Isa 44:22 | KingComments | STEP | Then from , after the activities of man in the previous verses, come the activities of the LORD. He reminds His people to keep in mind that He, the LORD, is the only true God and that the idols are nothing. He bases His exhortation on the facts that they owe their existence as a people to His supernatural activity and that as His people they are His “servant”. The second fact is a direct contrast with the idolatrous slaves of a piece of wood from a tree, as described in the previous verses. This brings God’s heart to an expression of infinite grace. His people will not be forgotten by Him. He will wipe out their transgressions like a thick cloud and their sins like a heavy mist ( ). Let them return to Him, for He has redeemed them after all! The word for “wipe out” is used for the wiping out or blotting out of 1. a name from a book ( ; ); 2. a curse ( ); 3. the remembrance of a people ( ); 4. sin or sins ( ; ; ; ). Transgressions and sins are clearly seen here as things that bring separation between God and man ( ). Only the purification by His wind ( ) and the sunshine of His grace expels the cloud. All removal of guilt is only possible through the blood of Christ. His work underlies the promises made here by the LORD. The subject here is restoration, the re-establishment of fellowship, which is reflected in the invitation: “Return to Me.” contain a very beneficial assurance of past salvation, a promise of remembering it in the future, and an invitation to return to the fellowship with God they had in the past. In view of these glorious statements, in a song of thanksgiving the whole creation is called upon to rejoice and to share in the consequences of the forgiveness that has come to Israel ( ). Creation will also be set free from the curse of sin ( ). Freedom will be the hallmark of glory. The essence of the glory that will be enjoyed by the nations lies in the fact that the LORD will glorify Himself in Israel. In the coming sections this thought will be further explained.

‏ Isaiah 44:22

The LORD Does Not Forget His People

Then from Isa 44:21, after the activities of man in the previous verses, come the activities of the LORD. He reminds His people to keep in mind that He, the LORD, is the only true God and that the idols are nothing. He bases His exhortation on the facts that they owe their existence as a people to His supernatural activity and that as His people they are His “servant”. The second fact is a direct contrast with the idolatrous slaves of a piece of wood from a tree, as described in the previous verses.

This brings God’s heart to an expression of infinite grace. His people will not be forgotten by Him. He will wipe out their transgressions like a thick cloud and their sins like a heavy mist (Isa 44:22). Let them return to Him, for He has redeemed them after all! The word for “wipe out” is used for the wiping out or blotting out of

1. a name from a book (Exo 32:32-33; Psa 69:28);

2. a curse (Num 5:23);

3. the remembrance of a people (Deu 25:19);

4. sin or sins (Neh 4:5; Psa 51:1 ; 9 ; Psa 109:14; Jer 18:23; Isa 43:25 ; Isa 44:23).

Transgressions and sins are clearly seen here as things that bring separation between God and man (Isa 59:2). Only the purification by His wind (Job 37:21) and the sunshine of His grace expels the cloud. All removal of guilt is only possible through the blood of Christ. His work underlies the promises made here by the LORD. The subject here is restoration, the re-establishment of fellowship, which is reflected in the invitation: “Return to Me.”

Isa 44:21-22 contain a very beneficial assurance of past salvation, a promise of remembering it in the future, and an invitation to return to the fellowship with God they had in the past. In view of these glorious statements, in a song of thanksgiving the whole creation is called upon to rejoice and to share in the consequences of the forgiveness that has come to Israel (Isa 44:23). Creation will also be set free from the curse of sin (Rom 8:21). Freedom will be the hallmark of glory. The essence of the glory that will be enjoyed by the nations lies in the fact that the LORD will glorify Himself in Israel. In the coming sections this thought will be further explained.