Isaiah43

The LORD assures Israel of His unwavering presence, protection, and redemption, declaring them His chosen people, created for His glory. He challenges other nations to present their gods, affirming Himself as the sole God and Saviour. Though Israel has sinned and wearied Him, God promises to blot out their transgressions for His own sake, while also recalling the consequences of their past unfaithfulness.
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God Promises Protection and Restoration

1
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. ​
2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ​
3
For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. ​
4
Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5
Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. ​

Israel as God's Witnesses

8
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. ​
9
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ​
10
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ​
11
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. ​
12
I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
13
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? ​

The Lord's New Act of Deliverance

14
Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. ​
15
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
16
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; ​
17
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
18
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. ​
19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ​
20
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
21
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. ​

Israel's Sin and God's Unilateral Grace

22
But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. ​
23
Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
24
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. ​
25
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. ​
26
Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. ​
27
Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. ​
28
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 43

Verse 1

This verse establishes the foundation of God's relationship with Israel: He is the Creator ('formed thee') and the Redeemer ('I have redeemed thee'). Being 'called by name' signifies a personal, covenantal relationship.

Verse 2

The imagery of 'waters,' 'rivers,' and 'fire' symbolizes severe trials and dangers, specifically referring to the hardships of exile. God promises preservation and presence through these ordeals.

Verse 3

The reference to giving Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as ransom may refer to the historical or future geopolitical events surrounding Cyrus’s conquests, where God allowed these territories to fall to secure Israel's freedom from Babylon.

Verse 7

The ultimate purpose of Israel’s creation and formation is directly tied to God's glory. The people are redeemed so that they might reflect and declare His praise.

Verse 8

This verse initiates a divine lawsuit (a legal challenge). The 'blind people that have eyes' refers to Israel, who, despite experiencing God's acts, failed to perceive His truth and power.

Verse 9

God challenges the nations and their idol-gods to produce witnesses who can prove their power by accurately predicting 'former things' (past events) or the future.

Verse 10

Israel is explicitly designated as Yahweh’s chosen witnesses. Their existence and history are meant to demonstrate the unique reality of the one true God, who alone exists eternally.

Verse 11

This is a profound statement of monotheism. Yahweh emphatically declares His exclusive identity: He is the only Lord, and salvation (deliverance) comes from Him alone, contrasting Him with impotent idols.

Verse 13

This asserts God’s eternal pre-existence ('before the day was I am he') and His absolute sovereignty over all events. Nothing can thwart His plan ('who shall let it?').

Verse 14

God is identified as the 'redeemer' who will intervene directly in world affairs. He promises to send agents (likely Cyrus) against Babylon to facilitate Israel's release from exile.

Verse 16

The language explicitly recalls the miracle of the Exodus, where God made a way through the Red Sea, setting the stage for the comparison with the 'new thing' He is about to do.

Verse 18

A surprising command. God instructs Israel not to fixate only on the glorious past (the Exodus), because the coming deliverance from Babylon will be a greater, 'new' display of His power.

Verse 19

The 'new thing' is the imminent return from exile, which will involve a miraculous journey through the wilderness, providing water and resources, echoing the Exodus but surpassing it.

Verse 21

The purpose of the new creation (the restored nation) is identical to the original purpose: to be a people dedicated to declaring God’s praise and glory.

Verse 22

The tone abruptly shifts from promises of salvation to confrontation. God accuses Israel of spiritual apathy and weariness, contrasting their failure with His boundless grace.

Verse 24

God denies burdening Israel with excessive ritual demands. Instead, Israel has burdened God, making Him 'serve' through the weight of their persistent sins and iniquities.

Verse 25

This verse is the theological climax. God promises forgiveness not because Israel repented or offered sufficient sacrifice, but purely 'for mine own sake'—to maintain His character and reputation as a gracious God.

Verse 26

God challenges Israel to a legal debate, inviting them to present evidence of their own righteousness to justify themselves. This rhetorical challenge highlights their absolute failure and need for grace.

Verse 27

The 'first father' may refer to Jacob (the patriarch) or the nation’s founding leaders. This confirms that sin and transgression have been characteristic of Israel throughout its history.

Verse 28

Because of their pervasive sin, God withdrew His protection, allowing the desecration of the temple leadership ('princes of the sanctuary') and the catastrophe of the Babylonian exile ('given Jacob to the curse').

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