431 And now, thus said Jehovah, Thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Fashioner, O Israel, Be not afraid, for I have redeemed thee, I have called on thy name—thou 'art' Mine. 2 When thou passest into waters, I 'am' with thee, And into floods, they do not overflow thee, When thou goest into fire, thou art not burnt, And a flame doth not burn against thee. 3 For I—Jehovah thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour, I have appointed Egypt thine atonement, Cush and Seba in thy stead. 4 Since thou wast precious in Mine eyes, Thou wast honoured, and I have loved thee, And I appoint men in thy stead, And peoples instead of thy life. 5 Be not afraid, for I 'am' with thee, From the east I bring in thy seed, And from the west I gather thee. 6 I am saying to the north, 'Give up,' And to the south, 'Restrain not.' Bring in My sons from afar, And My daughters from the end of the earth. 7 Every one who is called by My name, Even for My honour I have created him, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.
8 He brought out a blind people who have eyes, And deaf ones who have ears. 9 All the nations have been gathered together, And the peoples are assembled, Who among them declareth this, And former things causeth us to hear? They give their witnesses, And they are declared righteous, And they hear and say, 'Truth.' 10 Ye 'are' My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And My servant whom I have chosen, So that ye know and give credence to Me, And understand that I 'am' He, Before Me there was no God formed, And after Me there is none. 11 I—I 'am' Jehovah, And besides Me there is no saviour. 12 I—I declared, and saved, and proclaimed, And there is no stranger with you, And ye 'are' My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I 'am' God. 13 Even from the day I 'am' He, And there is no deliverer from My hand, I work, and who doth turn it back?
14 Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: 'For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And caused bars to descend—all of them, And the Chaldeans, whose song 'is' in the ships. 15 I 'am' Jehovah, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King.' 16 Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path. 17 Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: 'Together they lie down—they rise not, They have been extinguished, As flax they have been quenched.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 43:1-17
Commentary on Isaiah 43:1-7
(Read Isaiah 43:1-7)
God's favour and good-will to his people speak abundant comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is of God's forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them need not fear who or what can be against them. What are Egypt and Ethiopia, all their lives and treasures, compared with the blood of Christ? True believers are precious in God's sight, his delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. The faithful are encouraged. They were to be assembled from every quarter. And with this pleasing object in view, the prophet again dissuades from anxious fears.
Commentary on Isaiah 43:8-13
(Read Isaiah 43:8-13)
Idolaters are called to appear in defence of their idols. Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love
Commentary on Isaiah 43:14-21
(Read Isaiah 43:14-21)
The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.