But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

We’ll give certain individual parts of this section a little more attention over the coming days, but first of all I simply want to note how surprising the ”But now…” is after what we have read chapter 42:18-25. In spite of the sins of His people, God shows abundant mercy. He is determined to have a people who will be for His glory, and have them He will.

‘…the love of God, continually rebuffed, continually returns with the initiative…These verses give Israel in eloquent detail the assurance Christ gives to his church, that the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.’ Derek Kidner: ‘New Bible Commentary’, p.658.

‘Now the sun, breaking out thus of a sudden from behind a thick and dark cloud, shines with a pleasing surprise.’ Matthew Henry.