Isaiah 43

The LORD comforteth his people, promising to deliver and protect them, ver.1, etc. And to enlarge his Church from among the Gentiles: 5. And he proveth that the Gods of the Gentiles are vain, 9. But that he is alone the true and almighty God, 10, etc. Who chose his people not because of their merits or deserving’s, but out of free grace, 21, etc.

1. But now, thus saith the LORD thy creator, [That is, he that created thee, made thee to be his people, and regenerated thee by his holy spirit, calling thee to his knowledge according to his good pleasure, that thou mightest be unto him a chosen people dedicated to his glory. See Eph.2.2,10.] O Jacob, [that is, my chosen people of Israel] and thy former, O Israel [the same that Jacob in the former clause] fear not, [though ye shall be constrained to be a while in captivity in Babylon, and in your enemies country] for I have redeemed thee [to wit, out of the power of the Devil by Christ; and I will redeem thee out of the Babylonish captivity] I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.

2. When thou shalt pass through the water I be with thee; and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee: [That is, when thou art in distress and danger I will deliver thee, and will always be thy protector and defender. See 2 Sam.22. the Annotat. On ver.17. also Psal.16.12.] when thou shalt pass through the fire, [to wit, the fire of affliction and adversity, as Job 15:30.] thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the fire kindle upon thee.

3. For I am the LORD thy God, the holy One of Israel, [That is, that holy God whom the Israelites ought to honour and serve in a holy manner, as their own God] thy saviour: I gave Egypt , Ethiopia, and Seba, [that is, the Sabeans that descended from Seba, See Genes.10.7.] (for) thy redemption-mony, [or for thee. See Prov.11.8. and the Annotat. There. The meaning is, I have spared thee, and have delivered up the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and Sabeans, as it were for thy ransom, or the price of thy redemption, and have suffered them to be destroyed instead of thee. See above chap.20.4,5.]

4. From the time that thou wast precious in mine eyes, [To wit, from that time when I brought thee forth out of Egypt: (that those wast precious in mine eyes,) [that is, that thou becamest my dear peculiar treasure. See Exod.19.5.] thou hast been honoured, and I have loved thee: [I have manifested my love toward thee by many and sundry mercies] therefore have I given men, [to wit, the Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Sabeans, ver.3.] in thy stead, and nations instead of thy soul. [That is, for thy life.]

5. Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring [Not onely according to the flesh out, of the Babylonish captivity: but also according to the Spirit, out of the prison of hell thy seed [that is, thy posterity; to wit, in faith, whom I will call to the communion of my church] from the rising, [that is, I will gather me a Church from all parts and corners of the earth, and I will gather [See the former note upon the word bring] from the going down. [See also the former not upon the word rising.]

6. I will say to the North, give up, etc. To the South, keep not back: bring my sons, [That is, the faithful, or believers [from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth.

7. Every one that is called by my name, [That is, all the children of God; for children bear their fathers name] and whom I have created for my honour, [as above ver.1. whom I have formed, whom also I have made. [Or, whom I have made excellent and honourable. See the Annotat. Psal.100.on ver.3.]

8. Bring forth the blind people [That is, the people that are blind by nature, and cannot see into divine matters] that have eyes: [to wit, fleshy, or bodily eyes, but have not spiritual eyes that are enlightened by the holy Ghost] and the deaf [to wit, that by nature cannot hear nor understand the word and will of God] that have ears [to wit, bodily airs, but not spiritual ears.]

9. Let all the heathen be gathered together, and let the nations be assembled, [These are the words of God] who among them [What God is there among them, and among them, and among all those that cleave and adhere unto Idols, that &c. shall declare this? [to wit, that which I foretell you concerning the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, and consequently concerning spiritual redemption by Christ] or let them [to wit, the Idols of the heathen] cause us to hear former things, [that is, the things that are past, much less can they foretell things to come. See above chap.41.ver.22. The Lord proveth by those words, that he alone is the true God.] let them bring forth their witnesses; [to wit, to prove and testify that they have foretold future things] that they may be justified, [that is, that it may appear that they do really & truly bear the name of Gods] and (that) men may hear it, and say, it truth [to wit, that they are gods.]

