Verse 1
1. But now—notwithstanding God's past just judgments for Israel's sins.
created—not only in the general sense, but specially created as a peculiar people unto Himself (Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 43:21; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 44:24). So believers, "created in Christ Jesus" (Isaiah 44:24- :), "a peculiar people" (Isaiah 44:24- :).
redeemed—a second argument why they should trust Him besides creation. The Hebrew means to ransom by a price paid in lieu of the captives (compare Isaiah 43:3). Babylon was to be the ransom in this case, that is, was to be destroyed, in order that they might be delivered; so Christ became a curse, doomed to death, that we might be redeemed.
called . . . by . . . name—not merely "called" in general, as in Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 51:2, but designated as His own peculiar people (compare Isaiah 45:3; Isaiah 45:4; Exodus 32:1; Exodus 33:12; John 10:3).
Be the first to react on this!