Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
5. Fear not. When Isaiah frequently repeats this exhortation, we ought not to look upon it as superfluous; for we know and feel how prone we are by nature to distrust. Scarcely any words can express the greatness of the alarm by which the Church was at that time shaken.
After reproving Jacob's stubborn disobedience, God's goodness blazes forth all the brighter: He continues His love and care for His people. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; mercy rejoices against judgment, and the sun breaks from behind dark clouds to shine the brighter.
AI summary
Commenting on Isaiah 43:1-7
Fear not, for I am with thee,.... With thy ministers that preach the everlasting Gospel, to make it effectual to the conversion of many everywhere, as well as to bear thee up under all trials, and to cause thee to stand against all opposition: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; which is to be understood not literally...