Isaiah 43:23
You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings
The phrase "You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings" highlights the Israelites' neglect in offering sacrifices, which were central to their covenant relationship with God. The Hebrew word for "brought" (הֵבֵאתָ) implies an act of presenting or offering something of value. In ancient Israel, sheep were a common and significant offering, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God. The burnt offering, or "olah" (עֹלָה), was entirely consumed by fire, representing total surrender to God. This phrase underscores the people's failure to maintain their spiritual obligations and devotion.

nor honored Me with your sacrifices
The word "honored" (כִּבַּדְתָּנִי) in Hebrew carries the connotation of giving weight or significance to something. Sacrifices were not merely ritualistic acts but expressions of reverence and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. The Israelites' neglect in offering sacrifices indicates a deeper spiritual apathy and lack of respect for God's commands. Sacrifices, such as peace offerings and sin offerings, were integral to maintaining a right relationship with God, and their absence signifies a breakdown in this relationship.

I have not burdened you with offerings
The phrase "I have not burdened you with offerings" reflects God's perspective on the sacrificial system. The Hebrew word for "burdened" (הֶעֱבַדְתִּיךָ) suggests imposing a heavy load or obligation. God clarifies that the sacrificial system was not meant to be a burdensome duty but a means of grace and fellowship. This statement reveals God's desire for willing and heartfelt worship rather than mere ritual compliance. It emphasizes that God values the heart's intention over the quantity of offerings.

nor wearied you with incense
The word "wearied" (הוֹגַעְתִּיךָ) in Hebrew implies causing fatigue or exhaustion. Incense, often associated with prayer and worship, was used in the tabernacle and temple as a symbol of the people's prayers ascending to God. By stating that He has not wearied them with incense, God highlights that the rituals were not meant to be tiresome obligations but opportunities for communion with Him. This phrase serves as a reminder that God desires genuine devotion and relationship rather than perfunctory religious practices.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God (Yahweh)
The speaker in this verse, addressing the Israelites. He is the one who receives offerings and sacrifices.

2. Israelites
The people being addressed, who were expected to bring offerings and sacrifices to God as part of their covenant relationship.

3. Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices
These were central elements of worship in ancient Israel, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God.

4. Incense
Used in the temple as a symbol of prayer and worship, representing the people's devotion to God.

5. Prophet Isaiah
The author of the book, delivering God's message to the Israelites during a time of spiritual complacency.
Teaching Points
True Worship Over Rituals
God desires genuine worship from the heart rather than mere ritualistic practices. Our relationship with Him should be marked by sincerity and devotion.

God's Grace and Patience
The verse highlights God's patience and grace, as He does not burden His people with endless rituals. Instead, He seeks a relationship based on love and obedience.

Self-Examination in Worship
Believers should regularly examine their worship practices to ensure they are not merely going through the motions but are truly honoring God with their lives.

The Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system, offering Himself once for all. Our response should be a life of gratitude and service.

Living Sacrifices
As believers, we are called to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Isaiah 43:23 challenge our understanding of what God desires in worship?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our worship is genuine and not just a ritual?

3. How does the concept of God not burdening us with offerings relate to the grace we receive through Christ?

4. What are some practical ways we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices in our daily lives?

5. How do the themes in Isaiah 43:23 connect with the teachings of Jesus on worship and sacrifice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 50
This psalm echoes the theme of God desiring genuine worship rather than mere ritualistic offerings, emphasizing a heart of gratitude and obedience.

Micah 6:6-8
These verses highlight what God truly requires from His people: justice, mercy, and humility, rather than just sacrifices.

