Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII.
Vers. 1. BƲt now, &c.] Or, Yet now. as Chap. 44. 1. After the former threats and reproofs of the obstinate, he subjoyneth yet promises of protection and deliverance to his chosen, regenerate, called and adopted ones. Chap. 41. 8-10. & 44. 2.
Fear not] Chap. 45. 4.
I have called thee by thy name] I take speciall notice of thee, and have speciall care of thee. Exod. 33. 17.
V. 2. When thou passest, &c.] I will secure thee amidst all dangers and difficulties; meant here by fire and water. Exod. 14. 22. Dan. 3. 27. Psal. 66. 12.
V. 3. I gave Egypt for thy ransome] By turning Senacheribs forces, which came to prey upon thee, against them. Chap. 37. 7, 9. Prov. 11. 8. & 21. 18.
Ethiopia and Seba for thee] Heb. Chush.
V. 4. honourable] Chap. 42. 21.
will I give] Or, have I given.
men] Heb. man.
for thy life] Or, person. Heb. soul. Psal. 88. 3. & 119. 25. Prov. 28. 17. Rather then thou shouldest perish, I will not spare any man: for God more esteemeth one of his faithfull, then a whole world of wicked ones. Psal. 116. 15. Or, I did, to save thee, put those nations into the hand of Senacherib; and did afterward also slay him. Chap. 37. 38.
V. 5. Fear not, &c.] Vers. 1. Chap. 41. 10. & 44. 1, 2. Jer. 30. 10. & 46. 27.
I will bring thy seed from the east, &c.] Performed in the breaking up of the Babylonian captivitie by Cyrus, Ezra 1. 3, 4. according to Gods promise, Deut. 30. 3-5. but most fully by Christ, Chap. 66. 19. Zech. 8. 7.
west] Heb. evening coast. Chap. 45. 6.
V. 7. I have created him for my glory] And can not therefore be unmindfull of them, unlesse I would neglect mine own glory. Chap. 48. 9, 11. Vers. 1. 21.
V. 8. Bring forth the blinde people that have eyes, and the deaf that
have eares] Or, Bringing. Or, I will bringing bring forth (as Eccl. 4. 2. & 9. 11. Jer. 14. 5.) the blind people, and them that have eyes; and the deaf, and them that have eares. Produce these people, that are wilfully blind and deaf, Chap. 42. 19, 20. and see, if they can say ought further in defence of their idols. Vers. 9. Or, Bring them out all together, of all sorts; as well blind and deaf, as having sight and hearing. Vers. 9. Or, I will produce those people, to shew my power, who being such naturally, have been restored to spirituall sight and hearing by my help. Chap. 35. 5. and 42. 7, 16.
V. 9. who among them can declare this &c.] What God; or which of their idols can do the like? Chap. 41. 21, 22. and 44. 7.
let them bring forth their witnesses] To prove the things spoken by them to be true.
that they may be justified] Chap. 41. 26.
or let them heare and say, It is truth] Otherwise, let them yeeld to the truth of Gods word: which out of meer obstinacie they now refuse to do.
V. 10. Ye are my witnesses] My prophets and people can give testimony sufficient for me. Chap. 44. 8.
my servant] Jesus Christ. Chap. 42. 1. and 55. 4. and all the faithfull with him. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10.
I am he] Chap. 41. 4.
before me] Chap. 44. 8. and 45. 21.
no God formed] Or, nothing formed of God.
V. 11. I am the LORD] Chap. 42. 8. and 45. 21. Hos. 13. 4.
V. 12. I have declared] Chap. 46. 10.
when there was no strange god among you] When by his own power alone he brought his people out of Egypt, and led them through the wildernesse. Deut. 32. 12. Jer. 2. 2.
V. 13. before the day was, I am he] Or, since the day was, I am. Joh. 8. 58. Or, am the same Psal. 102. 27.
I will work, and who shall let it] Or, what I do, who shall undo? Job 9. 12. Chap. 14. 27. Heb. turn it back: or, reverse it.
V. 14. I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles] Or, I will send. The Modes and Persians thither: by whom I will bring down all their great ones, and cast down all their strong holds. Heb. barres. Psal. 147. 13. Or, enforce them by flight to shift for themselves: will bring them all down flying; or, all their flyers away: for the Hebrew word may also so signifie. See Chap 27. 1.
whose cry is in the ships] While they seek to flie away by shiping, their citie being taken; but finde the water of the river turned another way. See Jer. 50. 38. and 51. 32. Or, together with their shipping, whereof they so much vaunt.
V. 15. your king] Psal. 74. 12. Chap. 33. 22.
V. 16. which maketh a way in the sea] When he delivered Israel from Pharaoh. Exod. 14. 22, 29. implying that this deliverance should be as admirable as that. Chap. 44. 27. See Psal. 77. 19. Chap. 63. 11-14.
a path in the mighty waters] When they passed through Jordan. Josh. 3. 7, 10. Zech. 11. 3.
