Obviously God did not want His people to forget what He had done for them in the Exodus, but neither did He want them to look back on that event and conclude that it was His only act of redemption or the only method He could use to redeem them. The Exodus exemplified God’s ability, but it did not set a pattern that He had to follow thereafter (cf. Jeremiah 23:7-8). read more
The Mission of Israel1-21. The dispersed Israelites shall be ransomed and restored. They are witnesses before the world that Jehovah is the true God. A second and more wonderful exodus is in store for Israel. 22-28. This deliverance is not a return for service rendered to God, but a free gift.1. But now] In contrast to the wrath poured upon Israel (Isaiah 42:24-25) God will manifest His redeeming love. 3. Egypt, etc.] The meaning is that these nations shall take the place of Israel as vassals.... read more
(18, 19) Remember ye not . . .—All the wonders of the great historic past of Israel were to be as nothing compared with the new manifestation of the power of Jehovah, which Isaiah sees as already dawning in the future.Shall ye not know it?—Better, Will ye not give heed to it?I will even make a way in the wilderness . . .—The literal and the spiritual senses melt into each other. The very beasts of the field shall lose their ferocity in the presence of the saints of God. For “dragons and owls,”... read more
CHAPTER XVONE GOD, ONE PEOPLEIsaiah 41:8-20; Isaiah 42:1-25; Isaiah 43:1-28WE have been listening to the proclamation of a monotheism so absolute, that, as we have seen, modern critical philosophy, in surveying the history of religion, can find for it no rival among the faiths of the world. God has been exalted before us, in character so perfect, in dominion so universal, that neither the conscience nor the imagination of man can add to the general scope of the vision. Jesus and His Cross shall... read more
CHAPTER 43 Jehovah Speaks in Comfort to His People 1. What Jehovah is and will be to Israel (Isaiah 43:1-7 ) 2. Second address to the blind and deaf people (Isaiah 43:8-13 ) 3. Jehovah deals with their enemies (Isaiah 43:14-17 ) 4. Blessed things to come: They shall show forth My praise (Isaiah 43:18-21 ) 5. Jehovah’s loving appeal and promise to remember their sins no more (Isaiah 43:22-28 ) Chapters 43-45 must be studied together. Jehovah speaks in these chapters as nowhere else... read more
ISAIAH INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO The chapters of Part 2 (chaps. 40-46) are chiefly millennial, and so different from the prevailing themes preceding, as to raise a query whether they were not written by some other author a second, or deutero-Isaiah, as some call him. We do not hold that opinion, the reasons for which are briefly stated in the author’s Primers of the Faith. In Synthetic Bible Studies, it was found convenient to treat this part as a single discourse though doubtless, such is not... read more
The Right of the Creator Isaiah 43:0 The chapter opens with the words "But now." They indicate some change in the tone of the narrative, or appeal, or judgment. A very notable change they indicate, quite a miracle of a transformation, possible only to the Almighty musician; none other could have ventured upon this metamorphosis. We have read "Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it... read more
The last of these verses gives a full answer to the inquiry, wherefore the Lord so favoured Israel? All is for the divine glory; and all that glory is in Christ; Ephesians 1:10 ; Revelation 4:11 . Oh, how truly blessed, to behold all glory given to our glorious Head, Christ Jesus, that all may terminate in Jehovah's glory, and open a source of never ceasing praise to the Father, Son, and Spirit, in and through the Mediator, Christ Jesus! John 17:1 . read more
14-21 The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 43:8-20
The witness to redemption 43:8-44:20Isaiah continued to show that Yahweh was both willing and able to deliver His people, a theme begun in Isaiah 42:10. He confronted the gods, again (cf. Isaiah 41:21-29), but this time he challenged them to bring forth witnesses to their deity, namely, people who could confirm their ability to predict the future. The captive Judeans were Yahweh’s witnesses. They would, despite their spiritual blindness and deafness, give witness to His ability to predict their... read more