Hebrews 10
This chapter discusses the insufficiency of animal sacrifices and points to Christ's ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the law and offering a new covenant.
Righteousness, Guilt, MercyW. Clarkson Isaiah 43:22-25
Memories of ExileE. Johnson Isaiah 43:22-28
Failure in Religious DetailsJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 43:23-24
God and His People: a ContrastJ. R. Macduff, D. D.Isaiah 43:23-24
People
Babylonians, Isaiah, Jacob, Seba
Places
Babylon, Cush, Egypt, Israel, Jerusalem, Seba
Topics
Beasts, Burdened, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offerings, Cattle, Caused, Demands, Frankincense, Glorified, Grain, Hast, Honored, Honour, Honoured, Incense, Lamb, Meal-offering, Oblation, Offering, Offerings, Perfumes, Present, Requests, Sacrifices, Servants, Serve, Sheep, Tired, Toil, Wearied
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 43:22-24

     8444   honouring God

Isaiah 43:23-24

     8262   generosity, human

Library
The Grace of God
TEXT: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."--Isaiah 43:25. In looking over an old volume of Sermons preached by H. Grattan Guiness, forty-five years ago, I came across the message which he delivered with this text as a basis. So deep was the impression made upon me by my first reading of the sermon that I have taken Mr. Guiness' outline and ask your careful attention to its development. If one should enter a jewelry store and
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Thy Name: My Name
'I have called thee by thy name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 1. 'Every one that is called by My name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 7. Great stress is laid on names in Scripture. These two parallel and antithetic clauses bring out striking complementary relations between God and the collective Israel. But they are as applicable to each individual member of the true Israel of God. I. What does God's calling a man by his name imply? 1. Intimate knowledge. Adam naming the creatures. Christ naming His disciples. 2. Loving friendship.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

February the Fourth Spiritual Buoyancy
"When thou passeth through the waters they shall not overflow thee." --ISAIAH xliii. 1-7. When Mrs. Booth, the mother of the Salvation Army, was dying, she quietly said, "The waters are rising but I am not sinking." But then she had been saying that all through her life. Other floods besides the waters of death had gathered about her soul. Often had the floods been out and the roads were deep in affliction. But she had never sunk! The good Lord made her buoyant, and she rode upon the storm! This,
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

October the Eighth God's Glorious Purpose
"I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." --ISAIAH xliii. 1-7. That is surely a superlative honour! "I have created him for My glory." I stood before one of Turner's paintings, and a man of fine judgment said to me, "That is Turner's glory!" He meant that in that picture the genius and the power and the grace of Turner were most abundantly expressed. And it is the will of God that man should express His glory, and by his righteousness and goodness witness to the
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Forgiveness
We shall notice first, this morning, the recipients of mercy--the persons of whom the Lord is here speaking; secondly, the deed of mercy,--"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions;" thirdly, the reason for mercy--"for mine own sake;" and fourthly, the promise of mercy-- "I will not remember thy sins." I. We are about to see who are THE RECIPIENTS OF MERCY; and I would have you all listen; peradventure there be some strayed in here who are the very chief of sinners--some who have sinned
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

North and South
At this moment, my brethren and sisters, we who follow the footsteps of King Jesus are soldiers of an army which has invaded this world. This land belongs to our great Leader, for he made it. It was right that everywhere, all round the globe, his name should he honored, for he is the King among the nations, and the governor thereof: But our race has revolted, set up another monarch, and bowed its strength to support another dynasty--the dynasty of darkness and death. Our race has broken the good
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Fire! Fire! Fire!
We shall talk of three things, this morning, as the Holy Ghost may enable us; first of all, a terrible pathway,--walking around the fire; secondly, an awful danger,--the danger of being burned and utterly consumed; and thirdly, a double insurance,--"Thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the fire kindle upon thee." I. First, then, let us speak a little upon this TERRIBLE PATHWAY. The sacramental host of God's elect has never had an easy road along which to journey. I see the fields on fire, the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Redeemed Souls Freed from Fear.
A TALK WITH A FEW FRIENDS AT MENTONE. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee."--Isaiah xliii. 1. REDEEMED SOULS FREED FROM FEAR. I WAS lamenting this morning my unfitness for my work, and especially for the warfare to which I am called. A sense of heaviness came over me, but relief came very speedily, for which I thank the Lord. Indeed, I was greatly burdened, but the Lord succoured me. The first verse read at the Sabbath morning service exactly met my case. It is in Isaiah xliii. 1: "But now thus saith
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

