Introduction

God shows his power over the nations by preserving his people.

Verses
1But now the LORD who created you, Jacob,
and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name.
You are mine.
2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt,
and flame will not scorch you.
3For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
your Saviour.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4Since you have been precious and honoured in my sight,
and I have loved you,
therefore I will give people in your place,
and nations instead of your life.
5Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’
and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7everyone who is called by my name,
and whom I have created for my glory,
whom I have formed,
yes, whom I have made.’ ”
 
8Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
and the deaf who have ears.
9Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the peoples be assembled.
Who amongst 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, “That is true.”
 
10“You are my witnesses,” says the LORD,
“With my servant whom I have chosen;
that you may know and believe me,
and understand that I am he.
Before me there was no God formed,
neither will there be after me.
11I myself am the LORD.
Besides me, there is no saviour.
12I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown,
and there was no strange god amongst you.
Therefore you are my witnesses”,
says the LORD, “and I am God.
13Yes, since the day was, I am he.
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work, and who can hinder it?”
14The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
15I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”
16The LORD, who makes a way in the sea,
and a path in the mighty waters,
17who brings out the chariot and horse,
the army and the mighty man
(they lie down together, they shall not rise;
they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
18“Don’t remember the former things,
and don’t consider the things of old.
19Behold, I will do a new thing.
It springs out now.
Don’t you know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
20The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honour me,
because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people which I formed for myself,
that they might declare my praise.
 
22Yet you have not called on me, Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings,
neither have you honoured me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with frankincense.
24You have bought me no sweet cane with money,
nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices,
but you have burdened me with your sins.
You have wearied me with your iniquities.
 
25I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;
and I will not remember your sins.
26Put me in remembrance.
Let us plead together.
Declare your case,
that you may be justified.
27Your first father sinned,
and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary;
and I will make Jacob a curse,
and Israel an insult.”

Questions

1. What does the LORD say to Israel?

v 1 and 2 But now the LORD who created you, Jacob,
and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name.
You are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt,
and flame will not scorch you.

2. How does God challenge all of the gathered nations?

v 9 and 10 Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the peoples be assembled.
Who amongst 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, “That is true.” 
“You are my witnesses,” says the LORD,
“With my servant whom I have chosen;
that you may know and believe me,
and understand that I am he.
Before me there was no God formed,
neither will there be after me.

3. What does God say is the result of Israel not calling on him?

v 22 to 24 Yet you have not called on me, Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, Israel.
You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings,
neither have you honoured me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with frankincense.
You have bought me no sweet cane with money,
nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices,
but you have burdened me with your sins.
You have wearied me with your iniquities.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 7 Having chosen Israel as his people, the LORD assures them that, although they may be scattered among other nations, he will bring them back
  • v 8 to 13 The people of Israel are God’s witnesses. They demonstrate what God has done to preserve the nation in the past and will do in the future
  • v 14 to 21 The LORD controls the nations and looks after his chosen people
  • v 22 to 28 The LORD reprimands his people for ignoring him and his laws and pleads with them to change

Timeline 850 BC

Audio