“I am Yahweh!
Your God!
I have been
Your God
Ever since the land of Egypt.
You know no God
But me!
Besides me,
There is no savior!
It was I
Who fed you
In the wilderness,
In the land
Of drought.”
Yahweh, via Hosea, was clear. He left no doubt that he was the God of Israel, since he had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They did not know any other God except him, since he alone was their savior. He fed them and brought them out of the drought stricken wilderness.
“Yahweh said.
‘Surely they are my people.
Children will not deal falsely.’
He became their Savior
In all their distress.
It was no messenger.
It was no angel.
But it was his presence that saved them.
In his love,
In his pity,
He redeemed them.
He lifted them up.
He carried them
All the days of old.
But they rebelled.
They grieved his Holy Spirit.
Therefore he became their enemy.
He himself fought against them.”
Yahweh responded that surely his people and children would not respond falsely. He was their savior in times of distress. He did not merely send a messenger or an angel. It was his very presence that saved them. He showed them love and pity as he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them away as in the good old days. However, they rebelled against him as they saddened the Holy Spirit. They became his enemy so that Yahweh had to fight against them.
“The descendants of those
Who oppressed you
Shall come bending low to you.
All who despised you
Shall bow down at your feet.
They shall call you
The City of Yahweh.
They shall call you
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
You have been forsaken.
You have been hated.
There was no one passing through.
I will make you majestic forever.
I will make you a joy from age to age.
You shall suck the milk of nations.
You shall suck the breast of kings.
You shall know
That I,
Yahweh,
Am your Savior!
I am Your Redeemer!
The Mighty One of Jacob!”
There will be a turnaround at Jerusalem. The descendants of those who oppressed Jerusalem will now come with bended knee. Those who despised this city will now bow down at its feet. The new name for Jerusalem will be the City of Yahweh, the City of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, Zion. No one had been coming to Jerusalem since it was hated and forsaken. Now it will be majestic forever. In colorful words, Jerusalem would suck the breasts of nations and kings. They would soon learn that Yahweh was their savior and redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob
“But now thus says Yahweh.
‘He who created you!
O Jacob!
He who formed you!
O Israel!
Do not fear!
I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name.
You are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you.
When you pass through the rivers,
They shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire,
You shall not be burned.
The flame shall not consume you.
For I am Yahweh!
Your God!
The Holy One of Israel!
Your Savior!’”
Here in Second Isaiah, Yahweh speaks directly to the Israelites. He has created and formed them. They are not to be afraid, because Yahweh has redeemed them also. He has also called them by name, Israel and Jacob. They are his. If they pass through waters, he will be with them. If they go through rivers, it will not overtake them. If they are in fire, they will not get burned with a consuming fire. They only have to remember that Yahweh is their God. He is the Holy One of Israel and their savior. Otherwise there is nothing to worry about.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 