The only Helper and Saviour in existence
43
📚But now thus says the LORDwho created you, O Jacob,
and he who formed you 📖,
O Israel:
“Fear not 📖,
for I have redeemed you 📖,
I have called you
by your name;
you are mine.
43:1 This chapter states God’s relationship to the people of Israel. He is their Creator (v 1), their Redeemer (v 1,14), their Saviour (v 3), their King (v 15), and Protector (v 2), One Who loves them (v 4), and Who will restore them (vs 5,6), and forgive them (v 25). Israel failed to do what they should have done (vs 22-24), and God had to punish them for it (v 28), but He would not fail (v 25). The people of Israel on their side of the relationship were to be witnesses (vs 10,12) and glorifiers of God (v 21). There is sweet truth in this chapter for all who trust the God of Israel as their God and Savior.⚜
2 📚When you pass through
the waters,
I will be with you;
and through the rivers,
they will not flow over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched,
nor will the flame burn you.
43:2 This truth was sometimes fulfilled literally in the times of God’s people (Ex 14:21-22; Josh 3:14-17; Dan 3:19-27), but was more often fulfilled in spiritual trials and rescue from spiritual dangers (Ps 66:10-12). If God is with us nothing can ever really harm us (though in our lack of understanding we may think some things do).⚜
3 📚For I am the LORD
your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
your Saviour.
I gave Egypt as
your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba for you.
4 📚Since you were precious
in my sight,
you have been honoured,
and I have loved you.
Therefore I will give men for you,
and people for your life.
43:3-4 When love is deep and strong it is willing to give up any thing for the sake of the loved one. God’s love is like that. We are not told in what sense He gave Egypt and the other nations and peoples for Israel. Some commentators have suggested that it was in allowing Persia to conquer them in return for that nation’s kindness to Israel (Ezra 1:1-4).⚜
5 📚Fear not 📖,
for I am with you.
I will bring your descendants
from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6 📚I will say to the north,
‘Give them up’,
and to the south,
‘Do not restrain them.’
Bring my sons from afar,
and my daughters from
the ends of the earth,
7 📚Each one who is called
by my name;
for I have created him
for my glory;
I have formed him,
yes, I have made him”.
8 📚Bring out the blind people
who have eyes,
and the deaf who have ears.
9 📚Let all the nations be gathered
together,
and let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and tell us former things?
Let them bring forth their witnesses,
that they may be vindicated;
or let them listen,
and say, “It is the truth”.
10 📚“You are my witnesses,
says the LORD,
and my servant whom
I have chosen,
that you may know
and believe me,
and understand that
I am he.
Before me there was
no God formed,
nor will there be after me.
11 📚I, yes, I am the LORD,
and besides me there is no saviour.
43:10-11 See Isa 44:6, 8; 45:5-6, 18, 21, 22; 46:9. Since Jehovah the God of Israel is the one true God, those who worship other gods are not worshiping God at all (Isa 42:8). And those who hope for salvation from some other god will hope in vain, for Jehovah is the only salvation (compare Acts 4:12).⚜
12 📚I have declared,
and have saved,
and I have proclaimed,
when there was
no foreign god among you 📖.
Therefore you are my witnesses,
says the LORD,
that I am God.
13 📚Yes, from the first day
I am he,
and there is no one
who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work,
and who can reverse it?”
43:9-13 God speaks here as if the earth were a courtroom and truth were on trial. Compare Isa 41:1, 21-23. The point of dispute is this question: Who has shown proof that He is the true God by foretelling the future and controlling events? Idolatrous nations are asked to bring forth their witness (v 9). God’s witness was His people Israel (v 10,12). It was through them that God wanted the truth established, the truth that He alone is God and that there can be no other. In the same way Christ’s people in this New Testament age are to be His witnesses (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8; 2:32; 4:20; 5:32; 13:31).⚜
Unfaithful Israel, God’s mercy
14 📚Thus says the LORD,
your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake 📖 I will send to Babylon,
and bring down all their nobles,
and the Chaldeans,
whose shout is in the ships.
15 📚I am the LORD,
your Holy One 📖,
the Creator of Israel, your King 📖.
16 📚Thus says the LORD,
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path in the mighty
waters,
17 📚Who brings out the chariot
and horse,
the army and the power.
They will lie down together,
they will not rise.
They are extinguished,
quenched like a wick.
18 📚“Do not remember the former
things,
or consider the things of old.
19 📚See, I will do a new thing 📖.
Now it will spring forth.
Do you not know it?
I will even make a way
in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert 📖.
20 📚The beast of the field
will honour me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I give water
in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,
for my people, my chosen,
to drink.
43:18-20 God is saying here that His power was not confined to past events, and His people need not dwell on the past as if God no longer could or would act on behalf of His people. Compare Phil 3:13-14.⚜
21 📚This people I have formed
for myself.
They will show forth my praise.
43:21 A reason (similar to the one in v 10) why God created Israel as a nation. When Israel at its best (as in David’s time) fulfilled this purpose it produced the book of Psalms. Now in this age declaring the praise of God is one of the chief responsibilities of the Church (1 Pet 2:9).⚜
22 📚“But you have not called
on me,
O Jacob, and you have been
weary of me, O Israel.
23 📚You have not brought me
the sheep for your burnt
offerings,
nor have you honoured me
with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you
with offerings,
or wearied you with incense.
24 📚You have bought me
no sweet cane with money,
nor have you satisfied me
with the fat of your sacrifices;
but you have burdened me
with your sins,
you have wearied 📖 me
with your evil deeds.
43:22-24 On the whole, Israel was a failure both as a witness and declarer of God’s praise. They did not pray as they ought; their worship was half-hearted and displayed no love for God, no sense of the greatness and wonder of His calling them. In their history they either brought no offerings at all or sometimes brought their poorest things in an unacceptable way (Isa 1:11-17; 29:13; Amos 5:25-26; Mal 1:6-13).⚜
25 📚I, yes, I am the one
who blots out 📖 your transgressions
for my own sake 📖,
and will not remember
your sins 📖.
26 📚“Remind me – let us argue
the case together.
State your position,
so that you may be vindicated.
43:26 In vs 9-12 the world is like a courtroom for the nations. Here Israel is called to the courtroom, not as a witness but as a defendant. Compare Isa 1:18.⚜
27 📚Your first father sinned,
and your teachers have
transgressed against me.
28 📚Therefore I will profane
the princes of the sanctuary,
and give Jacob to the curse,
and Israel to insults.
43:28 The truth of v 25 did not change God’s mind about the necessity of chastising Israel for its sins. Forgiveness does not mean that the guilty will not have to endure some of the consequences of their sins. Note at Num 14:20-23.⚜