Isaiah 43:26 Cross References

Isaiah 43:26

26: Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case if you have one.

"Come now, let us argue this out," says the LORD. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.

Gather the nations together! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Can any of them predict something even a single day in advance? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

"Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
Are you going to discredit my justice and condemn me so you can say you are right?

But you promised to treat me kindly and to multiply my descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore--too many to count."

For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way.

If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his throne and talk with him there.
I would lay out my case and present my arguments.
Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.
Would he merely argue with me in his greatness? No, he would give me a fair hearing.

"I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence.
I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say."

"Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case.

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am ready to hear Israel's prayers for these blessings, and I am ready to grant them their requests.

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

"How could this happen? When I planted you, I chose a vine of the purest stock--the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?
No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. You are stained with guilt that cannot be washed away. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!
"You say, `That's not true! We haven't worshiped the images of Baal!' But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel, desperate for a male!
You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain your lust? Those who desire you do not even need to search, for you come running to them!
Why do you refuse to turn from all this running after other gods? But you say, `Don't waste your breath. I have fallen in love with these foreign gods, and I can't stop loving them now!'

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else:
"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector.
The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery,
I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'

He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose me now? Where are my enemies? Let them appear!

Oh, that someone would mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.

Then he said to them, "You like to look good in public, but God knows your evil hearts. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God.

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

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