A Word to Christians Estranged from God – Isaiah 43:25-44:28
43 (25) I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins. (26) Review the past with me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be justified. (27) Your first forefather sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me. (28) Therefore, I made the princes of the sanctuary profane; I consigned Jacob to the covenantal curse, and made Israel an object of scorn.
44 But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel, the one whom I have chosen. (2) This is what Jehovah says—the one who made you, the one who formed you in the womb, the one who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant; do not be afraid, Jeshurun, the one whom I have chosen. (3) I will pour water upon the thirsty land, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing upon your descendants. (4) They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees beside flowing streams. (5) One will say, I belong to Jehovah; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; and still another will write on his hand, I belong to Jehovah, and will take for himself the name of Israel.
(6) This is what Jehovah declares—the one who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; there is no other God besides me. (7) Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened from the time I established the ancient people. Furthermore, let them announce the things that are still to come—the events that are going to happen. (8) Do not tremble and do not be afraid. Have I not announced these things and revealed them to you long ago? Indeed, you are my witnesses! Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock; I do not know of any.
(9) All those who make carved images are worthless; and the things that are precious to them will be of no benefit. To their own shame, those who speak up for these idols neither perceive nor understand. (10) Who shapes a god or casts an image that is of no value? (11) Listen. All who share with him in this work will be put to shame—the craftsmen are merely men! Let them all come together and take their stand; they will tremble, they will all be put to shame together. (12) The blacksmith takes a tool and works over the coals; with hammers he shapes an idol, he forges it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and becomes faint. (13) The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes the idol into the form of a man—of a man in all his glory—so that it may dwell in a shrine. (14) He cuts down cedar trees, or perhaps selects a cypress or an oak. He nurtures it among the trees of the forest; or he plants a pine and the rain nourishes it. (15) Then that tree becomes firewood for a man to burn. He takes some of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread over the flame. But from the wood he also makes a god and worships it; he makes a carved image and bows down to it. (16) Part of the wood he burns in the fire; he prepares his meal over the flame; he roasts his meat and eats until he is satisfied. He also warms himself by the fire and says, Ah! I am warm; I enjoy the fire! (17) From the rest of the wood he makes a god—his carved image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, Save me, for you are my god.
(18) They do not know, neither do they understand; for the Lord has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, the Lord has closed their minds, so that they cannot understand. (19) None of them stops to think, none of them has the knowledge or understanding to say, Part of the wood I have burned as fuel; I also baked bread over its coals, and I roasted meat and ate. Should I make a detestable thing from the rest of the wood? Should I bow down to the stump of a tree? (20) He feeds on ashes, a deceived heart leads him astray. He cannot deliver himself or say, Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?
(21) Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you; you are my servant. O Israel, I will not forget you. (22) I have swept away your transgressions as though they were a thick cloud; and your sins, as though they were the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. (23) Sing for joy, O heavens, for Jehovah has done this; shout aloud, O earth below. Burst into song, you mountains; burst into song, O forest, and every tree in it, because Jehovah has redeemed Jacob and he will glorify himself in Israel. (24) This is what Jehovah—your Redeemer, the one who formed you in the womb—says, I am Jehovah, the one who has made all things, the one who stretched out the heavens by himself, the one who spread out the earth—was anyone with me? (25) I am the one who foils the signs of the false prophets and turns the diviners into fools. I am the one who repels the wise men and turns their knowledge into foolishness. (26) I am the one who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the prediction of his messengers. I am the one who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited, and who says of the cities of Judah, They shall be rebuilt—indeed, I will restore their ruins. (27) I am the one who says to the depths of the sea, Be dried up; indeed, I will dry up the rivers that flow into you. (28) I am the one who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and he will accomplish everything that I desire. He will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
