In Isaiah, chapter forty-three, verses twenty-two through twenty-eight, highlighting some scriptures here to pay close attention to under “Israel’s sin of ingratitude.” “But thou hast not called upon me,” at the start of verse twenty-two. “Thou hast not brought me,” from the beginning of verse twenty-three. “But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.”
“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me,” as in verses twenty-five to twenty-seven, respectively.
At the time of Isaiah’s writing, Judah was not yet calling upon God for forgiveness and help; they continued to wallow in their sins, as in verse twenty-four. If they would not repent, they would go into captivity under God’s curse for a prescribed period of time.
Those who neglect to call upon God are weary of him. The Master tired not the servants with his commands, but they tired him with disobedience. What were the riches of God’s mercy toward them? This encourages us to repent because there is forgiveness with God, and shows the freedom of Divine mercy. When God forgives, He forgets. It is not for anything in us, but for his mercies’ sake, his promises’ sake; especially for his Son’s sake.
Would man justify himself before God? Our first father broke the covenant, and we all copied this example. We have no reason to expect pardon, except we seek it by faith in Christ; and that is always attended by true repentance because this is the only way, and it is a sure way to experiencing His peace.