The Redemption of the Servant, part 2 (Isa 45:1-46:2)

"Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me."

God calls his servant, Israel, to remember what idolatry is. Remember that idols cannot save you. "But I will not forget you. I will remember you, my Servant", and speaking of what he will do first in the restoration from exile, but then finally in our Lord Jesus Christ, "I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

Remember these things.

Humanity has Alzheimer's. Worse yet, the people of God have Alzheimer's. We are forgetful. We forget the one who formed us.

And Isaiah speaks here both of the first creation, and also the new creation–when he took Israel out of Egypt, and created his Servant. And so Isaiah calls us to remember what God has done, and to remember what God will do. Speaking to Israel before they go into exile, Isaiah declares that God "has done it." That is how certain your redemption is.
And so Isaiah calls out.

Now, how will Yahweh redeem Israel his Servant? That is the burden of 44:21-46:2, which consists of five statements, each beginning "thus says the LORD."