Isaiah 43:18-26

Isaiah 43:18. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing;

It is a very profitable thing to remember the things of old; it is greatly beneficial to us to study what God did in years and ages long gone by; yet God intends to do for us something in the future that shall eclipse all the past. Especially was this true in Isaiah's day, for the coming of Christ, which was then in the future, was to be such a sun-rising of mercy that all the stars of blessing, that had shone before, would seem to be lost in the brightness of his appearing. Dear friends, do not always dwell on the past. You who are getting gray are very apt to say that the former things and former times were better than now. Do not say so, but believe this promise of Jehovah, «Behold, I will do a new thing.»

Isaiah 43:19. Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls.

I have sometimes laid hold of this text, and have been comforted by it concerning the conversion of the very worst of men. Some people say, «What is the good of going among blasphemers and profane persons with the Word of God?» Well, if the beast of the field, and the dragons, and the owls, shall honour him, we need never think of leaving any of the sons of men to perish. It is not what they are, but what God is, that should give us confidence concerning them. Even if they were worse than they are, the omnipotent grace of God would still be able to reach them, and to convert them; let us have no doubt about this matter.

Isaiah 43:20. Because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

Oh, the wonders of the love of God! Wherever he has a chosen people, there every mercy shall certainly come. If they are in the wilderness, waters shall come to them; if they are in the desert, rivers shall flow to them; but drink they shall have till they come where they can drink to the full at the living fountains of water at God's right hand.

Isaiah 43:21. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Here is this same note again. Yet mark what kind of people they had been,-a people whom God had greatly loved, but who had backslidden from him. They had wandered very far away from God, yet still his purpose of love did not change: «This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.» What a blessed «shall» that is, uttered by One who knows how to make it good by deeds of mighty grace!

Isaiah 43:22. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou host been weary of me, O Israel.

They were not much like Jacob, for he prayed at Jabbok, and became Israel, who wrestled till he prevailed, saying to the angel, «I will not let thee go except thou bless me.» Yet here are people who hear the same name,-«Jacob» and «Israel «, yet God has to say to them, «Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob. Thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.»

Isaiah 43:23. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices.

Is that true of any of you? Have you restrained prayer, and have you also stinted God in your offering? Whereas he gave his Son for you, have you refused the small cattle of your burnt offerings?

Isaiah 43:23. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

«I have laid no tax upon you; I have not demanded so much of your income as the condition of your being members of my Church. I have left it to your love and gratitude to bring your freewill offerings unto me.»

Isaiah 43:24. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money,

No calamus or incense that should sweeten the temple of God,-

Isaiah 43:24. Neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but

Oh, this «but-but»!

Isaiah 43:24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins,

You have made a servant of your Master,-treated your Redeemer as if he were your slave!

Isaiah 43:24. Thou host wearied me with thine iniquities.

Oh, what a terrible verse this is about a people whom God had formed for himself, and who shall yet show forth his praise! Alas! this is how they sometimes are still,-indifferent, ungrateful, presenting him no tokens of love; but, on the contrary, disobedient, grieving him, and vexing his Holy Spirit. What will he do with them now? «Cut them off, and reject them,» says one. Yes, that is how men would do; but that is not what God will do.

Listen

Isaiah 43:25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

You have forgotten his mercies; but he will forget your sins. You have grieved him, but he still has a tender heart towards you. He will blot out your sins. Oh, how this ought to melt us! How this ought to encourage us to begin again in better style, and to be much in prayer, and much in holy service, and much in self sacrifice!

Isaiah 43:26. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

This exposition consisted of readings from Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:18; and Isaiah 44:1.