10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD [To bear witness that I am a true God, because I have done and foretold such things which no Idols can do, nor foretell,] and my servant whom I have chosen, [to wit, the Prophet Isaiah, and other Prophets that have from my mouth published or declared such things before. Some understand here by his servant Jesus Christ, as above chap.42.1.] that ye may know it, and believe me, and understand that I am be, (that) before me (there) was no God formed. [Understand withal, as idols are, that are formed or made by mens hands, not subsisting of or by themselves, as I the true God do subsist from eternity] neither shall (there) be after me. [The meaning is, I alone an the onely everlasting true God. Compare above chap.41.4. and below chap.44.8. and 45.21. Hos.13.4.]

11. I am the LORD, [To wit, the true God, who hath an eternal being of himself. See above chap.42.4. Genes.2.on ver.4.] and before me there is no Saviour.

12. I have declared [To wit, unto my people, that I would help them] and I have delivered and I have caused (it) to be heard, and (there) was no strange God among you: [To wit, that declared, or did that which I have done, and declared among you] and ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

13. Also before the day was, [That is, before that time when the first day was; that is, before the beginning of the world] I am, and there is none that can deliver out of mine hand: I will work and what shall turn it? [Or, turn it away: that is, who shall hinder me to do that which I have purposed to do. Job 9:12. and above chap.14.27.]

14. Thus saith the LORD your Redeemer, the holy One of Israel: [For your sake I have sent] That is, I will surely send. [The Prophets do often speak of a thing that is yet to be done, as if it were already done] to Babel, [to wit, Cyrus with the Persians and Medes. These God sent to Babel, and caused that City to be destroyed, that the Jews might be delivered out of the Babylonish captivity] and have caused them all to come down fugitives, [Others bars; that is, the strength and power of the Chaldeans, that shut up and held fast the Jews, it were with doors and bars,] to wit, the Chaldeans, in the ships wherein they shouted [Heb. In the ships of their shout, or, wherein they shouted [Heb. In the ships of their shout, or, cry. So he calleth those great and goodly ships of the Chaldeans, wherewith they sailed on, and curbed Euphrates, Tigris, and other rivers: But afterward were fain to flee in and with them from the Persians and Medes, doubtless with a cry, and with weeping.]

15. I am the LORD, your holy: the creator of Israel, [As vers.1.] your King.

16. Thus saith the LORD who made [Heb. Gave] away in the Sea. [See Exod.chap.14.] and a path in the mighty waters. [Understand the red. Sea and Jordan. See Exod.14. Jos.3.]

17. Who brought forth charets and horses, army and power, [That is, who by his divine providence caused Pharaoh with the Egyptians to follow the Israelites with their charets and horses into the red Sea, where they were drowned, and perished altogether. See Exod.14.3,4, &c. Others, who bringeth forth etc. Applying it unto God, by whose power all that oppose the deliverance which he shall please to give unto his people, shall be confounded and destroyed together] they lay, down together, [to wit, the Egyptians. Others, they shall lie down; to wit, the Chaldeans and Babylonians,] they shall not rise again, [to wit, here in this temporal life] they are quenched, they are gone out like a wick of flax. [Compare above chap.42.ver.3.]

18. Remember not the former (things) neither consider the old things. [Intimating, that the Redemption by Christ, which was typified and represented by the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, shall be so glorious and excellent, that the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt which was wrought in former time, should be no ways comparable o it. See Jerem.16.14. and 23.7.]

19. Behold I will make some new thing, [That is, some rare notable thing; something that was never heard nor seen before] now [that is, shortly, or in a short time] it shall spring forth, [that is, be put in practise. A phrase borrowed from herbs & flowers that sprout or spring forth out of the earth.] shall ye not know it? [that is, assuredly ye shall know it] yea I will make a way in the wilderness, etc. Rivers in the desert. [The meaning is, I will wonderfully preserve and deliver my Church, as I did in times past wonderfully lead my people through the wilderness, and gave them water out of a rock, Exod.17.6.]

