Isaiah 44:21-28

Passage: Isaiah 44:21-28
The LORD Redeems Israel.
21 Remember these things, O Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you; you are my servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
"I am the LORD, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
25 who frustrates the signs of liars
and makes fools of diviners,
who turns wise men back
and makes their knowledge foolish,
26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,'
and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins';
27 who says to the deep, 'Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers';
28 who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose';
saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,'
and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"

Journal: The redemptive work of God is centered on a desire that His people repent of sin and turn to Him for forgiveness. He was not obligated to redeem us, He simply did so. Thus, there is a deep thanksgiving by creation itself for His redemptive work. [v. 22-23 -- "I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel."] I reflect on the great sin of my life and my tendency to be sinful, and I am amazed at the patience exhibited in the redemptive work of God. He must love me deeply to forgive and forget [blot out] my repeated transgressions. He is above all things, and humbled Himself to become all things for me. His redemptive work is unfathomable, and yet is the one purpose for life that endures and protects. ["Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, . . .'"] Our eternal purpose is to give glory to our redeemer.