I HAVE REDEEMED YOU: The buying out of slavery by a
ransom or exchange (v 3). Pattern of a new exodus. Cp Lev 25: "goel" sig an
exchange of prisoners (perhaps captured Assyrian soldiers for 200,000 Judean
captives?).
I HAVE SUMMONED YOU BY NAME; YOU ARE MINE: Most
perfectly of Jesus: the Father names the Son!
Even Jesus, the beloved servant, needed redemption! Redemption
(Heb "gaal") could be accomplished only by a "near-kinsman".
Isa 43:2
WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS: Israelites passing
through the Red Sea (Isa 43 based on Exo 15, song of Miriam). Or, alternatively,
from the other side of the Euphrates (Isa 11:15,16), or the Nile (Isa
27:12,13)?
WALK THROUGH THE FIRE: Pillar of fire in
wilderness.
THE FLAMES WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE: Israel, the burning
bush, which is nevertheless not consumed (Exo 3). Christ's immunity from hatred
of enemies (Joh 7:30;44 8:59; 10:39; Psa 91:11). Cp Deu 5:22-28; 2Pe 3:10; 1Co
3:15.
Isa 43:3
SAVIOR: Moshiyah -- cp "Mosheh"/Moses!
I GAVE EGYPT FOR YOUR RANSOM: The nation of Egypt, and
all its firstborns, were "dedicated" to God, as a means of freeing Israel from
slavery there. Therefore, God paid over Egypt as a "ransom" to free His
people.
EGYPT... CUSH... SEBA: Prophetic summary: Psa 68:31;
72:10-15; Isa 11:11,15,16; 19:23-25; 27:13; Zep 3:10; Mic 7:15.
Isa 43:5
The fugitives who fled into neighboring areas from cruel
Assyrians now return (Psa 120n; Psa 107:2-7,10,14,16).
Isa 43:7
WHOM I CREATED FOR MY GLORY: The "new creation" (cp Luk
13:28,29; Mar 13:27; Eph 2:10). Also, natural Israel, to be made part of same
creation: Mat 23:39; Isa 49:22; 60:8...
Isa 43:8
Vv 8-13: Another court session (cp Isa 41:1-5,21-29). Another,
4th, session follows (Isa 45:20-25).
Isa 43:9
Cp Babylonian and Assyrian fables of creation and flood. Cp
modern evolutionary fables. God alone can declare the "former things".
Isa 43:10
Israel, the "blind" and "deaf" witnesses -- then and now.
"Israel... had repeatedly shown themselves to be spiritually deaf and blind...
yet that very deafness and blindness was a witness to the truth of God... They
were custodians of a prophetic witness for which they themselves provided
impressive undesigned fulfillment" (WIsa 392). Cp Isa 44:8.
MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: Hezekiah/Christ, the
faithful servant: the elect, on whose behalf God acts. "I am one that bear
witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me" (Joh 8:18).
Cp 1Jo 5:9; Joh 15:27.
Isa 43:16
Cp Joh 6:19: Jesus walking on water.
Isa 43:17
Cp Isa 26:14. Sennacherib's army shared the fate of
Pharaoh's.
Isa 43:19
A WAY IN THE DESERT: Philip and Ethiopian eunuch: the
"desert" and water in baptism (Act 8:36). A "son from afar" (v 6).
Isa 43:20
WILD ANIMALS: The wilderness Arabs were now hospitable
rather than hostile (cp Mar 1:13).
WATER IN THE DESERT: The rich blessings of a Jubilee
year, to facilitate resettlement (2Ki 19:29,30).
Isa 43:22
Vv 22-28: Forgiveness or curse. Parallel to Psa 50.
Isa 43:24
YOU HAVE BURDENED ME WITH YOUR SINS: God Himself the
burden-bearer (cp Isa 53:11).
Isa 43:25
The free gift of forgiveness.
BLOTS OUT: Cp Act 3:19: "that your sins may be blotted
out." Ritual of day of atonement: Lev 16.
Isa 43:26
If strict justice were to take its course, all men would be
condemned.
Isa 43:28
THE DIGNITARIES: The very people most condemned by
witness of Christ.