14 The Lord, who has taken up your cause, the Holy One of Israel, says, Because of you I have sent to Babylon, and made all their seers come south, and the Chaldaeans whose cry is in the ships. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Maker of Israel, your King. 16 This is the word of the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, and a road through the deep waters; 17 Who sends out the war-carriages and the horses, the army with all its force; they have come down, they will not get up again; like a feebly burning light they are put out. 18 Give no thought to the things which are past; let the early times go out of your minds. 19 See, I am doing a new thing; now it is starting; will you not take note of it? I will even make a way in the waste land, and rivers in the dry country. 20 The beasts of the field will give me honour, the jackals and the ostriches: because I send out waters in the waste land, and rivers in the dry country, to give drink to the people whom I have taken for myself: 21 Even the people whom I made to be the witnesses of my praise.
22 But you have made no prayer to me, O Jacob: and you have given no thought to me, O Israel. 23 You have not made me burned offerings of sheep, or given me honour with your offerings of beasts; I did not make you servants to give me an offering, and I did not make you tired with requests for perfumes. 24 You have not got me sweet-smelling plants with your money, or given me pleasure with the fat of your offerings: but you have made me a servant to your sins, and you have made me tired with your evil doings. 25 I, even I, am he who takes away your sins; and I will no longer keep your evil doings in mind. 26 Put me in mind of this; let us take up the cause between us: put forward your cause, so that you may be seen to be in the right. 27 Your first father was a sinner, and your guides have gone against my word. 28 Your chiefs have made my holy place unclean, so I have made Jacob a curse, and Israel a thing of shame.
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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 43:14-28
Commentary on Isaiah 43:14-21
(Read Isaiah 43:14-21)
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.
Commentary on Isaiah 43:22-28
(Read Isaiah 43:22-28)
Those who neglect to call upon God, are weary of him. The Master tired not the servants with his commands, but they tired him with disobedience. What were the riches of God's mercy toward them? I, even I, am he who yet blotteth out thy transgressions. This encourages us to repent, because there is forgiveness with God, and shows the freeness of Divine mercy. When God forgives, he forgets. It is not for any thing in us, but for his mercies' sake, his promise' sake; especially for his Son's sake. He is pleased to reckon it his honour. Would man justify himself before God? The attempt is desperate: our first father broke the covenant, and we all have copied his example. We have no reason to expect pardon, except we seek it by faith in Christ; and that is always attended by true repentance, and followed by newness of life, by hatred of sin, and love to God. Let us then put him in remembrance of the promises he has made to the penitent, and the satisfaction his Son has made for them. Plead these with him in wrestling for pardon; and declare these things, that thou mayest be justified freely by his grace. This is the only way, and it is a sure way to peace.