Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43:1

BƲt now, &c.] Or, Yet now. as Chap. 44. 1. After the former threats and reproofs of the obstinate, he subjoyneth yet promises of protection and deliverance to his chosen, regenerate, called and adopted ones. Chap. 41. 8-10. & 44. 2.

Fear not] Chap. 45. 4.

I have called thee by thy name] I take speciall notice of thee, and have speciall care of thee. Exodus 33:17.

Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest, &c.] I will secure thee amidst all dangers and difficulties; meant here by fire and water. Exodus 14:22. Daniel 3:27. Psalms 66:12.

Isaiah 43:3

I gave Egypt for thy ransome] By turning Senacheribs forces, which came to prey upon thee, against them. Chap. 37. 7, 9. Proverbs 11:8. & Proverbs 21:18.

Ethiopia and Seba for thee] Heb. Chush.

Isaiah 43:4

honourable] Chap. 42. 21.

will I give] Or, have I given.

men] Heb. man.

for thy life] Or, person. Heb. soul. Psalms 88:3. & Psalms 119:25. Proverbs 28:17. Rather then thou shouldest perish, I will not spare any man: for God more esteemeth one of his faithfull, then a whole world of wicked ones. Psalms 116:15. Or, I did, to save thee, put those nations into the hand of Senacherib; and did afterward also slay him. Chap. 37. 38.

Isaiah 43:5

Fear not, &c.] Vers. 1. Chap. 41. 10. & 44. 1, 2. Jeremiah 30:10. & Jeremiah 46:27.

I will bring thy seed from the east, &c.] Performed in the breaking up of the Babylonian captivitie by Cyrus, Ezra 1:3-4. according to Gods promise, Deuteronomy 30:3-5. but most fully by Christ, Chap. 66. 19. Zechariah 8:7.

west] Heb. evening coast. Chap. 45. 6.

Isaiah 43:7

I have created him for my glory] And can not therefore be unmindfull of them, unlesse I would neglect mine own glory. Chap. 48. 9, 11. Vers. 1. 21.

Isaiah 43:8

Bring forth the blinde people that have eyes, and the deaf that

have eares] Or, Bringing. Or, I will bringing bring forth (as Eccl. 4. 2. & 9. 11. Jeremiah 14:5.) the blind people, and them that have eyes; and the deaf, and them that have eares. Produce these people, that are wilfully blind and deaf, Chap. 42. 19, 20. and see, if they can say ought further in defence of their idols. Vers. 9. Or, Bring them out all together, of all sorts; as well blind and deaf, as having sight and hearing. Vers. 9. Or, I will produce those people, to shew my power, who being such naturally, have been restored to spirituall sight and hearing by my help. Chap. 35. 5. and 42. 7, 16.

Isaiah 43:9

who among them can declare this &c.] What God; or which of their idols can do the like? Chap. 41. 21, 22. and 44. 7.

let them bring forth their witnesses] To prove the things spoken by them to be true.

that they may be justified] Chap. 41. 26.

or let them heare and say, It is truth] Otherwise, let them yeeld to the truth of Gods word: which out of meer obstinacie they now refuse to do.

Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses] My prophets and people can give testimony sufficient for me. Chap. 44. 8.

my servant] Jesus Christ. Chap. 42. 1. and 55. 4. and all the faithfull with him. John 3:33. 1 John 5:10.

I am he] Chap. 41. 4.

before me] Chap. 44. 8. and 45. 21.

no God formed] Or, nothing formed of God.

Isaiah 43:11

I am the LORD] Chap. 42. 8. and 45. 21. Hosea 13:4.

Isaiah 43:12

I have declared] Chap. 46. 10.

when there was no strange god among you] When by his own power alone he brought his people out of Egypt, and led them through the wildernesse. Deuteronomy 32:12. Jeremiah 2:2.

Isaiah 43:13

before the day was, I am he] Or, since the day was, I am. John 8:58. Or, am the same Psalms 102:27.

I will work, and who shall let it] Or, what I do, who shall undo? Job 9:12. Chap. 14. 27. Heb. turn it back: or, reverse it.

Isaiah 43:14

I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles] Or, I will send. The Modes and Persians thither: by whom I will bring down all their great ones, and cast down all their strong holds. Heb. barres. Psalms 147:13. Or, enforce them by flight to shift for themselves: will bring them all down flying; or, all their flyers away: for the Hebrew word may also so signifie. See Chap 27. 1.

whose cry is in the ships] While they seek to flie away by shiping, their citie being taken; but finde the water of the river turned another way. See Jeremiah 50:38. and Jeremiah 51:32. Or, together with their shipping, whereof they so much vaunt.

Isaiah 43:15

your king] Psalms 74:12. Chap. 33. 22.

Isaiah 43:16

which maketh a way in the sea] When he delivered Israel from Pharaoh. Exod. 14. 22, 29. implying that this deliverance should be as admirable as that. Chap. 44. 27. See Psalms 77:19. Chap. 63. 11-14.

a path in the mighty waters] When they passed through Jordan. Joshua 3:7; Joshua 3:10. Zechariah 11:3.

