THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS. This statement emphasizes the authority of the words that will follow. Isaiah repeated God's promise to bring His people out of captivity in Babylon and return them to the land of Israel (43:14). This would be an act of God's covenant faithfulness and mercy, not a result of His people's merits.

This is what the LORD says. The same phrase (v.1) is used to emphasize the ultimate source of this prophecy, God Himself. Redeemer. The LORD is described as Redeemer because He zealously defends, protects, and purchases back His people (Is. 41:14, Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I Myself will help you, declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel).

God takes to Himself such titles as were very encouraging to His people their Holy One. He assures them He will break the power of their oppressors, will take care to send a prince to Babylon [who] shall bring down all their nobles and all their people too, even the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

He reminds them of the great things He did for their fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. "He [who] did this can make a way for you in the sea when you return out of Babylon."

I will do a new thing for you; this is God's promise even unto this day. As God encourages Israel with the hope of the coming Messiah, He exhorts the people, "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old" because something new is going to happen. Those things that you hope for, those things that seemed so far off in the distance, God is doing something new. We must not give up nor give in - TIME is just a word to the LORD. Keep and hold on to your faith in God, for He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. God has intervened to resolve our past and redeems us for a life eternal. Old things will be washed away, as He redeem us in the newness of life everlasting.

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

LAB|HBS|MHSB|TEBC