Isaiah 43:22-24
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The verse highlights a poignant paradox: God, who is ever-present and actively calling to His people, is met with their weariness and neglect. This isn't just about forgetting to pray; it's about a deeper disinterest in God's very presence and service, suggesting a spiritual fatigue that prioritizes self over divine connection.
“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes from a section where God is addressing Israel, highlighting their unfaithfulness. Despite God's past acts of redemption and promises of continued presence, the people of Jacob and Israel have neglected to call on Him and have grown tired of His service. This is presented as a reason for God's disappointment and a contrast to the faithfulness He expects.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life's challenges, only to realize you've been trying to go it alone? The people of Israel were feeling this pressure, and God points out a crucial reason why.
Isaiah speaks a sobering truth to Jacob and Israel: "Yet you did not call upon me." This wasn't just a casual oversight; it was a fundamental neglect of the One who created and sustained them.
The Cost of Neglect
This verse calls us to examine our own relationship with God. Are we calling on Him in our daily lives, or have we grown weary of His presence and service?
Even when we're tired of God, He doesn't grow tired of us. Isaiah reveals a profound truth about God's persistent commitment, even in the face of His people's weariness.
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The verse is a lament, but it’s followed by a powerful declaration of God's unfailing character.
The Divine Initiative
This shows us that our relationship with God isn't based on our performance or how 'spiritual' we feel, but on His unchanging nature and His unwavering commitment to us.
Understand the original words
olah · Hebrew Noun
A burnt offering was a voluntary or prescribed sacrifice that was entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing the total dedication of the offerer to God and the necessity of atonement.
zebach · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, sacrifice refers to the act of offering an animal or produce to God, primarily for the purposes of atonement, thanksgiving, or fellowship, illustrating the costliness of sin and the requirement of shedding blood for the forgiveness of sins.
lebonah · Hebrew Noun
Frankincense was a fragrant resin used in the temple service, particularly in the incense offering, representing the sweet-smelling aroma of prayer and worship ascending to God.
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
Sin, or 'chatta'ah' in Hebrew, denotes 'missing the mark,' representing any action, thought, or attitude that deviates from God’s holy standard and results in separation from Him.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Iniquity refers to 'avon,' signifying twistedness, perversity, or guilt; it encompasses both the act of rebellion and the resulting burden of moral corruption before God.
This verse highlights a deep spiritual apathy within Israel. Despite God's continued faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan, the people had grown weary of His service, neglecting prayer and worship. This weariness is presented against the backdrop of their historical unfaithfulness, which ultimately led to the judgment of the Babylonian exile.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem Repelled
Under King Hezekiah, Jerusalem miraculously survives a siege by the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, a testament to God's protection.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
During King Josiah's reign, the Book of the Law is found, leading to religious reforms and a renewal of the covenant with God.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo and Death of Josiah
King Josiah is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, a devastating blow that shatters the nation's confidence and leads to religious decline.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Following a period of rebellion against Babylon, King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of the Judean elite are exiled to Babylon.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem is destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the Temple is burned, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, marking the end of the Judean kingdom.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great begins his conquests, unifying the Persian and Median empires and setting the stage for the eventual liberation of the Jewish exiles.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's sentiment, asking, 'O generation, see ye the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We have wandered, we have no more the Lord.' It highlights the people's dissatisfaction with God's ways, similar to being 'weary' of Him.
Malachi 1:13This verse expresses a similar weariness and disdain for God's service, stating, 'Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness this is! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.' It connects the neglect of God with a lack of proper reverence and offerings.
Hebrews 12:3While from the New Testament, this verse speaks to the believer's tendency to become weary in spiritual warfare: 'For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.' It reminds us that the human heart can grow tired of the spiritual struggle, mirroring Israel's weariness with God.
Psalm 106:13This Psalm recounts Israel's history and points out their lack of faith and impatience: 'They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel; but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.' This shows a pattern of not calling on God and being impatient with His timing and ways.
bensonIsaiah 43:22: "But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."
Isaiah 43:22-24 . But thou hast not called upon me — Thou hast grossly neglected, or very negligently and hypocritically performed the duties of my worship. Thou hast been weary of me — Thou hast not esteemed my service to be a privilege, as in truth it is, but as a burden and a bondage. “The connection is: But thou, Israel, whom I have chosen, whom I have formed for myself, to be my witness aga…
pulpitIsaiah 43:22: "But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."
Verses 22-28. - A REPROACH ADDRESSED TO CAPTIVE ISRAEL FOR ITS PAST OMISSIONS AND SINS. The thought of Israel in the future, redeemed, restored, and "telling out God's praise" (ver. 21), raises naturally the con-trusted thought of Israel in the present and the past, disobedient, full of shortcomings (vers. 22-24), too often guilty of overt acts of sin (vers. 24-28). While reproaching his people,…
The verse highlights a poignant paradox: God, who is ever-present and actively calling to His people, is met with their weariness and neglect. This isn't just about forgetting to pray; it's about a deeper disinterest in God's very presence and service, suggesting a spiritual fatigue that prioritizes self over divine connection.
This verse comes from a section where God is addressing Israel, highlighting their unfaithfulness. Despite God's past acts of redemption and promises of continued presence, the people of Jacob and Israel have neglected to call on Him and have grown tired of His service. This is presented as a reason for God's disappointment and a contrast to the faithfulness He expects.
This verse comes from a section where God is addressing Israel, highlighting their unfaithfulness. Despite God's past acts of redemption and promises of continued presence, the people of Jacob and Israel have neglected to call on Him and have grown tired of His service. This is presented as a reason for God's disappointment and a contrast to the faithfulness He expects.
"“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings,…" — The verse highlights a poignant paradox: God, who is ever-present and actively calling to His people, is met with their weariness and neglect. This isn't just about forgetting to pray; it's about a d…
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Last reviewed October 2026
