The Redeemer

Background

God is Israel’s Redeemer is the theme for chapter 43 and 44.

Division

1. v1-7: God the Redeemer
2. v8-13: God’s witness to the word
3. v14-28: Israel exodus out of Babylon into Canaan

Exposition

1. v1-7: God the Redeemer
   1. v1: [Fear not, for I have redeemed you]. God is Israel’s redeemer is the focus of chapter 43 and 44. It is mentioned is 43:14: [your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel]; 44:6 [Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty]; 44:22-24 [Return to me, for I have redeemed you…for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays His glory in Israel…you Redeemer, who formed you in the womb…]
   2. Redeemer is the Hebrew word for “kinsman redeemer”, a near relative who could free family members and their property from bondage by paying their debts for them (Lev 25:23-28, and book of Ruth).
   3. God gave Egypt Ethiopia (Cush), and Seba to Cyrus as a ransom payment to redeem Israel from Babylon, because Israel was so precious to Him (v3-4).
   4. God gave His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as a ransom for the lost sinners.
      1. Jesus said in Matt 20:28 [just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.]
      2. Paul said in 1 Tim 2:5-6 [For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men, the testimony given in its proper time.]
2. v8-13: God’s witness to the world
   1. This is a court room scene, Israel is God’s witness (v10, v12). Now God tells the nations to bring their witness for their idols to prove that the idols are true (v9). Of course there was no response of the idols. No idols could prophesy the future.
   2. God and God alone only is the Savior (v11)
3. v14-28: Israel exodus out of Babylon into Canaan
   1. Just like how God brought the Jews out of Egypt in Exodus (v16-17), God is going to bring the Jews out of Babylon again (v14).
   2. However, God said [Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!] In Christ we are new creature. Forget the old sinful life and march on to the new life that Christ has given us! Paul said to the Philippians: [But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus] (Phil 3:13-14).