Near the end of this passage there are two big assemblies gathered for a great tribunal before Yahweh. One assembly is a group of sinners, the blind and deaf whom God has chosen as servants to know, believe, and understand that God is God. They are the redeemed, the elect, the called, the ones of who God is their Savior. They serve as God’s witnesses. The other throng is made up of sinners as well, heathen idol worshippers scrambling to gather a credible witness for their case. So how is it that a group of redeemed sinners serve as witness for God? What makes our testimony valid? Our history shows us anything but fine witnesses by virtue of our character.
Lets say O.J. has supposedly done it again, you pick what ‘it’ is exactly. He has two witnesses that serve as character references; Micheal Vick and Mike Tyson. You get the point? But lets say that we are ten years from now and Vick is an ardent supporter of PETA, carries a little handbag with a pomeranian named Pookey inside of it, and has a secret identity as ‘PETA Man’ tackling animal abusers and giving the dogs to deserving, caring children. Tyson starts taking responsibility, talking like a man, and walks dangerous streets punching women-abusing men in the throat. Vick and Tyson then testify that the reason for all the changes that have occurred in their lives are owing to the influence of one man – O.J. Simpson.
The redeemed are witnesses to the fact that God is God not because of something in themselves, but by virtue of the acts God has wrought upon them. As you look at those whom God has chosen, created, formed, called, redeemed, protected, saved, and gathered… the only explanation is God. We were blind and deaf! I am what I am by the grace of God. I am not perfect, but everything within me that is admirable and praiseworthy, all the progress, and all that is truly good is the work of God. It is no burden to be a witness, rather it is a great privilege for God to demonstrate his power in us, a power which none can thwart.
No Other Boast 