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| 1 But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. |
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| 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. |
Through the waters – Afflictions, disappointments, perplexity, trouble; the school of experience, discipline and testing. R4005:1, R1857:5
We are not to float with the current but endure hardness. R4005:1
He will pull us safely over to the other side. R4005:4
It is a mistake to claim these promises literally, as they were to fleshly Israel only. R1408:3
A covenant of blessing and protection to Israel as long as they were loyal and obedient. R1409:2
I will be with thee – In every trouble, sympathizing with us in all of our trials, adversities, afflictions, perplexities, etc. R4005:1
With consolation of heart and sustaining grace. R5758:4
Through the rivers – Illustrated by Israel's crossing Jordan into Canaan. R3084:2
Overflow thee – As Israel, in passing through the Red Sea and Jordan, had nothing to fear; so the Christian has nothing to fear so long as he realizes the divine presence and approval. R1408:3, R1857:2
Or, extinguish thee. R4005:4
Through the fire – Illustrated in the account of the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. R1408:2
A furnace of affliction, but the New Creature in Christ shall not be hurt. R1857:5, R1409:5
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| 3 For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Cush and Seba in thy stead. |
I am the LORD – Jehovah, as in verse 11. R379:2
Thy Saviour – The Almighty himself is the Savior, the Author of the great plan of salvation, and the executor of it, through his willing agents and representatives. E33
Jesus is here called Savior for he shall "save from their sins" and from the penalty of sin all who shall become "his people." (Matt. 1:21) SM502:2
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| 4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life. |
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| 5 Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; |
Gather thee – As certain as this prophecy has been fulfilled in the preservation of down-trodden Israel in all lands, so certain will it be fulfilled in their restoration to their own land. R232:5*
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| 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth; |
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| 7 every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made. |
Called by my name – Israel means "People of God" and the name will ultimately apply to all who are his. D654
For my glory – "For thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11) Man's true peace can be found only in harmony with his Creator. R1840:3
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| 8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. |
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| 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. |
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| 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. |
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| 11 I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. |
Beside me...no saviour – Author of the divine plan. E33
From the larger standpoint, God is the originator of the entire plan of salvation--from start to finish he is thus the Savior. But he accomplished his salvation through his Son. R3172:3
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| 12 I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. |
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| 13 Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it? |
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| 14 Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing. |
The LORD, your redeemer – Jehovah himself; Jesus carried out his plan. R4085:3
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| 15 I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. |
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| 16 Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; |
A path – God opened for Israel a path through the Red Sea. R1951:2
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| 17 who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not arise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick); |
Lie down together – In the time of trouble. R2462:5
They shall not rise – When once the armies of strife and giant trusts have been overthrown they shall never rise again; illustrated by the destruction of Pharoah and his army in the Red Sea. R2338:4, R1951:2
The giant trusts of our day, corresponding to the giants of Noah's day, falling in the great time of trouble impending, will never rise again. R2462:5
Does not refer to individuals. R2338:4
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| 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. |
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| 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. |
Do a new thing – Verses 19 to 25 show that the deliverance from Egypt and the wilderness journey were foreshadowings of future blessings upon all who shall become true Israelites. R1951:4
The greater deliverer than Moses is The Christ; the greater overthrow than that of Pharoah will be that of sin and Satan; the greater leading and care will be those of the Millennium. R1951:4
Rivers In the desert – Just on time we see abundance of rain, with springs, lakes and wells bursting forth in the deserts where, for hundreds of years, none have been known. R1379:3*
While specially referring to Israel and the barren land of Palestine, the same restitution blessings are also due to the whole earth. R1380:1
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| 20 The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen, |
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| 21 the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise. |
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| 22 Yet thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. |
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| 23 Thou hast not brought me of a sheep for thy burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense. |
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| 24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast burdened me with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. |
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| 25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins. |
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| 26 Put me in remembrance; let us plead together: set thou forth thy cause, that thou mayest be justified. |
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| 27 Thy first father sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. |
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| 28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the Holy; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling. |
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