Isaiah 43
-God, the Creator and Former of
Israel, is the Redeemer who calls His people by name so they are commanded not
to fear. When His people pass through the waters, their Redeemer will be with
them and the rivers will not overflow them in a destroying flood. When they
walk through the fire, they will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn them.
For the Holy One of Israel will save them and give their enemies (Egypt, Cush,
and Seba) as their ransom. His people are precious in His sight; they are
honored and loved by the Father. They (Everyone called by the Name of the LORD
created for His glory) will be gathered back into the land from the north,
south, east, and west, all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 43:1-7). *Application*
God’s call for the redeemed is certainly not limited to the Jewish race, though
they have a special place in His economy. All who have believed in the Messiah
are invited, even here in the Old Testament, to participate by faith in the
Kingdom of God. Do not fear, He is with us. Pass through the waters of
tribulation and the fires of trials knowing you won’t drown or be burned.
-The next section can be labeled Israel, God’s Witness. The plea is given
in verse eight to bring out the people who are blind though they have eyes and
deaf though they have ears. This is to be interpreted as spiritual
misperception and hardness. All the nations have gathered to hear the
declaration and proclamation of the former things, but there is none to speak
for their justification and truth. It is the Jewish people that He has revealed
His plan through in clarity. They are the servant that He has chosen so that
all may know and believe in Him (God, Jesus) and understand that He is the One.
There is none before or after. He alone is God. There is no Savior besides Him.
It is the LORD that has declared and saved and proclaimed. There was no strange
substitute in any other god among His revelation to His people; so they are His
witnesses by the LORD’s declaration. God is eternal, keeps what’s His, and
all-powerful. None can reverse His righteous acts (Isaiah 43:8-13).
*Application* Justification by faith in the eternal Son of God is God’s plan
for salvation given through the covenant to His people for all the world to
know.
-The Redeemer of Israel, who is
the Holy One, will bring down Babylon (the world system set up against God and
His people, this has literal and symbolic significance). God makes the way
possible. The former captivity are things of the past. “Behold, I (the LORD)
will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I
will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” The beasts
like the jackals and the ostriches will glorify the LORD because of His
abundant resources in a parched land, which will give drink to His chosen
people. The people whom God formed for Himself will declare His praise (Isaiah
41:17-20; 43:14-21, Matthew 24:15-21, Mark 13:14-19, Luke 21:20-24, Revelation
12:6). *Application* God will bring us through every tribulation in our lives,
even the Great Tribulation, for His glory. He has a plan and a purpose for
everything.
-Even though God had been at work
through His people from the start and would use them for His ultimate glory at
the end of the age, they, at the time of Isaiah’s writing, had not called on
Him and had become weary of Him. They didn’t bring burnt offerings (a sign of
repentance and a whole heart) or honor (fear, reverence, awe) to the LORD with
sacrifices. They had not filled God with praise, but had burdened Him with
their sins and wearied Him with their iniquities. He, even with these
imperfections listed, wipes out His people’s transgressions for His Name’s
sake. He will not remember their sins. He commands that they put Him in their
remembrance, and encourages them to argue together to establish the facts. They
will find that they are indeed guilty and that God will be vindicated by every
one of His actions (Isaiah 43:22-28). *Application* How does God see you today?
Let Him establish every fact in your life. Let His cleansing flow enlighten and
draw you into His good graces through the payment of the cross of Christ Jesus.
Verses to Memorize: Isaiah 43:1-2, 10, 18-19
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