His people. Since the Lord God fits all of the above descriptions – and then some – Isaiah asked the following question – “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?” (Isaiah 40:18)
He followed his question with God’s actual inquiry to His people in Isaiah 40:25 and 46:5 –
“To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One” (Isaiah 40:25).
“To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?” (Isaiah 46:5)
Remember – “…whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we equal with God…”
Whenever we put another in the place of Him in our hearts and affections – fear, love, or trust in them more than Him – we are guilty of changing His truth into a lie and His glory into shame.
It is absolute insanity to set up any creature in competition with Him. It is gross absurdity to make any creature equal with the Creator or to make any comparison between the two.
Yet, it happens all the time. Self, for example, – along with money, success, careers, education, reputation, sports, entertainment, pleasure, the government, etc. – is esteemed, loved, feared, or hoped in more than Him. Hence, it is made equal with Him.
He is asking His Church today as He asked Israel in the days gone by –
“To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One” (Isaiah 40:25).
“To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?” (Isaiah 46:5)
The following Scriptures offer the correct and only reply that should come from His people –
“There is none holy as the LORD; for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2)
“Wherefore Thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee…” (2 Samuel 7:22).
“O LORD, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God besides Thee…” (1 Chronicles 17:20).
“Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O LORD; neither are there any works like unto Thy works” (Psalm 86:8).
“Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O LORD; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in might” (Jeremiah 10:6).
Our song of praise must forever be – “For there is none like Thee…” Our resolve must be that we will never, ever place anyone or anything in competition with Him. In other words, we will not allow – in our hearts – any rivals to Him. Nothing will steal our joy from serving Him.
In Psalm 35:10, David said – “All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto Thee, which delivereth the poor from Him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?”
In Psalm 89:6, Ethan the Ezrathite said – “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?”
Then again, in Psalm 89:8, he inquired – “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?”
In Psalm 113:5, David once again asked – “Who is like unto the LORD our God, Who dwelleth on high?”
In Micah 7:18, the Prophet inquired – “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.”
And lastly, in Exodus 15:11, Moses and the children of Israel sang unto the Lord – “Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
What creature can be equalled to this One Who is the champion of the oppressed – Who is deeply concerned that “the poor and the needy” receive justice, deliverance, and vindication? Who in all of heaven can be “shadowed” with Him? (Dutch translation) – Spurgeon
Look at the power with which He exercises His sovereignty over all His creation! His is unrivaled might and unparalled truth. He dwells in faithfulness – always keeping His promises. His throne, character, and being are so lofty and infinitely majestic. Though He be so high, yet He condescends to man – offering him pardon and forgiveness for his sins. Indeed, He is divinely perfect… terrible in deeds…and deserving admiration, worship, and obedience.
“Who is like the Lord our God? This challenge will never be answered…”
Yet, Romans 1:21-25 relates how this unanswerable “challenge” goes on even in our midst today – “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened…And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
“…and whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we equal with God, which is the highest affront imaginable to Him Who is God over all.”
Are you guilty? Have you insulted your God by placing Him on the same level with Self, money, success, prestige, or the various gods of this world?
1 Chronicles 17:20 says – “O LORD, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God besides Thee…”
Is that your song today?
