Isaiah 43
WE are constrained to say, again and again, as we read of God’s ways with man in both Old and New Testaments, How marvelous is His grace! How amazing is His love! The gifts and calling of God (Rom. 11:9) are without repentance (or, not subject to repentance). Having determined to bless, He will bless; He will not give up His purpose because of the unworthiness of the objects of His love, His care.
In the latter part of chapter 42 God has spoken in the most positive way about Israel’s sins, their present state and coming judgment; He goes on in chapter 43 to speak words of deepest comfort to His redeemed. Out of the fearful judgment through which the Jews and (though separately) the last ten tribes, will pass after the present day of grace is ended, there will be a remnant of faith, as the Old Testament prophecies abundantly show.
For them is this exceedingly precious message to encourage the remnant in the fearsome days to come,
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. 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; for I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel thy Saviour. ... Fear not, for I am with thee. ... (verses 1-7).
The little land of Palestine, which many unbelieving Jews think too small and too far from the busy centers of the world, will be large enough for all of Israel that shall be converted to God. And as to its capacity to sustain them, we need only turn to Dent. 8:7-9; 11:12 and 32:8.
All the earth will see what God has wrought in that day, —the blind that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears (Israel), and the nations and peoples, idolaters witnessing to the truth of the living God and the worthlessness of their idols (verses 8, 9).
“I am He,” in verses 10 and 13 is a name of God the Hebrew word for which is found in chapter 41:4; in Deut. 32:39; 2 Sam. 7:28; Neh. 9:6, 7; Psa. 44:4 and 102:27 and is quoted in Heb. 1:12. It has the meaning of “the Same,” “the self-existent One who does not change,” in contrast to man who is so changeable.
The God who has revealed Himself in His Word, is eternal in His existence; before Him there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Him; He is the covenant-keeping God; and beside Him there is no Saviour.
“The eternal God is thy refuge.” Deut. 33:27. “A just God and a Saviour, there is none beside Me.” Isa. 45:21. How suited to the dire need of poor, lost, undone man!
Verses 14-17 refer to the judgments to be executed on the nations in the last days, and verses 18-21 to the blessing that will follow the judgments.
But that day has not come; until it does, the conscience-searching words of verses 22-24 hold against Israel. How touching is the language of this passage:
For His own sake, God will not blot out their transgressions, and will not remember their sins. They will have no merits of their own to plead; they can take refuge in nothing less than the only acceptable plea of any poor sinner today (Isa. 53:5, 6; Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:23, 24; Tit. 3:3-5),
“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee —
Lamb of God, I come!”
“Thy first father” (verse 27) is Adam; by one man sin entered into the world (Rom. 5:12). “Thy teachers” is literally “thy interpreters,” and it is so given in Job 33:23; it is those who were in position as God’s ambassadors to the people.
In 2 Chron. 32:31 The same Hebrew word is translated “ambassadors.” The whole nation was far from God—people, prophets and priests; therefore judgment long deferred was overtaking them.
ML 12/24/1933