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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 43:22-28

This charge (and a high charge it is which is here exhibited against Jacob and Israel, God's professing people) comes in here, 1. To clear God's justice in bringing them into captivity, and to vindicate that. Were they not in covenant with him? Had they not his sanctuary among them? Why then did the Lord deal thus with his land? Deut. 29:24. Here is a good reason given: they had neglected God and had cast him off, and therefore he justly rejected them and gave them to the curse (Isa. 43:28);... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 43:22

But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob ,.... The Jews, though they were the posterity of Jacob, a praying person, yet did not tread in his steps, but were more like the Heathens that called not on the name of the Lord; though there is no necessity of restraining this to prayer, it may regard the whole worship of God, which is sometimes included in the invocation of his name; and so the Targum, "and ye come not to my worship, O ye of the house of Jacob.' The Jews, in Christ's time, did... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 43:22

But thou hast not called upon me - The connection is: But thou, Israel, whom I have chosen, whom I have formed for myself to be my witness against the false gods of the nations; even thou hast revolted from me, hast neglected my worship, and hast been perpetually running after strange gods. The emphasis of this and the following parts of the sentence, on which the sense depends, is laid on the words Me, on My Account, etc. The Jews were diligent in performing the external services of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22

But thou hast not called upon me . The Jews had never been greatly given to prayer. They were a "practical" people, active, energetic, hard-working, busily employed in handicrafts, commerce, or agriculture. David and Daniel, who prayed three times a day ( Psalms 55:17 ; Daniel 6:10 ), were probably exceptions to the general rule. At any rate, it appears here that in the exile the nation had neglected prayer. No doubt there was a nucleus of "faithful men," who did as Daniel did. But with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22

Wearying of God's worship. This is quite a customary prophetical complaint. The idea seems to be that God noticed his people making a toil rather than a joy of his service. They kept it up, but it was evidently an irksome burden. We can understand that, during the Captivity, when removed from all the solemn associations of the temple-worship, it would be very burdensome to keep up family or public religion. Micah pleads thus, in God's name: "O my people, what have I done unto thee? and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22-25

Righteousness, guilt, mercy. We notice here— I. THE REASONABLENESS OF GOD 'S SERVICE . "I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense." God's service is not a servitude, a slavery; nor is it a burdensome task, hard and heavy to be borne. Under the Mosaic Law, special provision was made for the poor, so that the sacrifices asked of them should be within their reach (Le Isaiah 5:7 ; Isaiah 12:1-6 :8; Isaiah 14:21 ). Women and children were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22-28

A REPROACH ADDRESSED TO CAPTIVE ISRAEL FOR ITS PAST OMISSIONS AND SINS . The thought of Israel in the future, redeemed, restored, and "telling out God's praise" ( Isaiah 43:21 ), raises naturally the con-trusted thought of Israel in the present and the past, disobedient, full of shortcomings ( Isaiah 43:22-24 ), too often guilty of overt acts of sin ( Isaiah 43:24-28 ). While reproaching his people, and reminding them that the exile is the wellmented punishment of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22-28

The folly of self-justification before God. Self-justification, addressed by man to God, is doubly foolish— I. AS HAVING NO BASIS IN TRUTH , AND THEREFORE EASILY CONFUTED . There is no fact more certain, whether we accept the statements of Scripture as authoritative, or pin our faith on our own observation and experience, than that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23 ). Each man is conscious to himself of sin, and no one claims... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:22-28

Memories of exile. I. THE FAITHLESSNESS OF THE PEOPLE . They have forgotten the covenant of their God. They have neglected one of its first duties—prayer, which marks dependence; or they had prayed to other gods; or their prayers had been merely ritual and formal. And this was the less excusable as the burden of sacrifices had not laid upon them during the exile. II. THE MINDFUL MERCY OF JEHOVAH . He promises to blot out their sins; and this simply for his own sake. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:22

But thou hast not called upon me - The design of this and the following verses, is to show them that they were indebted to the divine mercy alone for their deliverance from bondage. It was not because they had been either meritorious or faithful; it was not because they had deserved these favors at his hand, for they had been a people that had been distinguished for neglecting their God. On that account, these calamities had come upon them, and their deliverance, therefore, was to be an act of... read more

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