isaiah 42 and 43

Read Isaiah 42 and 43 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Isa 42:1-4 {p} YHVH’s Servant whom He upholds, who will bring justice to the Gentles
Isa 42:5-9 {p} YHVH will give His Servant as a covenant + light for the peoples + nations
Isa 42:10-13 {s} The coastlands shall give glory to YHVH, for He will prevail against His enemies
Isa 42:14-17 {p} YHVH will open the eyes of the blind + not forsake them/ they shall be shamed who trusted in idols
Isa 42:18-43:10 {s} His servants who were blind + deaf He will redeem + restore, for He loves them
Isa 43:11-13 {s} The LORD is YHVH, He alone is Savior, Israel is His witness that He is God
Isa 43:14-15 {s} For Israel’s sake, YHVH, Israel’s Holy One + Creator + King, will make the Babylonians fugitives
Isa 43:16-21 {s} YHVH will make rivers in the desert to give drink to His people, who He has formed for Himself
Isa 43:22-28 {p} Jacob has not honored YHVH but burdened Him with their sin/ He will blot out their transgressions

The strong themes:

Isa 42:10-17 {s+p} The coastlands shall praise YHVH: He will prevail + give the blind sight, and not forsake them
Isa 42:18-43:28 {sx4+p} YHVH formed Jacob for Himself/He will forgive + restore them, make the Babylonians fugitives

Isa 42:18-43:10 chiastic structure:

1a) Isa 42:18-25, YHVH’s servant, His messenger: blind + deaf / plundered for they sinned + disobedient to His Law;

1b) Isa 43:1a, But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel;

1c) Isa 43:1b-3a, Fear not: I have redeemed you + called you by your name + will be with you;

1a) Isa 43:1b, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine;
1b) Isa 43:2a, When you pass through the waters;
central axis) Isa 43:2b, I will be with you;
2b) Isa 43:2c, The rivers shall not overflow you + the fire shall not burn you;
2a) Isa 43:3a, For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

1d) Isa 43:3b, I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place;

central axis) Isa 43:4a, Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you;

2d) Isa 43:4b, Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life;

2c) Isa 43:5-7a, Fear not: I am with you + will restore you + all who are called by My name;

1a) Isa 43:5a, Fear not, for I am with you;
1b) Isa 43:5b, I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;
central axis) Isa 43:6a, I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
2b) Isa 43:6b, Bring My sons + daughters from the ends of the earth;
2a) Isa 43:7a, Everyone who is called by My name;

2b) Isa 43:7b, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him;

2a) Isa 43:8-10 {s} The blind + deaf shall be brought forth: His witnesses + servants, to know + believe He is God.

Israel was plundered by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians, because they sinned and forsook YHVH their God. But the strong themes and the chiastic structure reveal, that because YHVH has set His love upon His people, He will heal their blindness so that they know and believe Him, and thus become obedient to His Law instead of disobedient. Walking in His ways, being obedient, that is a fruit of knowing Him – the personal relationship – and believing Him – putting our faith, and trust in Him. This is why we can have assurance that all who are today blind to the fact that obedience has not passed away, will have their blindness healed. He will prevail, and give the blind their sight. He will not forsake them. He formed Jacob for Himself, and for His glory: both Ephraim and Judah. He will bring them from the coastlands (an idiom for the peoples of the Gentiles) and the ends of the earth; and He will forgive and restore them. Hallelujah! ♥