I Have Swept Away Your Sins Like the Morning Mist,
Return to Me for I Have Redeemed You
44: 21-23
I have swept away your sins like the morning mist, return to Me for I have redeemed you DIG: In contrast to the idols that can do nothing, what things has God done for Isra’el? In turn, what does He call upon the people to do? What does He mean by it? The LORD has redeemed Isra’el before they returned to Him. What does that say about His nature? Who has to take the first step in the salvation process? Why?
REFLECT: Is your worship life more characterized by singing and joy, or ritual and dullness? Why? What helps you move toward joyful worship? Our faith is based on the faithfulness of Yeshua Messiah and not some here-today-and-gone-tomorrow theological fad. Can you remember the times that God has proved Himself faithful to you? When? Or is it difficult to think of anything? Why?
Here Isaiah repeats one of the great themes of the fifth book of Moshe, to remember: You are to remember everything of the way in which ADONAI led you these forty years in the desert, humbling and testing you in order to know what was in your heart – whether you would obey his commandments or not (Deuteronomy 8:2, also see 8:11 and 18, 9:7). At the foot of Mount Sinai, the Israelites were to remember as a means of motivation to obedient living. God asked them to remember what He had faithfully done for them in the past. Here in Isaiah, it is not so much the specific acts of the LORD that are to be remembered, but His very nature. Nevertheless, the meaning is the same. They were to remember the character of ADONAI as He had revealed Himself to them in the past, and they were not to chase after every current theological fad blowing in the wind, but remember His faithfulness.
Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel (44:21a). Then ADONAI asks the people to remember what God had done for them, with the intent of motivating them to obedient living. He uses the name Jacob because he had twelve sons that became the twelve tribes of the nation; his name is representative of all the tribes. But after Jacob wrestled all night with the LORD and his name was changed to Isra’el (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Hw – Jacob Wrestles with God) ADONAI said: Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Isra’el because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome (Genesis 32:28).
Therefore, ADONAI spoke of the nation as being His faithful servant, depending on Him. He declared: I have made you, you are My servant (44:21b). This is no ordinary servant but a bondservant. Doulos is a Greek word that means bondservant. In the New Covenant times it was not uncommon for a freed slave to voluntarily re-enter servitude to a master whom he loved. This servitude was called bond-service. Only a freed slave could be a bondservant, and once he (she) had chosen to become one, he (she) could never be freed again. Neither could he (she) be bought or sold, and he (she) served his (her) chosen master until death. When a freed slave chose bond-service, he (she) was taken to the front entrance of the house, and his (her) right ear was laid against the door post. A nail was driven through his (her) ear, and an earring was placed in it. That earring was a symbol to all of the servant’s choice and of his (her) immunity to being sold. ADONAI wanted Isra’el to willingly choose to be His bondservant.
Furthermore, He declared His unwavering devotion to her when He said: O Isra’el, I will not forget you (44:21c). In the worship of dead idols everything depended on the devotee, but here, everything depends on the living God. But even if Isra’el would forget, the LORD declares for all the ages: I will never forget you (see Ip – Zion Not Rejected). This verse refutes the belief by some today that the Church has replaced Isra’el (replacement theology), and all the promises given to Isra’el are now transferred to the Church.
Paul and Peter spoke of themselves as being bondservants to Messiah (Romans 1:1 and Second Peter 1:1). And a servant to Christ does not seek to be served, but rather has a focus of serving others (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). And as believers, we need to be conformed, literally pressed or molded, into the likeness of Yeshua (see the commentary on Romans Cl – Our Bodies and Redemption).
Here it is not so much specific acts of God that are to be remembered, as are certain concepts about Him. Yet, the sense is the same. Life is to be lived on the basis of reflection on the character of ADONAI, not human psychology. So, when the LORD says remember these things, He is saying, “Remember all the evidence that you have witnessed – I am superior to idols.” No idol could possibly save them. God, not the idols, would redeem His people, for He had redeemed her for a special purpose (see my commentary on Exodus Bz – Redemption); to declare to the world that the LORD was the one and only ADONAI. Therefore, she must not interpret the Babylonian exile to mean that Ha’Shem had forgotten her. But physical deliverance was not her greatest need. The real cause of the exile was sin. And until that sin was addressed, not only forgiven but corrected, the real significance of the exile would not be realized. Then, and only then, could He sweep away their offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist (44:22a).
