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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Isaiah Chapter 43

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Isaiah
Date Penned: (700-681 BC)
Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)
Theme: Words of Comfort (c 40-66)
Message: There is No Other Savior (v 1-28)

Isaiah 43 Commentary 

(43:1) God's Mercy - Isaiah 42 ended with God's sorrow over the spiritual decay of his people. In Isaiah 43, God said that despite the people's spiritual failure, he would show them mercy, bring them back from captivity, and restore them. He would give them an outpouring of love, not wrath. Then the world would know that God alone had done this. We can be grateful God also treats us mercifully even though we sin and have many shortcomings. 

(43:1-4) God Protects Israel - God created the nation of Israel, and he had a special relationship with his people. God redeemed them and called them by name to be the ones who belong to him. God often protected Israel in times of trouble. When he allowed his people to suffer destruction and captivity, he was preparing them for redemption later. God wants a special relationship with us, too. Since we belong to him and bear his wonderful name, we must remember that he is always with us. We must learn to cling to him during times of adversity because only his merciful love is strong enough to give us freedom from evil's destructive power. 

(43:2) Growing Stronger - When we go through rivers of difficulty, we will either drown or grow stronger as we learn to keep our heads above the water. If you try to make it with your own strength, you will likely drown. If you invite the Lord to go with you, he will be in the river with you and teach you how to navigate the treacherous waters. 

(43:3) The Persians - God gave other nations to Persia as a prize in exchange for returning the Jews to their homeland. Egypt, Ethiopia, and parts of Arabia (Seba) had attacked Persia, and the Persians defeated them. 

(43:5-6) Peace on Earth - Isaiah was speaking primarily of Israel's return from Babylon. But there is a broader meaning: All of God's people will be regathered when Christ comes to rule in peace over the earth. 

(43:10-11) Being a Witness - Israel's task was to be a witness (44:8), telling the world who God is and what he has done. All believers today have the assignment to be God's witnesses. Do people experience God's love through your words and example? Although they may not see God directly, they can see him reflected in you. 

(43:13) Knowing God - To know God will never let us go is a great encouragement. His patience and unending love hold us close to him. When you feel alone and are tempted to think God doesn't know you or care about you, remember that nothing can take you away from him once you belong to him. Memorize this verse and recite it often. 

(43:15-21) God's Deliverance - This section pictures a new exodus like the one Israel's ancestors had experienced when they fled from Egypt. The Israelites would again cry to God for deliverance, and he would hear and deliver them. A new exodus would take place through a new wilderness. The past miracles were nothing compared to what God would do for his people in the future. 

(43:19) The Promise of God - What was this new thing God would be doing? Isaiah delivered a message of new life and new hope for Israel. This promise of God would be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (See 44:3 for more on God's Spirit.) We can experience new life in him by following his new path and drinking his refreshing new water (see John 4:10-15).

(43:22-24)  Our Sacrifice - A sacrifice required both giving up a valuable animal and pleading with God for forgiveness. But the people presented God with sins instead of sacrifices. Can you imagine bringing the best of your sins to God's altar? This ironic picture shows the depths to which Israel had sunk. What do you present to God--your sins or a plea for his forgiveness? 

(43:25) Forgiving and Forgetting - How tempting it is to remind someone of a past offense! But when God forgives our sins, he totally forgets them. We never have to fear that he will remind us of them later. Because God forgives us, we need to forgive others.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Walking Through the Valley

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 43. In our text today, we see there is no other Savior and the promise of victory for God's people. What catches my eye is that for those who are His Children, He promises to be with us in the fire and waters of life. In making an application, we can rest assured that if we are saved, our Lord will never leave or forsake us. He will be with us as we walk through the valleys of life and uphold us with His Mighty Right Hand. How about you? Are you walking through a valley? Let us learn from our text today and the promises of the Bible to remember that our Lord will be with us as we walk through the valley. 

 

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Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43

 1But 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.

 2When 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.

 3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

 4Since 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.

 5Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

 6I 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;

 7Even 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.

 8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

 9Let 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.

 10Ye 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.

 11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

 12I 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.

 13Yea, 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?

 14Thus 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.

 15I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

 16Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

 17Which 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.

 18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

 19Behold, 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.

 20The 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.

 21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

 22But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

 23Thou 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.

 24Thou 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.

 25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

 26Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

 27Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

 28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.