Study Isaiah 43: 14-25
What is prophecy? The popular stereotype of the prophetic books of the Old Testament has sometimes been misleading. While the prophetic writers do employ wild images when expressing what God revealed to them, these pictures are only a small percentage of the whole. The scholars Fee and Stuart give us these statistics: less the 2% of the O.T. prophecies speak about the Messiah; less than 5% speak about the new covenant era; and less than 1% predict events that are yet to come. These statistics show that the prophetic books are something quite different that what is commonly thought. The Prophets are really forthtelling of God truths and will rather than foretelling the future. Resource Playing With Fire by Walt Russell
What was a prophet? Israel’s prophets were recipients of a special call from God to undertake a special mission for Him. Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel give us the record of their call and commission. The call compelled them to deliver messages that were often contrary to what their audience wanted to hear. The prophets were passionately concerned about Israel’s election, destiny, and mission to the world. The goal of their preaching was to remind the nation of its identity and relation to God. The message of the prophets was grounded in the historical and theological traditions of Israel. Prophetic books make reference to the mighty acts of God and covenant with Abraham, the Exodus, the Sinai covenant, etc. The message of the prophets was about Israel’s relationship to God. They called the nation to show forth devotion to God through obedience, repentance, and life-transforming worship. The prophets challenged the people to respond to their moral, ethical, and social obligations to others. Resource Discovering the Old Testament, editor Alex Varughese
Who is Isaiah? Little is know except what he tells us himself. The name itself means – Salvation of Jehovah. His father was Amoz but nothing is known about him. Isaiah was married and had two children (Isa 7: 3; 8:3). He prophesied during four reigns of kings of Judah, from Uzziah to Hezekiah. The first date given is the year of Uzziah’s death (6:1), which occurred about 740 BC. The last historical event referred to is the death of Sennacherib (37:38), which occurred in 681 BC. Isaiah treats the Syro-Ephraimitic war in the days of Ahaz as nothing compared to what the Assyrians are going to do to Judah, beyond that he predicts the mightier foe, Babylon. Fortunately, Isaiah also gives hope predicting the downfall of the enemy period! Isaiah is preeminently the prophet of redemption. The greatness and majesty of God; His holiness and hatred of sin; the folly of idolatry; His grace, mercy and love; and the blessed rewards of obedience are constantly recurring themes in his writings. Resource NIV Bible Dictionary
Now let’s look at the specific text.
NIV 14 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride. 15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King." 16 This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: This section emphasizes the fact that redemption is by grace. The Lord Himself is the speaker here. The same God who overwhelmed Pharaoh and the army of Egypt in the Exodus promises deliverance from Babylon. Just as dramatic and just as final! I love this particular little section because of the many images of God we see here: LORD, Redeemer, Holy One, Creator and King. God is God of every area in the universal order, as well as our lives.
Moving on…What happens here is God takes the hearers into a nostalgic trip into the past. There’s nothing necessarily wrong in doing that, especially in times of turmoil, the familiar can bring us comfort.
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. But God then let’s them (us) know that if we stay in the “good old days,” if it becomes a habit of mind, then it is can cause us to become spiritually forgetful, weak, and lethargic. Anytime memories threaten to tie people to the past, causing stagnation to present realities or slowness in responding to new opportunities, we must forget them.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. God is letting them know to be watchful, creative, believing in the impossible, looking all the time for what God is doing and will do. Biblical evidence from other O.T. books indicate that there were many Israelites who had been captive in Babylon who were RELUCTANT to go back to Israel. It was an uncertain place, it would mean LOTS of work, and Babylon was pretty comfortable… This was (is) a wake up call! The people then (and us now) are presented a challenge, we must be open to the possibility of change and receptive to the opportunity to begin anew.
22 "Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel. 23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. 24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. These verses are an indictment against forms of worship that serve to disguise the true character of the worshipers. In response to the God who created all that is and to whom Israel (and us) owes everything, the response is pathetic, indifferent and complaining. They tried to fulfill worship in duty but not with their heart. Here we see a loving God looking for evidence that the worshiper feels some sense of gratitude, genuine response not more sin. Soooooooooooooooooo, when we worship where is our mind? Or do we neglect worship all together and just not go at all. Do we see house cleaning, yard work, sporting events, family events, the lake as more important than worship? No wonder God gets weary. Do we see worship as something for us, or could it be about our focusing – giving praise/honor – dialoging with God communally? This is definitely a passage for today… are we wearying God with our “half way” attention, praise, offerings, etc. Let’s look at a worship service, when the scripture is read aloud are we in awe? When the singing of praise is happening are our arms crossed in front of our, our mouths shut, and wondering “when can I sit down?” When the offering plate is passed are we eager and glad to be able to give? Just some things to think about… I don’t know about you but, personally, I really don’t want to weary or burden the God of the Universe.
25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.Everything about the hearers in Isaiah’s day and us today rest on the fact that God is merciful and pours out grace. Hope for freedom from sin lies in the love of God. I think maybe the main thing to see here is even though Israel had broken faith with God, He never breaks faith! The living God so forgives that He forgets. Let me say that again, the living God so forgives that He forgets. We are recipients of this grace. God desires us, you and I, to be His bride, His love, His companion, are we?