How to Make Use of Christ for Steadfastness, in a Time when Truth is Oppressed and Borne Down.
When enemies are prevailing, and the way of truth is evil spoken of, many faint, and many turn aside, and do not plead for truth, nor stand up for the interest of Christ, in their hour and power of darkness: many are overcome with base fear, and either side with the workers of iniquity, or are not valiant for the truth, but being faint-hearted, turn back. Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast, and to own him and his cause in a day of trial, to enquire how they shall make
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Nature of Justification
Justification in the active sense (iustificatio, {GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is defined by the Tridentine Council as "a translation from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through the second Adam,
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Means to be Used with Sinners.
Text.--Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.--Isaiah xliii: 10. IN the text it is affirmed of the children of God, that they are his witnesses. In several preceding lectures I have been dwelling on the subject of Prayer, or that department of means for the promotion of a revival, which is intended to move God to pour out his Spirit. I am now to commence the other department: MEANS TO BE USED FOR THE CONVICTION AND CONVERSION OF SINNERS. It is true, in general, that
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Mirrors of God
... That ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness ...'--1 Peter ii. 9. The Revised Version, instead of 'praises,' reads excellencies--and even that is but a feeble translation of the remarkable word here employed. For it is that usually rendered 'virtues'; and by the word, of course, when applied to God, we mean the radiant excellencies and glories of His character, of which our earthly qualities, designated by the same name, are but as shadows. It is, indeed,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Eleventh Day. The Holy one of Israel.
I am the Lord that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. I the Lord which make you holy, am holy.'--Lev. xi. 45, xxi. 8. 'I am the Lord Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Thy Saviour. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.'--Isa. xliii. 3, 14, 15. In the book of Exodus we found God making provision for the Holiness of His people. In the holy
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

A Call to Prayer and Testimony
Mark well, beloved, how he would have his people to be in tune with himself! He will have no rest till salvation work is done; and he would not have us take rest; but he would have us stirred with passionate desire, and fired with holy zeal for the accomplishment of the divine plan of grace. Till he holds his peace he will not allow us to be silent. You that have the Revised Version will be struck with the more literal and forcible rendering of our text--"Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

His Legacy.
BLESSED and ever precious are the words, which came from the lips of our loving Lord, before he went to the cross. His own were gathered around Him; before He ever comforted them and poured out His loving heart, He manifested that love by serving them. He arose from the supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. What a sight the Son of God girded! "After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Epistle xxx. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [138] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. In addressing to you the greeting which is due I was intending to speak of what I suffer. But I think I need not relate to you what you know. For I am tormented by pains of gout, which, afflicting not dissimilarly both me and you, while they increase upon us exceedingly, have caused our life to decrease. In the midst of them what else should we do but recall our faults to mind, and give thanks to Almighty God? For we
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

God's True Treasure in Man
'The Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.'--DEUT, xxxii.9. 'Jesus Christ (Who) gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people.'--TITUS ii. 14. I choose these two texts because they together present us with the other side of the thought to that which I have elsewhere considered, that man's true treasure is in God. That great axiom of the religious consciousness, which pervades the whole of Scripture, is rapturously
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Works of Providence
Rom. xi. 36.--"For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever, Amen."--Psal. ciii. 19.--"The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all."--Matt. x. 29.--"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." There is nothing more commonly confessed in words, than that the providence of God reaches to all the creatures and their actions, but I believe there is no point of religion
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How they are to be Admonished who Lament Sins of Deed, and those who Lament Only Sins of Thought.
(Admonition 30.) Differently to be admonished are those who deplore sins of deed, and those who deplore sins of thought. For those who deplore sins of deed are to be admonished that perfected lamentations should wash out consummated evils, lest they be bound by a greater debt of perpetrated deed than they pay in tears of satisfaction for it. For it is written, He hath given us drink in tears by measure (Ps. lxxix. 6): which means that each person's soul should in its penitence drink the tears
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Fifth Day. Holiness and Redemption.
Sanctify unto me all the first-born.'--Ex. xiii. 2. 'All the first-born are mine; for on the day I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified unto me all the first-born in Israel: mine they shall be: I am the Lord.'--Num. iii. 13, viii. 17. 'For I am the Lord your God that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.'--Lev. xi. 45. 'I have redeemed thee; thou art mine.'--Isa. xliii. 1. At Horeb we saw how the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

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