ISAIAH 43 The Book of Isaiah is a miniature bible. The first thirty-nine chapters (like the thirty-nine books of the O.T.) are filled with judgment upon immoral and idolatrous men. Judgment must come, for God cannot allow sin to go unpunished forever. But the final twenty-seven chapters (like the twenty- seven books of the N.T.) declare a message of hope. The Messiah is coming as a Savior to bear the cross for our sins and be crowned as Lord! Thus, in chapters 41-44, as I mentioned last time, we find a theme of divine hope whereby the prophet declares, “fear not!” Isaiah’s ministry spanned some 40 years, beginning around 740 B.C. and ending in 681 B.C. Judah, however, would not be carried away in the “first” Babylonian Captivity until around 597 B.C. almost 85 years after Isaiah’s ministry ends. *three altogether – Jeremiah 52:28-30. The reason for Isaiah’s exhortation to Judah, although they would soon be defeated and many carried away in the Babylonian Captivity, is “The Lord is your God.”

(v.1, 2) "I have redeemed you," – Redeem: ransom by means of a price, as of captives taken in war; or a farm by paying back the price. We are redeemed through the blood of Christ; there are three attributes of God’s redemptive work.

Affirmation - “You are Mine.” (v.1b) (Malachi 3:17) “They shall be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” “I have called you by your name…” The Hebrew word for “name” implies; God knows our definite and conspicuous position; (conspicuous: clearly visible obvious or showy). In other words by knowing your name God knows you intimately; so much so that even the “hidden” things are open and visible to Him; and yet He still called you! (Hebrews 4:13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. And because we are His, He promises to preserve us; the “flood” will not overflow us, nor the “fire” burn us! (Red Sea/ Fiery furnace). Reputation - “I am the Lord your God.” (v.3a) (v.3b); refers to the fact that the countries specified would be made desolate, in order to effect the deliverance of the Jews; the prophet is speaking here of pass events, as a reminder of His faithfulness. They were “destroyed” instead of you. In other words consider “My reputation,” and rest in Me; because you are “precious” in His sight, “honored,” and “loved” by God. In Him is all that we need.

“I am the Lord.” Grammatically speaking, God is our everlasting predicate nominative: a noun or pronoun which follows the verb and describes or renames the subject. Thus, “Lord” is the predicate nominative of “I am.” Jesus said: I am, (predicate nominative) the “Bread of Life.” (John 6:35). Moses asked God in Exodus 3:13, 14 what should I answer the children of Israel when they ask who sent me, God replied tell them; “I AM WHO I AM.” Literally: “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.” “I Will Be, what you need!” When we cry out Lord I need hope, peace, strength, food, resources, etc. God replies; “I AM!” That’s why Jesus said: (Matthew 6:33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. The last attribute of God’s redemptive work found here, is; Restoration – “I am with you” (v.5-9). These verses can be applied in two ways, one in relationship historically to the return of Israel from Babylonian exile; secondly, it can also be applied to the church. (v.9) The gathering of the nations, (is a judicial metaphor; 41:1) is an indication that the reference here is related to an “end times” event. God “challenges” the nations by pointing out some “previous” instance of foreknowledge and prediction. The re-establishment of Israel as a nation would be a good one; no one could declare it, but God predicted it (Isaiah 66: 8, 9) and brought it to pass, May 14, 1948. Thus, those who could not “declare this” should “be quiet” and declare God is true! (Romans 3:4) “…let God be true and every man a liar.” By His word He affirms that, that which was once hopelessly dead will live again! God alone has done it; we are witnesses of His great Salvation and Sovereignty! (v.10-13). (v.13) No one can “reverse” His great love for you? (Romans 8:37-39) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (v.14-17) speak of Babylon’s defeat. (Daniel 5). (v.18-21) These verses speak not only of King Cyrus’s decree in 2 Chron. 36:22, 23, which released Israel to return to the land, but it also speaks of a “faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19) who has decreed an irreversible “blessing” for His people. I will do a “new thing” - unheard of, fresh; to restore. Before we can move “forward” we have to forget the “former,” trusting God to create that which we cannot create ourselves. “There is an art of forgetting, and every Christian should become skilled in it. Forgetting the things which are behind is a positive necessity if we are to become more than mere babes in Christ. If we cannot trust God to have dealt effectually with our past we may as well throw in the sponge now and have it over with. Fifty years of grieving over our sins cannot blot out their guilt. But if God has indeed pardoned and cleansed us, then we should count it done and waste no more time in sterile lamentations.” (A.W. Tozer)

(Philippians 3:13b-14) “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Despite all of God’s promises Israel refuses to call upon their God. (v.22-24) (v.23) “You have not so performed your ceremonial duties as to lay Me under any obligation to protect you. I have not succeeded in inducing you to serve Me; or to exert yourselves much less wearied or exhausted you in ceremonial services.”(Joseph A. Alexander) The overall thought being: Zeal-less service is offensive to God. God did not ask them to do more, yet they were “weary” with the little they performed for Him, in service! They were going through the motions without any real expectation of God’s deliverance. (Hebrews 11:6b) “…for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (v.25-28) God’s remedy, “repentance.” Contend; judge, decide. “State your case…” the image here is of a trial. Being in “agreement” with God is our strongest plea; reminding Him is of “His promises,” rather than our own! “Put Me in remembrance...”