But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O
Jacob
This prophecy is not concerning Cyrus, and the redemption of the
Jews by him, as some have thought; nor of Sennacherib and his
army, and of their deliverance from him, as Kimchi and his father
interpret it; but of the Christian church, and the state of it,
when Jerusalem should be destroyed, as predicted in the preceding
chapter; which goes by the name of Jacob and Israel, for the
first churches chiefly consisted of Jews, and both Jews and
Gentiles converted are the spiritual Israel of God: and he
that formed thee, O Israel;
this creation and formation are not so much to be understood of
their being the creatures of God, and the work of his hands, in a
natural sense; but of their new creation and regeneration; of
their being the spiritual workmanship of God, created in Christ,
and formed for his glory: fear not: for I have redeemed
thee:
though Jerusalem shall be destroyed, and Judea wasted, and though
subject to the persecutions of wicked men in all places; yet
since redeemed by Christ from sin, Satan, and the law, hell, and
death, nothing is to be feared from either of them; redemption by
Christ is an antidote against the fear of any enemy whatsoever:
I have called thee by thy name;
with an effectual calling, which is of particular persons, and
those by name, even the same that are redeemed by Christ; for
whom he has redeemed by his precious blood, they are called by
the grace of God to special blessings of grace, with a high,
holy, and heavenly calling; and have no reason to fear anything,
since they are the chosen of God; have a right to all spiritual
blessings; all things work together for their good; they shall
persevere to the end, and at last be brought to glory, to which
they are called: thou art mine;
such as are redeemed by Christ, and called by his grace, they are
his Father's gift, and his own purchase; they voluntarily give up
themselves to him, under the influence of his Spirit and grace;
they are his by profession and possession; they are his portion,
people, sheep, and spouse; and his interest in them, and theirs
in him, serve to prevent fear; such need not fear wanting
anything, nor any enemy, nor perishing, or miscarrying of heaven
and happiness, to which fears they are subject.