Isaiah 43:17

bringeth forth the chariot and horse, &c.] Who brought out Pharaoh with all his forces to their own ruine and destruction. Exod. 14. 8, 9, 28.

as tow] Or, a candle-week. Chap. 42. 3.

Isaiah 43:18

Remember ye not the former things] Implying, that their ensuing deliverances should be more famous and memorable, then were the former Jer. 16. 14, 15. & 23. 7, 8.

Isaiah 43:19

I will do] Or, am doing.

a new thing] Chap. 42. 10. 2 Corinthians 5:17. & 2 Corinthians 21:5.

now it shall spring forth] Or, it is already springing out. See Chap. 13. 22.

shall ye not know it] Or, do ye not perceive it?

make a way in the wildernesse] Make a free passage, with removall of all lets, and supplie of all necessaries, for my people in their return from captivitie. Chap. 40. 3, 4. & 41. 18, 19. & 49. 10. Jeremiah 31:9.

Isaiah 43:20

The beast of the field shall honour me] The very wilde beasts shall fare the better for the passage of my people; as Numbers 20:8.

owls] Or, ostriches Lamentations 4:3. Heb. daughters of the owl. Chap. 34. 13.

Isaiah 43:21

This people have I formed for my self, they shall shew forth my praise] Or, which I have formed for my self, shall shew forth my praise. Vers. 7. Luke 1. 74, 75.

Isaiah 43:22

thou hast not called upon me] Not worshipped me, as thou oughtest. Psalms 79:6. Jeremiah 10:25. Or, not sought unto me in thy troubles. Chap. 9. 13. & 64. 7. Hos. 7. 7, 14.

but thou hast been weary of me] Or, when thou wast afflicted by me.

weary of me] Thou hast been weary of my service. Malac. 1. 13.

Isaiah 43:23

hast not brought me the small cattell] Heb. lambs, or kids. Exodus 12:5. But hast offered to strange gods. Deuteron. 32. 17. Amos 5. 25, 26.

Isaiah 43:24

sweet cane] Either for the composition of the sweet ointment, Exodus 30. 34. or for the incense, Exodus 30:7. Jerem. 6. 20.

filied me] Heb. made me drunk; or, abundantly moistned. Chap. 34. 5, 7.

wearied me with thine iniquities] With the heavy load of thy sinnes. Chap. 7. 13. and 63. 10. Ezekiel 6:9. Amos 2:13.

Isaiah 43:25

that blotteth out thy transgressions] Chap. 44. 22. Ezek. 36. 22, &c.

for mine own sake] It is for mine own honour, and out of meer meicy and free favour; not for any desert of yours, having thus caried your selves towards me; that I deliver you, and do all this for you Chap. 48. 9. Ezekiel 36:32. So Psalms 6:4. and 25. 7, 11. and 106. 8. and 115. 1.

will not remeber thy sinnes] No more regard them, then as If I had clean forgotten them; as Psalms 45:10. So Psalms 25:7. and Psalms 79:8. See Jeremiah 31:34. Hosea 4:6.

Isaiah 43:26

Put me in remembrance, &c.] If I have omitted ought, that might make for thy justification, minde me of it. Chap. 1. 19. and 43. 9. and 62. 6. Jeremiah 2:5.

that thou mayest be justified] Or, cleer thy self.

Isaiah 43:27

Thy first father] Either Adam, or their ancestors. Job 31:33. Chap. 1. 5. Ezekiel 16:3.

thy teachers] Thy Priests and Prophets. Chap. 38. 7. Heb. interpreters. Job 33:23. Or, Orators; or, Ambassadours. 2 Chronicles 32:31. whose office it was to mediate between God and his people, making known his will to them. Deuteronomy 33:10. Jerem. 15. 19. Malachi 2:7. and praying to him for them. Exodus 32:30 1 Samuel 12:23. Malachi 1:9.

Isaiah 43:28

I have profaned] Rejected, abhorted, destroyed; exposed to cursing, shame, and reproach. Psalm. 44. 13, 14. Jeremiah 23:40. and Jeremiah 24:9. Or, dealt with them, as with profane and common persons, not regarding their place and dignitie. Psalms 89:39. Chap. 47. 6. Lamentations 2:2. Or, Therefore I might justly, and should thus do, should I proceed against you, according to your deserts. Lamentations 2:22.

the princes of the sanctuary] Or, of holinesse. Chap. 62. 9. that is, hoy princes. Either the Rulers of the Temple, Jeremiah 20:1. or, the Kings anointed with holy oil; Psalms 89:20. and Princes, Governours of the holy people. Deuteronomy 26:19. Psalms 114:2.

given Jacob to the curse] Or, made Jacob a curse. Chap. 65. 15.

Israel to reproaches] Or, made Israel a most shamefull reproach.