Isaiah 43:28

The people from Israel refused to obey God. And the result was that they suffered a severe punishment. In 586 *BC, the powerful *Babylonian army destroyed *Jerusalem. The army took away most of the inhabitants to be prisoners in Babylon.

Lord ~ God’s personal name in the Bible. In the original language, God’s name ‘Lord’ means ‘head over all’ and ‘God always’.
covenant ~ special personal agreement that the Lord made with Israel (see Exodus chapter 24).
Lord ~ God’s personal name in the Bible. In the original language, God’s name ‘Lord’ means ‘head over all’ and ‘God always’.
threaten ~ to warn someone of pain if they do not obey.
Israelites ~ God’s special people, also called the ‘Jews’. He freed them when they were slaves in Egypt. He gave them the land called Israel and Judah. But they had to leave that land as a punishment when they refused to obey God. However, God promised that he would free them again.
Jews ~ people who belong to the countries called Judah and Israel; people who belong to the 12 tribes of Israel.
tribe ~ group of the later family of one father.'human, human being ~ a person.
altar ~ special table where priests burned animals as gifts to God.
sacrifice ~ a gift of value to God.
incense ~ substance to burn for its sweet smell to give honour to God.
Temple ~ special building in Jerusalem where the Jews praised God and offered him prayers and gifts.
Jerusalem ~ at the time of David and Solomon, the capital of the country called Israel. During the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was the capital of the country called Judah.
Jews ~ people who belong to the countries called Judah and Israel; people who belong to the 12 tribes of Israel.
tribe ~ group of the later family of one father.
seize ~ to take a person as a prisoner or a slave.
ancestor ~ original father of later families.
BC ~ ‘Before Christ’ (for dates before the birth of Jesus Christ).
Babylonian ~ a person from the country called Babylon; or anything that has a relationship with the country called Babylon.
Jerusalem ~ at the time of David and Solomon, the capital of the country called Israel. During the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was the capital of the country called Judah.

1. Isaiah: New *Heavens and a New Earth

God’s Servant Saves God’s People

Isaiah Chapter s 41 to 55

Gordon Churchyard

The words in square brackets, […], are not in the *Hebrew Bible. They make the book easier to understand in English. Isaiah wrote his book in the *Hebrew language. Words in round brackets, (…) are explanations.

Chapter 43

v1 But now, this is what the *LORD says. He [is the *LORD] who created you, Jacob. And he [is the one] who shaped you, Israel. [He says this.] ‘Do not be afraid, because I have *redeemed you. I have called you by [your] name. You are mine.

v2 I will be with you when you pass through waters. [And when you pass through] rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, it will not burn you. And flame will not make you on fire.

v3 [I will protect you] because I, the *LORD, am your God. [I am] the *Holy [God] of Israel. I will save you. I gave Egypt to *ransom you and Ethiopia and Seba instead of you.

v4 You are precious and honourable in my sight. Because of this, and because I love you, [I will do this]. I will exchange a man for you and I will exchange people for your life.

v5 Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your child[ren] from the east and I will gather you from the west.

v6 I will say to [people in] the north, “Give them back!” And I will say to [people in] the south, “Do not stop them so that they cannot come back.” Bring my sons from far [places] and my daughters from the ends of the earth.

v7 [Bring] everyone who is called by my name. I created them. I shaped them and yes, I made them for my *glory.

v8 Lead out those [people]! They have eyes, but they are blind. They have ears, but they are deaf.

v9 Gather all the nations together. And bring together all the people. Which of them said that this would happen? And [which of them] told us about what happened in the past? Let them bring their witnesses to prove that they were right. Then other people will hear it and say, “It is true.”

v10 You are my witnesses’, says the *LORD. ‘You are my servant whom I have chosen. [I chose you] so that you may know [me]. Also, that you may believe me. And so that you may understand that I am [God]. Before me, nobody made a god. And there will not be one after me.

v11 I, only I, am the *LORD. And, apart from me, there is nobody to save [you].

v12 It was me, and not a foreign god among you, that showed [you this]. And I saved [you] and told [you this]. You are my witnesses that I am God’, says the *LORD.

