Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Isaiah 43 stands within chapters 41 to 45, which very fully reveal God's purpose for His people and are to be prayerfully studied, teaching them to seek wisdom from God rather than turn away from His wisdom to look to finite people for it. Its immediate setting in verses 22-28 describes the Lord misused and dishonored by those who have not called upon Him but have grown weary of Him, withholding offerings and honor while making Him serve with their sins and wearying Him with their iniquities, though He blots out transgressions for His own sake and will not remember sins. The verse itself warns that God brings disgrace and judgment on the princes of the sanctuary and gives Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproach when they turn from Him, so that their disgrace and loss come under God's judgment.
Its wider setting declares that Jacob and Israel are His servants and shall not be forgotten, that He has blotted out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud, has redeemed them and calls them to return to Him, and has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel. That same setting declares that there is no God beside the Lord, that all the ends of the earth are to look to Him and be saved, that every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue shall swear, that righteousness and strength are in the Lord, that all incensed against Him shall be ashamed, and that all the seed of Israel shall be justified in the Lord and shall glory.
The verse belongs to prophecy concerning God's people that will be fulfilled in the last days, when God's law is made void. In that fulfillment it belongs to a time when God's people are robbed and oppressed and none comes to deliver or restore them. The passage is a true picture of the many who feel competent to order and dictate and rule others as with a rod of iron. Against that spirit all must hide self in Jesus, gain a deep and living experience, walk humbly with God with communication kept open, and keep individuality in Jesus Christ, and the Lord will be sun and shield.
Isaiah 43 stands within chapters 41 to 45, which very fully reveal God's purpose for His people and are to be prayerfully studied, teaching them to seek wisdom from God rather than turn away from His wisdom to look to finite people for it. Its immediate setting in verses 22-28 describes the Lord misused and dishonored by those who have not called upon Him but have grown weary of Him, withholding offerings and honor while making Him serve with their sins and wearying Him with their iniquities, though He blots out transgressions for His own sake and will not remember sins. The verse itself warns that God brings disgrace and judgment on the princes of the sanctuary and gives Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproach when they turn from Him, so that their disgrace and loss come under God's judgment.
Its wider setting declares that Jacob and Israel are His servants and shall not be forgotten, that He has blotted out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud, has redeemed them and calls them to return to Him, and has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel. That same setting declares that there is no God beside the Lord, that all the ends of the earth are to look to Him and be saved, that every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue shall swear, that righteousness and strength are in the Lord, that all incensed against Him shall be ashamed, and that all the seed of Israel shall be justified in the Lord and shall glory.
The verse belongs to prophecy concerning God's people that will be fulfilled in the last days, when God's law is made void. In that fulfillment it belongs to a time when God's people are robbed and oppressed and none comes to deliver or restore them. The passage is a true picture of the many who feel competent to order and dictate and rule others as with a rod of iron. Against that spirit all must hide self in Jesus, gain a deep and living experience, walk humbly with God with communication kept open, and keep individuality in Jesus Christ, and the Lord will be sun and shield.