‘From now on I will tell you of new things,
    of hidden things unknown to you.
7 They are created now, and not long ago;
    you have not heard of them before today.
So you cannot say,
    “Yes, I knew of them.”
8 You have neither heard nor understood;
    from of old your ears have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous you are;
    you were called a rebel from birth.
9 For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath;
    for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
    so as not to destroy you completely.
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
    I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
    How can I let myself be defamed?
    I will not yield my glory to another.

The ”new things” God has in mind here include the ‘second exodus’: the deliverance of the Jews from exile, the restoration of Israel, and ultimately the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. Probably the reference to them being created ”now” (7) means ‘in God’s mind’ – so they are going to become a reality.

Derek Kidner notes God’s patience with His people here, and says it is ‘unmerited’ (9), ‘constructive’ (10) and ‘resolute’ (11). Even though they deserve to be cut off, He will ”delay” His wrath. However, He will refine them in ”the furnace of affliction” (10). Babylon would be this ”furnace” to them, as Egypt had been centuries earlier (Deut.4:20).

In all His dealings with His people, God has in mind His own ”praise” (9) and ”glory” (11). If He had totally destroyed His people, the nations would have mocked and said, ‘He can’t look after His own.’

The God of the Bible is not, as Richard Dawkins suggested, an egomaniac. If He is God; indeed if He is the God described in the pages of Scripture, He deserves the praise and thanks and adoration of the whole world. But as C.S. Lewis pointed out, in calling us to worship Him God is giving us a priceless gift. Lewis noted that when we see beauty, whether, for example, a work of art, a breath-taking view, or hear great music, our enjoyment of it is not complete unless we can express our appreciation. The worship of God, which is for His glory, also turns out to be for our good.

John Piper puts it well when he writes that ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Thought: ”For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him…” (Rom.1:21).