v13 ‘Yes! From long ago I am [God]. Nobody can save himself from my power. When I do something, nobody can change it.’

v14 This is what the *LORD says. [The *LORD] is your *redeemer [and he is] the *Holy [God] of Israel. [He says], ‘I will send [an army] to Babylon because of you, [Israel]. And I will bring down all the *Babylonians as prisoners. [They will be] in the ships that they are so proud of.

v15 I am the *LORD [who is] your *Holy [God]. [I am] Israel’s Creator (the one that created everything) and I am your King.’

v16-17 This is what the *LORD says. [He is the *LORD who did these things.]

• He made a road through the sea.

• [He made] a path through the great waters.

• He drew *chariots and [their] horses, the army and [its] leaders, out [into the sea].

• [He made them] lie there so that they would never get up again. He put them out, he blew them out, like a candle.

v18 [The *LORD says], ‘Forget the past. Do not think about what happened then.

v19 Look! I will do something that is new! Now it springs up. Certainly, you can see it. I am making a road in the desert and streams in the wild places.

v20 The wild animals, jackals (wild dogs) and *owls give me honour. [They do this] because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wild places. [I do this] for my people that I have chosen. [I do it so that my people] can drink.

v21 [They are] the people that I made for myself. [I did it] so that they could praise me aloud.

v22 [It was] not me that you called to, Jacob. You have not made yourselves tired for me, Israel.

v23 [It was] not to me that you brought sheep. [You did not] burn them to offer them to me. Your *sacrifices did not give me honour. I have not made you carry heavy grain to offer to me. I have not made you tired because I demanded *incense [from you].

v24 [It was not] for me that you brought [a substance called] calamus that had a nice smell. You did not give to me generous amounts of fat from the animals that you burned. Instead, you made me to carry the heavy weight of your *sins. And you have made me tired every time that you did not obey me.

v25 I, [but yes,] I am he who sweeps away (forgives) your *sins. [I do it] to preserve my honour. I will not remember that you have not obeyed me.

v26 Remember [the past] with me. Let us talk about it together. Tell me why you [consider yourself to be] innocent.

v27 Your first father did not obey me. Also the people that spoke [to me] on behalf of you, *sinned against me.

v28 So I made your *holy princes ashamed. Then I destroyed everything in Jacob [that I hate. Also, people] laughed in a nasty way at Israel.’

6. heavens ~ another word for ‘skies’. It can also mean the place where God lives and the skies above us.
   Hebrew ~ the language that Isaiah spoke.
   LORD ~ LORD is a special name of God. In the Hebrew language it is YHWH. It may mean ‘always alive’. So LORD is a sign that the Hebrew word is YHWH.
   lord ~ master. When it has a capital L (that is, ‘Lord’) it is a name for God.
   Hebrew ~ the language that Isaiah spoke.
   redeem ~ a member of your family buys you from an enemy.
   holy ~ very, very good. Only God is really holy. He is so holy that he is separate from everybody else.
   ransom ~ to give money or goods in order to rescue someone. The word emphasises the price in order to free that person.
   glory ~ something that shines and is wonderful. Especially, it is God’s splendid beauty.
   Babylonian ~ a person from the country called Babylonia, or anything that has a relationship with that country.
   chariot ~ a cart that soldiers rode in.
   owl ~ a large bird that hunts for its food by night.
   sacrifice ~ something that the priests put apart (or separated) for the LORD. Usually it was an animal. They killed it and burned it.
   LORD ~ LORD is a special name of God. In the Hebrew language it is YHWH. It may mean ‘always alive’. So LORD is a sign that the Hebrew word is YHWH.
   lord ~ master. When it has a capital L (that is, ‘Lord’) it is a name for God.
   Hebrew ~ the language that Isaiah spoke.
   incense ~ a substance that makes a sweet smell when people burn it.
   sin ~ not to obey God. Or, what you do when you do not obey God.
   holy ~ very, very good. Only God is really holy. He is so holy that he is separate from everybody else.