Isaiah 43:26

"Put me in remembrance, let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right" (Isaiah 43:26 RSV).

Question:

I hear people use this verse to remind God of his words in the Bible. But, when I read it, it tells me that we need to ask God to forgive us from our sinful nature.

 

Comment:

The early chapters of Isaiah were clearly written before the Hebrew nation's exile into captivity in Babylon. Its theme is basically a warning of the consequences of turning away from the sacred covenant and placing faith instead in foreign alliances as a means of avoiding the Babylonians. The later chapters, from 40 onward, were written at a much later time, after the Persian empire has conquered Babylon and allowed the captive Jews to return to their homeland. Many were reluctant to uproot themselves and their families for dubious prospects in what was, for them, a dangerous journey to a basically unknown country. Second Isaiah writes passionately to urge them forward, assuring them the Lord has forgiven the past transgressions and is eager to establish a new covenant with his chosen people. We can see this in the verse preceding the one you ask about: "I AM he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (43:25 RSV). The author then shifts to the imagery of a court of law, simply to reiterate that the Lord is not a punishing God, and has already forgotten the transgressions that led to the Exile. I don't read it as being about a need to ask God for forgiveness. It is rather an assurance that God has already forgiven. This suggests, I think, that the shame and guilt we may still be feeling about the past is entirely in our own minds. We must stop judging ourselves if we are ever to receive the full blessing the Lord is offering us without conditions of any kind.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed