22 “But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help.
    You have grown tired of me, O Israel!
23 You have not brought me sheep or goats for burnt offerings.
    You have not honored me with sacrifices,
though I have not burdened and wearied you
    with requests for grain offerings and frankincense.
24 You have not brought me fragrant calamus
    or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices.
Instead, you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied me with your faults.

25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake
    and will never think of them again.
26 Let us review the situation together,
    and you can present your case to prove your innocence.
27 From the very beginning, your first ancestor sinned against me;
    all your leaders broke my laws.
28 That is why I have disgraced your priests;
    I have decreed complete destruction for Jacob
    and shame for Israel. (New Living Translation).

At the heart of this passage, God’s desire and willingness to forgive the sins of His people sparkles. It shimmers as a gold nugget of truth.

But we also see the stubborn unwillingness of Israel to turn to Him in repentance in faith, and the tragic role of many of their spiritual leaders in the destruction of God’s flock (and their own downfall). Verse 27b reads in the New International Version’:

    ”…those I sent to teach you rebelled against me.”

PRAYER: Lord God, we pray for all who carry the awesome responsibility of shepherding your people. Keep them true to your truth. May love and faithfulness always guard them. We pray especially for those who are re-writing your Word to fit with the times, and are leading people into sin. In your grace and mercy please save them. Pull them back from the brink. But if they will not repent, please remove them and replace them with those who will speak only your truth.

Note: Tom Hale points out that in spite of the final words of chapter 43, ‘…we know that God will preserve a remnant of Israel, through which His eternal purposes will be fulfilled (Isaiah 6:11-13; 10:20-23).’ ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1043.