V. 17. bringeth forth the chariot and horse, &c.] Who brought out Pharaoh with all his forces to their own ruine and destruction. Exod. 14. 8, 9, 28.
as tow] Or, a candle-week. Chap. 42. 3.
V. 18. Remember ye not the former things] Implying, that their ensuing deliverances should be more famous and memorable, then were the former Jer. 16. 14, 15. & 23. 7, 8.
V. 19. I will do] Or, am doing.
a new thing] Chap. 42. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 17. & 21. 5.
now it shall spring forth] Or, it is already springing out. See Chap. 13. 22.
shall ye not know it] Or, do ye not perceive it?
make a way in the wildernesse] Make a free passage, with removall of all lets, and supplie of all necessaries, for my people in their return from captivitie. Chap. 40. 3, 4. & 41. 18, 19. & 49. 10. Jer. 31. 9.
V. 20. The beast of the field shall honour me] The very wilde beasts shall fare the better for the passage of my people; as Num. 20. 8.
owls] Or, ostriches Lam. 4. 3. Heb. daughters of the owl. Chap. 34. 13.
V. 21. This people have I formed for my self, they shall shew forth my praise] Or, which I have formed for my self, shall shew forth my praise. Vers. 7. Luke 1. 74, 75.
V. 22. thou hast not called upon me] Not worshipped me, as thou oughtest. Psal. 79. 6. Jer. 10. 25. Or, not sought unto me in thy troubles. Chap. 9. 13. & 64. 7. Hos. 7. 7, 14.
but thou hast been weary of me] Or, when thou wast afflicted by me.
weary of me] Thou hast been weary of my service. Malac. 1. 13.
V. 23. hast not brought me the small cattell] Heb. lambs, or kids. Exod. 12. 5. But hast offered to strange gods. Deuteron. 32. 17. Amos 5. 25, 26.
V. 24. sweet cane] Either for the composition of the sweet ointment, Exod 30. 34. or for the incense, Exod. 30. 7. Jerem. 6. 20.
filied me] Heb. made me drunk; or, abundantly moistned. Chap. 34. 5, 7.
wearied me with thine iniquities] With the heavy load of thy sinnes. Chap. 7. 13. and 63. 10. Ezek. 6. 9. Amos 2. 13.
V. 25. that blotteth out thy transgressions] Chap. 44. 22. Ezek. 36. 22, &c.
for mine own sake] It is for mine own honour, and out of meer meicy and free favour; not for any desert of yours, having thus caried your selves towards me; that I deliver you, and do all this for you Chap. 48. 9. Ezek. 36. 32. So Psal. 6. 4. and 25. 7, 11. and 106. 8. and 115. 1.
will not reme…ber thy sinnes] No more regard them, then as If I had clean forgotten them; as Psal. 45. 10. So Psal. 25. 7. and 79. 8. See Jer. 31. 34. Hos. 4. 6.
V. 26. Put me in remembrance, &c.] If I have omitted ought, that might make for thy justification, minde me of it. Chap. 1. 19. and 43. 9. and 62. 6. Jer. 2. 5.
that thou mayest be justified] Or, cleer thy self.
V. 27. Thy first father] Either Adam, or their ancestors. Job 31. 33. Chap. 1. 5. Ezek. 16. 3.
thy teachers] Thy Priests and Prophets. Chap. 38. 7. Heb. interpreters. Job 33. 23. Or, Orators; or, Ambassadours. 2 Chron. 32. 31. whose office it was to mediate between God and his people, making known his will to them. Deut. 33. 10. Jerem. 15. 19. Mal. 2. 7. and praying to him for them. Exod. 32. 30 1 Sam. 12. 23. Mal. 1. 9.
V. 28. I have profaned] Rejected, abhorted, destroyed; exposed to cursing, shame, and reproach. Psalm. 44. 13, 14. Jer. 23. 40. and 24. 9. Or, dealt with them, as with profane and common persons, not regarding their place and dignitie. Psal. 89. 39. Chap. 47. 6. Lam. 2. 2. Or, Therefore I might justly, and should thus do, should I proceed against you, according to your deserts. Lam. 2. 22.
the princes of the sanctuary] Or, of holinesse. Chap. 62. 9. that is, ho…y princes. Either the Rulers of the Temple, Jer. 20. 1. or, the Kings anointed with holy oil; Psal. 89. 20. and Princes, Governours of the holy people. Deut. 26. 19. Psal. 114. 2.
given Jacob to the curse] Or, made Jacob a curse. Chap. 65. 15.
Israel to reproaches] Or, made Israel a most shamefull reproach.