The Lord Will Prepare The Way
Isaiah 43:14-17
The Lord’s promise:
I, the LORD, will rescue you! I am Israel’s holy God, and this is my promise: For your sake, I will send an army against Babylon to drag its people away, crying as they go.
I am the LORD, your holy God, Israel’s Creator and King.
I am the one who cut a path through the mighty ocean.
I sent an army to chase you with chariots and horses; now they lie dead, unable to move. They are like an oil lamp with the flame snuffed out.
Forget The Past
Isaiah 43:18-28
The Lord said:
Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.
Every wild animal honours me, even jackals and owls. I provide water in deserts–streams in thirsty lands for my chosen people. I made them my own nation, so they would praise me.
I, the LORD, said to Israel: You have become weary, but not from worshiping me. You have not honoured me by sacrificing sheep or other animals. And I have not burdened you with demands for sacrifices or sweet-smelling incense. You have not brought delicious spices for me or given me the best part of your sacrificed animals. Instead, you burden me down with your terrible sins. But I wipe away your sins because of who I am. And so, I will forget the wrongs you have done.
Meet me in court! State your case and prove that you are right. Your earliest ancestor and all of your leaders rebelled against me. That’s why I don’t allow your priests to serve me; I let Israel be destroyed and your people disgraced.
