Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43:1–7 NASB95

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. “Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

GOD IS WITH US

“But now” - Israel had sinned and because of it God’s wrath was coming down on them

“do not be afraid” Why?

he created them

he redeemed them (payed the ransom as next of kin, very personal

he called them by name

they belonged to God

he is with them and will help them

Note: Who he is...

Yaweh

Creator

Holy One of Israel

Savior - unable to save themselves

Redeemer - paid the ransom

King

v. 4 God’s attitude towards His children (obedient)

precious

honored

loved (in the past to the present)

v. 5

“do not fear” why?

I am with you

I will bring and gather you

calls them His sons and daughters

Galatians 3:26–29 NASB95

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Romans 8:16 NASB95

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

v. 7

created,formed, made - FOR HIS GLORY

Romans 11:36 NASB95

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 16:27 NASB95

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:21 NASB95

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:21 NASB95

equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

ARE WE GLORIFYING THE ONE WHO CREATED, MADE, & FORMED US?

GOD’S WITNESS

v. 8-9

God calls on the nations to verify the ability of their false gods to

declare truth

interpret past events

predict future events

v. 10 He chose them has his servant so that others would

know God through his dealings with them

to believe what he says and to trust him

to understand that he is the only God

Had they done this up to this point? Have we?

v. 11-13 He is the only Lord & Savior

God is absolute Lord & Savior

God is absolute in His declarations

God is absolute in His actions

they have first hand experience (Acts 1:8)

WHAT KIND OF WITNESS ARE WE?

v. 14-15

Note: again the terms used to describe the one true and living God: Lord, Redeemer, Holy One of Israel, Creator, King

Babylon and all they held in high regard would be brought down

v. 16ff shows God’s Power to deliver using the history of His deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Ex. 14ff)

v. 19

“I will do something new”

1) This would be a new thing—greater even than deliverance from a nation;

often used in connection with the coming of the Messiah (Isa. 42:9,10; 48:6; 62:2; 65:17; 66:22; Ezek 11:19; 18:31; 36:26).

2) It involved a road and rivers in barren area, language associated with the Messianic age (e.g. Isa. 19:23; 35:8ff; 40:3; 51:3).

3) It included a creation of people to praise God—the church (5-7; Lk 1:74, 75; Eph 1:5,6; 1 Pet 2:9).

v. 22-24. Israel was guilty of viewing their service to God as a burden, making them weary (Isa. 7:13; Jer 9:5; Mic 6:3; Hab 3:2; Mal 2:17).

a. Their sacrifices did not honor God because of their attitudes (Isa. 1:10ff; Jer 7:21ff; Mic 6:7ff).

b. God had not burdened them with the sacrificial system.

c. The sacrifices were neither sacrificial on their part or satisfying to the Lord.

d. And, rather than God being a burden on them, their sins were a burden on, and wearied, God!

e. They were guilty! They did not earn or merit the deliverance God would bring

about!

What does this say about our worship services and the pattern of our daily lives?

1) Do we merely fulfill requirements or

2) Do we respond to Jehovah from a true and loving heart?

God is the only one who can blot out sins and he will do it not because their own merit.

Romans 3:23–26 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

he will not remember your sins - Ezek. 33:16

God commands them to remind Him if they can of any merit on their part and to bring their case before Him to try to justify themselves.

a. He knew they could not meet the challenge because He knew their sins (e.g. Amos 5:12; Ezek 8:12; 9:9).

b. The people had sinned from the beginning, including those who were supposed to teach them (Isa. 53:6; Psa 14:2,3; 53:3).

c. For that reason He will subject the religious leaders, and the people, to punishment.