Isaiah 44:8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44:8 stands in Isaiah 41-45, especially chapters 44-45, where God very fully reveals His purpose for His people in covenant promises and encouragement, and those chapters are to be prayerfully studied. He there declares Himself as the King of Israel and Redeemer Lord of hosts, the first and the last, beside whom there is no God. He is the One who made and formed Jacob, Israel His chosen servant, from the womb, who alone calls and declares and sets in order the things that are coming since He appointed the ancient people. His people are His witnesses that He told and declared beforehand what He will do, which testifies to His unique divinity and foreknowledge. That witness encourages them to trust what He has told them and to recognize what He will do for them.
Therefore He commands His servant not to fear nor be afraid, because He will help them. The verse instructs them not to turn away from His wisdom to look to finite human beings for wisdom, but to trust in God. They are to look to Jesus for spiritual knowledge. It serves as a safeguard for them as they hold to His testimony and law and resist deception. As witnesses they are not to hide the light under a bushel but to let it give light to all who are in the house, for God gave His Son to be a light to open blind eyes and to bring out the prisoners from the prison and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house.
The word applies to labor for the destitute and thirsty ones all around Sydney who lack knowledge of how to care for themselves and need to be refreshed and restored. It assures that God will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods on the dry ground, and His Spirit upon their seed and blessing upon their offspring so that they spring up as among the grass and many say they are the Lord's. Those who work to the utmost of their ability and means and invest themselves and their means in that service for God will not be disappointed. Its covenant promises and encouragement are to be taken as a reason for greater missionary work and service that glorifies His name.