Isaiah 43:1

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, &c.] This prophecy is not concerning Cyrus, and the redemption of the Jews by him, as some have thought; nor of Sennacherib and his army, and of their deliverance from him, as Kimchi and his father interpret it; but of the Christian church, and the state of it, when Jerusalem should be destroyed, as predicted in the preceding chapter; which goes by the name of Jacob and Israel, for the first churches chiefly consisted of Jews, and both Jews and Gentiles converted are the spiritual Israel of God: and he that formed thee, O Israel; this creation and formation are not so much to be understood of their being the creatures of God, and the…”

“A SUCCESSION OF ARGUMENTS WHEREIN ISRAEL MAY BE ASSURED THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR PERVERSITY TOWARDS GOD (Isa 42:25), HE WILL DELIVER AND RESTORE THEM. (Isa. 43:1-28) But now--notwithstanding God's past just judgments for Israel's sins. created--not only in the general sense, but specially created as a peculiar people unto Himself (Isa 43:7, Isa 43:15, Isa 43:21; Isa 44:2, Isa 44:21, Isa 44:24). So believers, "created in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10), "a peculiar people" (Pe1 2:9). redeemed--a second argument why they should trust Him besides creation. The Hebrew means to ransom by a price paid in lieu of the captives (compare Isa 43:3). Babylon was to be the ransom in this case, that is, was…”

“But now - This expression shows that this chapter is connected with the preceding. The sense is, “Though God has punished the nation, and showed them his displeasure Isaiah 42:24-25, yet now he will have mercy, and will deliver them.’ That created thee - The word ‘thee’ is used here evidently in a collective sense as denoting the Jewish people. It is used because the names ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ in the singular number are applied to the people. The word ‘created’ is used here to denote the idea that, as the special people of God, they owed their origin to him, as the universe owed its origin to his creative power. It means that, as a people, their institutions, laws, customs, and privileges,…”

“But - Notwithstanding thy gross insensibleness, I will deal mercifully with thee. Created - That made thee his people, and that in so miraculous a manner as if he had created thee a second time. Redeemed - From the Egyptians. Called thee - By the name of God's people, which was as proper and peculiar to them, as the name of Israel. Isaiah 43:3”

“43:1-7 In this promise of salvation, the Lord addressed his plundered people in the first person. 43:1 the Lord who created you: The language of creation (see study note on 40:28) was now applied to God’s formation of the nation Israel. • I have ransomed you: At the Exodus, when God brought his people out of bondage. Similarly, God planned to bring his people out of exile and back into their land. Ultimately, Jesus gave his life as a ransom for all humanity (Matt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:6; Heb 9:15) • I have called you by name; you are mine: Despite having faced his wrath, the people of Israel are still God’s chosen people.”

“created: Isa 43:7, Isa 43:15, Isa 43:21, Isa 44:2, Isa 44:21; Psa 100:3, Psa 102:18; Jer 31:3, Jer 33:24, Jer 33:26; Eph 2:10 Fear: Isa 43:14, Isa 35:9, Isa 35:10, Isa 41:14, Isa 44:6, Isa 44:22-24, Isa 48:17, Isa 54:4, Isa 54:5, Isa 62:12, Isa 63:16; Exo 15:13; Jer 50:34; Tit 2:14; Rev 5:9 I have called: Isa 42:6, Isa 44:5, Isa 45:4, Isa 49:1; Exo 33:17; Act 27:20, Act 27:25 thou art mine: Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6; Deu 32:9; Eze 16:8; Zac 13:9; Mal 3:17; Ti2 2:19; Heb 8:8-10 Isaiah 43:2”

“The tone of the address is now suddenly changed. The sudden leap from reproach to consolation was very significant. It gave them to understand, that no meritorious work of their own would come in between what Israel was and what it was to be, but that it was God's free grace which came to meet it. "But now thus saith Jehovah thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Former, O Israel! Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by name, thou art mine. When thou goest through the water, I am with thee; and through rivers, they shall not drown thee: when thou goest into fire, thou shalt not be burned; and the flame shall not set thee on fire." The punishment has now lasted quite long enough;…”