Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Isaiah 43:1

CHAPTER 43

Is 43:1-28. A Succession of Arguments Wherein Israel May Be Assured that, Notwithstanding Their Perversity towards God (Is 42:25), He Will Deliver and Restore Them.

1. But now--notwithstanding God's past just judgments for Israel's sins.

created--not only in the general sense, but specially created as a peculiar people unto Himself (Is 43:7, 15, 21; Is 44:2, 21, 24). So believers, "created in Christ Jesus" (Ep 2:10), "a peculiar people" (1Pe 2:9).

redeemed--a second argument why they should trust Him besides creation. The Hebrew means to ransom by a price paid in lieu of the captives (compare Is 43:3). Babylon was to be the ransom in this case, that is, was to be destroyed, in order that they might be delivered; so Christ became a curse, doomed to death, that we might be redeemed.

called ... by ... name--not merely "called" in general, as in Is 42:6; 48:12; 51:2, but designated as His own peculiar people (compare Is 45:3, 4; Ex 32:1; 33:12; Joh 10:3).