14 Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: 'For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And caused bars to descend—all of them, And the Chaldeans, whose song 'is' in the ships. 15 I 'am' Jehovah, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King.' 16 Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path. 17 Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: 'Together they lie down—they rise not, They have been extinguished, As flax they have been quenched.' 18 Remember not former things, And ancient things consider not. 19 Lo, I am doing a new thing, now it springeth up, Do ye not know it? Yea, I put in a wilderness a way, In a desolate place—floods. 20 Honour me doth the beast of the field, Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, For I have given in a wilderness waters, Floods in a desolate place, To give drink to My people—My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself, My praise they recount.
22 And Me thou hast not called, O Jacob, For thou hast been wearied of me, O Israel, 23 Thou hast not brought in to Me, The lamb of thy burnt-offerings, And 'with' thy sacrifices thou hast not honoured Me, I have not caused thee to serve with a present, Nor wearied thee with frankincense. 24 Thou hast not bought for Me with money sweet cane, And 'with' the fat of thy sacrifices hast not filled Me, Only—thou hast caused Me to serve with thy sins, Thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities. 25 I—I 'am' He who is blotting out Thy transgressions for Mine own sake, And thy sins I do not remember. 26 Cause me to remember—we are judged together, Declare thou that thou mayest be justified. 27 Thy first father sinned, And thine interpreters transgressed against me, 28 And I pollute princes of the sanctuary, And I give Jacob to destruction, and Israel to revilings!
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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.