Isaiah 43:1-6

Isaiah 43:1. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

«Fear not,» is a command of God; and is a command which brings its own power of performance with it. God, who created and formed us, says to us, «fear not,» and a secret whisper is heard in the heart by which that heart is so comforted that fear is driven away. «fear not: for I have redeemed thee.» that is a good reason why we should never fear again; redemption is a well of consolation, and the redeemed of the Lord have nothing whatever to fear.

Isaiah 43:2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;

The godly have the best company in the worst places in which their lot is cast.

Isaiah 43:2. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:

The godly have special help in their times of deepest trouble.

Isaiah 43:2. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;

The godly are the subjects of miracles of mercy in seasons of greatest distress.

Isaiah 43:2. neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Thou shalt come out of the furnace as the three holy children did, with not so much as the smell of fire upon thee; for, where God is, all is safe: «thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.»

Isaiah 43:3. for I am the LORD thy God,

This is the grandest possible reason for not fearing. fall back upon this when you have nothing else upon which to rely. If you have no goods, you have a God. If thy gourd is withered, thy God is still the same as he ever was: «for I am Jehovah, thy God,»

Isaiah 43:3. the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour : I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

All that, God has given; if it were not enough, he would still add to it. He has redeemed us, so there is no need of more; but if there were, God would go through with it even to the end.

Isaiah 43:5. fear not: for I am with thee:

This is the second time that the blessed words, «fear not,» ring out like the notes of the silver trumpet proclaiming the jubilee to poor trembling hearts: «fear not, for I am with thee.» the Lord seems to say to each troubled believer, «My honour is pledged to secure thy safety, all my attributes are engaged on thy behalf right to the end; yea, I am myself with thee; wherefore, fear not.»

Isaiah 43:5. I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by my name:

Whatever happens, God will be with his Church. His own chosen people shall all be gathered in. there shall be no frustration of the divine purpose. from East or West, north or South, all his sons and daughters shall come unto him, even every one that is called by his name.

Isaiah 43:7. for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

And God will be glorified in his people; the object of their creation is the glory of their God, and that end shall, somehow or other, be answered in the Lord's good time. Now I want you to notice the other side of the question. God says, in the twenty-first verse,

This exposition consisted of readings from Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 21-28; Isaiah 44:1.