Isaiah 43:21. This people
That is, God's own people: «This people»
Isaiah 43:21-22. Have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
The very people whom he had formed for his praise forgot to pray to him, ceased to remember him, grew weary of him. Oh, how sad is this and how great is the longsuffering of God, that he bore with them so long.
Isaiah 43:23. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
God has laid no tax on his people. He does not ask any hard thing of us; and yet, notwithstanding that, we have been slack in his service. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light, yet our shoulders have been unwilling to bear them.
Isaiah 43:24-25. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
That is a very astonishing verse, wherever we might find it; but to find it in such a connection is a wonder indeed. These people had wearied God, yet even then, he said, «I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions.» Note on what a sure and blessed ground he puts it: «for mine own sake.» The Lord could not do anything for such sinners as we are for our sakes, for there is nothing deserving about us but in order that his mercy may be the more clearly seen, and his faithfulness and immutability may be displayed, he says, «I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.»
Isaiah 43:26-28. 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 43:21-28; and Isaiah 44:1-23.