Isaiah 43:8-28
Let us reflect upon the glorious names which God gives Himself in vv. 11-15: The LORD, your Redeemer, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Beside Him there is no Saviour. "Neither is there salvation in any other" continues the apostle Peter in Acts 4:12.
The Christian life, however, is not only a matter of being saved. God has claims on us as He does on His earthly people: "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise" (v. 21). It is clear that Israel has not recognised these claims (v. 22 . . .), but in Christendom today the importance of true worship is also very much disregarded!
"For myself"! It is also for His own sake (v. 25) that God blots out sins. His glory requires our holiness. He makes provision for this personally, although He is the offended God: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions". He does not limit Himself to removing them; He promises "I will not remember thy sins". What mercy! Nevertheless He adds: "Put me in remembrance . . . declare thou". God leaves to us the task of confessing our state, our own sins in order to bring out fully the work accomplished to pay the penalty for them. That forms part of His praise which we are called to proclaim.