Isaiah with Training Wheels: 43:22 – 44:23

At first glance, this is a generic screed against idol worship. But the points he makes are deeper than you might initially realize. Every point he makes applies every bit as much to us as it did to people making idols from stones and stumps. If anything, it applies to us even more.

So, as you read this section, think about how this would apply to us.

(A) 43:22 ¶ But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

(B) 23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices.

(C) I have not caused thee to serve with an offering,

(C’) nor wearied thee with incense.

(B’) 24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices:

(A’) but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

(A) 25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

(B) 27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

(C) 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

2 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee;

(C’) Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:

(B’) I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

(A’) 5 One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

(A) 6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

(B) 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people?

(C) and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

(B’) 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses.

(A’) Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

(A) 9 ¶ They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

(B) 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

(C) 11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

(D) 12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

(E) 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

(F) 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

(G) 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

(F’) 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

(E’) 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

(D’) 18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

(C’) 19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

(B’) 20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside,

(A’) that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

(A) 21 ¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

(B) 22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

(C) 23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein:

(B’) for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob,

(A’) and glorified himself in Israel.

Notes:

43:23-24 Notice the distinction between Jacob and Israel. They are supposed to be the same, but Jacob is more often applied to those who are supposed to be righteous, but are not. So this is the whole spectrum of church members.
Is this a lack of church activity or just going through the motions, burdening the Lord? Are they not truly repenting of their sins, just using the Lord for their own temporary benefit?
Or are their sacrifices not to God?

43:25-26 begins a court room session. Notice the contrast with 44:1 “but now…”. “I, even I” is emphasizing who is talking. “Blot out” should be understood as, wipe clean.

44:2 Jeshurun is an affectionate diminutive of J-sh-r, meaning upright. So read this as, “Little Upright One”.

44:3 cf 43:2

44:7  Who is like me?
proclaim – who is in control, who is in charge?
declare – give an account
set it in order – organize everything

What has happened since I established my ancient people?

44:9-20