Isaiah Chapter 43

From The Open Bible Project

43:1 But now thus says Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.

• (a) After these threatenings he promises deliverance to his Church, because he has regenerated them, adopted them, and called them.
• (b) When you see dangers and conspiracies on all sides, remember this benefit and the love of your God, and it will encourage you.

43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.

• (c) By water and fire he means all kinds of trouble and peril.

43:3 For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

• (d) I turned Sennacherib’s power against these countries, and made them suffer the affliction which you would have done, and so were as the payment of our ransom, (Isaiah 37:9).

43:4 Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you; therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.

• (e) I will not spare any man, rather than you should perish, for God values one of his faithful more than all the wicked in the world.

43:5 Don't be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west.

• (f) He prophecies of their deliverance from the captivity of Babylon, and so of the calling of the universal Church, alluding to that which is written in (Deuteronomy 30:3).

43:6 I will tell the north, 'Give them up!' and tell the south, 'Don't hold them back! Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth--

43:7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.'"

• (g) Meaning that he could not be unmindful of them, unless he would neglect his own Name and glory.

43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.

43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, "That is true."

• (h) Signifying that no power can resist him in doing this miraculous work, nor are all their idols able to do the same, as in (Isaiah 41:22).
• (i) To prove that the things which are spoken of them are true.
• (k) Showing that the malice of the wicked hinders them in the knowledge of the truth, because they will not hear when God speaks by his word.

43:10 "You are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "With 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, neither will there be after me.

• (l) The prophets and people to whom I have given my law.
• (m) Meaning especially Christ, and by him all the faithful.

43:11 I myself am Yahweh; and besides me there is no savior.

43:12 I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "and I am God.

43:13 Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?"

43:14 Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

• (n) By Darius and Cyrus.
• (o) They will cry when they would escape by my water, seeing that the course of the Euphrates is turned another way by the enemy.

43:15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

43:16 Thus says Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

• (p) When he delivered Israel from Pharaoh, (Exodus 14:22).
• (q) When the Israelites passed through Jordan, (Joshua 3:17).

43:17 who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick):

• (r) When he delivered his people out of Egypt.
• (s) Pharaoh and his mighty army.

43:18 "Don't remember the former things, and don't consider the things of old.

43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

• (t) Meaning, that their deliverance out of Babylon would be more famous than that from Egypt was, (Jeremiah 23:7; Haggai 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5,7).

43:20 The animals of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

• (u) They will have such abundance of all things as they return home, even in the dry and barren places, that the very beasts will feel my blessings and will acknowledge them: much more men ought to be thankful for the same.

43:21 the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.

43:22 Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.

• (x) You have not worshipped me as you ought to have done.
• (y) Because you have not willingly received that which I commanded you, you grieved me. By which he shows that his mercies were the only reason for their deliverance, as they had deserved the contrary.

43:23 You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.

• (z) Meaning, in true faith and obedience.

43:24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.

• (a) Either for the composition of the sweet ointment (Exodus 30:34), or for the sweet incense (Exodus 30:7).

43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

43:26 Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified.

• (c) If I forget anything that may make for your justification, put me in remembrance and speak for yourself.

43:27 Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.

• (d) Your ancestors.
• (e) Your priests and your prophets.

43:28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel an insult."

• (f) That is, rejected, abhorred, and destroyed them in the wilderness and at other times.