20. The beasts of the field shall honour me, [As if he would say, all creatures, yea even the brute beasts, shall each of them according to their manner extol and praise me for it. It is an improper and borrowed phrase, serving to set forth the exceeding great mercy and favour which God will shew unto his Elect in Christ] the dragons and the young ostriges: As above chap.13.21.] for I will give waters in the wilderness, (and) rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, to my chosen.

21. This people have I formed for my self, they shall shew froth my praise. [See Luk.1.74,75.]

22. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, when thou hast wearied thy self against me, O Israel. [others, but thou hast been weary of me O Israel. The Lord doth intimate, that they had not deserved by their piety that he should deliver them, for they had not served him as they ought to have done. As if he had said, It hath not tended to mine honour, nor to my service, that ye have taken so much pains in killing so many sacrifices, observing very strictly the ceremonies of the law: as concerning the outward part of worship, ye have done this to make a fair shew, without faith, and consequently against, me and to my grief or sorrow. See ver.24. Others, for my sake. See above chap.1.ver.11. and 1 Sam.15.22.]

23. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle [To wit, sheep and goats] of thy burnt-offerings, neither hast thou honoured me (with) thy slay-offerings: [to wit, when thou hast killed many sacrifices, and so seemest to serve me; forasmuch as it was done without faith and hearty repentance.] I have not caused thee to serve (me) with meat-offering, [Heb. Micha. See Levit.chap.2.] neither have I wearied thee with frankincense. [that is, in requiring many offerings of thee. See above chap.1.11. They were wont to use incense or frankincense in their offerings. See Levit.2.]

24. Thou hast bought me no Calamus (or sweet, cane) [This was used in the incense. See Jerem.6.20.] with money, neither hast thou watered me, [Or, moistened me, made me drunk] with the fat of thy slay-offerings: [that is, rejoiced and filled me with joy and delight: as Prov.5.19. Jerem.31.14.] but thou hast made me labour [or, made me trouble, Heb. Made me to serve; that is thou hast been burden some to me. See above chap.1.13.] with thy sins, [that is, with thy hypocrisy, with the oppression of thy neighbour, &c. Compare above chap.1.15. etc.] thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

25. I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, [Compare Psal.51. 3.] for mine (own) sake, [not for your merits or deservings, but for my own honours sake, that I may be acknowledged to be a merciful and faithful God. Compare chap.3.22. etc.] and I remember not thy sins.

26. Put me in mine, [Or cause me to remember; to wit, if thou thinkest that it is not so, but thinkest that thou hast dealt well with me: is this thy conceit? Then bring into my remembrance thy good deeds, or thy good works, which thou thinkest that I have forgotten. But it will be found that ye are poor wretched sinners, as your forefathers have been from the beginning] let us plead together. [Compare above chap.1.18.] declare thou (thy reasons) that thou mayst be justified. [to wit, if thou carriest the cause against me.]

27. Thy first father hath sinned: [To wit, Adam, by whom sin was entailed upon you] and thy expounders [Meaning the Priests that were appointed to offer sacrifices, to pray for the people, and to instruct the people out of the Law. Others, thy mediators; that is, those that as advocates and intercessors set themselves between me and you, to reconcile me unto you, as were formerly Moses and Aaron, the high Priests, and Levites] have transgression against me.

28. Therefore will I prophane the Rulers of the Sanctuary. [That is, the Priests. See Jerem.35.on vers.4. or, I might indeed prophane, &c. To wit, when I should deal with you and with them according to your and their deservings, and not according to my mercy and loving kindness] and give up Jacob to the ban, and Israel to reproaches. [by Jacob and Israel here is meaneth the Jews, or the people of Israel.