Isaiah 43:2

Isaiah 43:2

(with Daniel 3)

The text contains

I. A pre-intimation of trouble. Although we have not in it a distinct assertion or prediction of particular trials, yet it is most clearly and strongly implied that the chosen people would have to go through them. God never deceives us. He never foresees one thing for us and tells us to expect another. He meets us, so to speak, in plainness and candour, and He says, My ways are ways of ultimatehappiness, but not of proximate.Tribulation is the very cause of religion's peculiar blessedness, the very parent and producer of its inconceivable peace. Those who have most of the sorrow invariably taste most of the joy.

II. A promise of Divine succour and deliverance. The very same passage that intimates sorrow and leads us to expect persecution for the sake of Christ, assures us also most encouragingly of strength equal to our day, and of grace to help in every time of need. The promise assures us (1) of the Saviour's sympathy in our trials, "I will be with thee." What Jesus promises to His chosen is not the mere succour of aidit is the succour of a helpful sympathy. (2) Mark the kind of sympathy it is. It is not the sympathy of weakness that can only weep with us, but hath no power to give us assistance. But this is the remarkable and blessed thing in the sympathy of Christ it is human sympathy allied to Almighty power. This sympathising Son of God is the Creator and Controller of flood and fire. There is promised to all His tried and faithful servants both succour and salvation, defence and deliverance.

R. Glover, By the Waters of Babylon,p. 133.

References: Isaiah 43:2. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. vii., No. 397; R. Glover, By the Waters of Babylon,p. 133.Isaiah 43:3. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxxi., No. 1831.Isaiah 43:4. Ibid.,vol. xvi., No. 917, vol. xxviii., No. 1671; Isaiah 43:6. Ibid.,vol. xvii., No. 1007; Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 296. Isaiah 43:10. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 52; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 229, vol. xii., p. 134; Preacher's Monthly,vol. x., p. 106; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xi., No. 644; J. Hall, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxviii., p. 270; J. Kennedy, Ibid.,vol. i., p. 424.Isaiah 43:16. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 354.Isaiah 43:19. T. Stephenson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. v., p. 209. Isaiah 43:21. J. J. West, Penny Pulpit,No. 348; Homiletic Magazine,vol. ix., p. 165.