Isaiah 43 - Introduction

The Lord comforteth the people with his promises: he appealeth to the people for witness of his omnipotency: he foretelleth to them the destruction of Babylon, and his wonderful deliverance of his people: he reproveth the people as inexcusable.

Before Christ 712.

THE second part of this discourse is contained in this chapter, and the five first verses of the 44th. See the analysis of the preceding chapter. We have here, first, the consolatory part, containing a general consolatory proposition, supporting and raising the hope of the church. The first special promise, of preserving the church amid the calamities and afflictions of the future time, Isaiah 43:2. The second promise, concerning the destruction of the enemies of the church, Isaiah 43:4. The third, concerning its amplification and glory, from the conflux of Jews and Gentiles, Isaiah 43:5. We have, secondly, a doctrinal part, calculated to confirm the faithful in the true faith, and to teach them by what method they may best convince the degenerate Jews and idolatrous Gentiles of the truth of God; namely, from his illustrious doings, and from his prediction of those doings. This part contains a direct address to the believers and teachers of the church, whose business it should be to teach the idolatrous Jews and Gentiles the true divinity of God, from the certain prediction of those illustrious events, which our prophet had mentioned before, and which had been foretold no less by other prophets than by him, Isaiah 43:8. Then the great work of the deliverance of the people from Babylon, by Cyrus, is claimed to the God of Israel only, as the avenger and deliverer of his church; which is first illustrated by the preceding deliverance from Sennacherib, foretold by God, Isaiah 43:11. The great deliverance by Cyrus is then described, Isaiah 43:14 and is compared with the deliverance of the people from Egypt, Isaiah 43:16. The prophet then foretels a new work of the divine providence and grace, far superior to those foregoing; namely, the conversion of the Gentiles, Isaiah 43:18. Thirdly, this chapter contains a reproof, wherein God teaches and convinces his people, that these great benefits to be conferred upon the church are due to his grace, not to the merits of the Jewish people; wherein we have a conviction of the imperfect worship which the people had offered to God, and wherein they could not suppose any merit, Isaiah 43:22 a declaration wherein the grace of God alone is shewn to be the principal cause of these benefits, Isaiah 43:25 and a reproof of the crimes committed by the nobles, and by the nation, whereby they had merited all their punishments, Isaiah 43:26. The exhortatory part continues the consolation by a new and gracious address; and again foretels to the church the same benefit of grace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit which was spoken of before. See Isaiah 44:1.