The final phrase starts with, return to Me. The Hebrew word return, shuv, is the key word in Jeremiah (see the commentary on Jeremiah Ac – The Book of Jeremiah From a Jewish Perspective: Key Word). It has two forms. The first form means to turn away from, backslide or apostatize. But the second form means to repent, to return or turn back. Here, ADONAI is telling Isaiah’s spiritually wicked generation to turn around and go in a different direction. Why? Because their redemption had already taken place, opening the door for a return, making Isra’el’s redemption both possible and effective.
For I have redeemed you (44:22b), underlines the importance of the human response to God’s plan. Isra’el is captive, both to Babylon and to her sins. She can do nothing to deliver herself. The first step is up to God. If she is to be bought back, redeemed, God alone must do that. But how will Isra’el respond to the LORD’s first step? His making the first step does not in itself produce a response. Isra’el must be willing to act in faith (Genesis 15). As long as Isra’el lies down in hopelessness and despair, the coming of Cyrus, or even the coming of the Messiah, will be in vain. This is why God says not to fear and not to believe that they are forgotten. He said: See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands (49:16). This is a figurative way of expressing that ADONAI will never forget Isra’el. The greatest danger of the exile would not be that God would be unable to act on their behalf, but that Isra’el herself would fail to respond in faith to His first step. Like a man wooing or courting his bride, God is always the initiator and we are always the responders.
We can say no to God and make it stick. The LORD can open the door for us, but we have to walk through it. As much as He loves us, He will not violate our free will. The unique thing about love is that it cannot be forced. You cannot make someone love you. The exciting thing about love, however, is that when someone loves you, they choose to love you. That’s what ADONAI wants, He wants us to choose Him over the Adversary and this world. But the Ruach Ha’Kodesh is a Gentleman; He will not kick down the door to your heart. He can only be invited in. What’s your choice?
In the far eschatological future God’s redemption of Isra’el will cause all of creation to rejoice. All idolatry will ultimately cease because it will be shown to be what it is – folly and futility. But the One God, who works in history, who is eternal, will prove Himself to be all that He has claimed when the restoration of Isra’el comes. Why? For ADONAI has redeemed Jacob (44:23b). The Hebrew verb has redeemed is a prophetic perfect, meaning an action still in the future but as certain as if it had already happened. He displays His glory in Isra’el (44:23c). At that time, all of creation will rejoice along with Him. The Hebrew verb displays is an imperfect, indicating a continuing statement of fact. It is with Isra’el that the LORD chooses to adorn Himself.
This section ends with the hymn of praise. ADONAI wanted Isra’el to focus on their hopeful future to motive them to turn from their idol worship. He tells them to sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees (44:23a). When ADONAI accomplishes redemption for Jacob, the curse will be lifted from the whole of creation (Romans 8:19-21). The idolater cut down trees to make an idol, but redemption frees them to burst into song for the true God. The prophet calls for all nature to join in song in celebration of the marvelous redemption of God’s people, a redemption that is fraught with the greatest consequences in the religious history of the world. The heavens and earth are invited to sing for joy.
The emphasis on ADONAI’s redemption of His people is completely appropriate to precede the Cyrus oracle that follows (see Ia – The Deliverance by Cyrus the Great). The cycle will be complete when heaven and earth themselves participate in the redemption (65:17-25, 66:22-23). It is clear that this blueprint of redemption is progressively revealed in Isaiah and includes a lot more than merely the Babylonian Exile and return. Though it does provide the background for the larger picture of Israel’s ultimate redemption (Psalm 96:11-13).
We can’t imagine what our Redeemer has in store for us. The Spirit of God gives us a few clues, but it is like a person blind from birth trying to comprehend color. Imagine if you lived in a world of darkness – then could suddenly see. Imagine if you lived in a world without taste – and suddenly could taste a wonderful holiday buffet with all the trimmings. Imagine if you lived in a world without sound – then could hear beautiful music. How awesome is THAT! That is a little bit of what it will be for those who have been redeemed by the Lamb. That is a little bit of what it will be for those who are children of God.
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