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The personal pronouns I and you are used here effectively to highlight the personal, covenantal relationship between God and Israel. Again, the Lord says, “Fear not,” which is a frequent introductory formula to an oracle of salvation, as it is in this instance.
V.2 may be an allusion to the exodus through the Red Sea, or it may refer to the sweeping flood of Assyria (8:7-8). The addition of the fiery language at the end of v.2 suggests the latter reference (cf. 9:18-19). Assyria’s attack will be like a devastating fire.
The notion of countries given as ransom (v.3) is not to be taken literally but as symbolically, indicating the preciousness of Israel to Yahweh (see v.4). The scope of Yahweh’s redemptive act is now extended to all the ends of the earth (vv.5-7). Not only the exiles in Babylon, but those who have been scattered to other countries will return. Vv.9-13 return to the theme found earlier in 41:21-29, namely a comparison of Yahweh and the other gods, which are found to be nothing. The Lord assures Israel that he will act on their behalf against their captor, Babylon. The assurance is based on the fact that God has a history of acting on their behalf, most notably the deliverance at the Red Sea (vv.16-17).
Then suddenly, after this powerful historical recollection, God tells them to forget the former things. Is this a reference to the Exodus or to recent events of history, namely the destruction of their homeland and subsequent exile? It seems to refer to the Exodus. This new work that God is about to do will be so extraordinary as to transcend even the earlier work of the Exodus. Therefore, Israel must let go of the old imagery in order to understand the new. Note the reversal: Instead of a way through the sea, it will be through the desert. Instead of the sea made into dry land, the desert will bring forth lifegiving water.
Vv.22-28 serve as an explanation of Israel’s current status. They are in exile now because of their past sins. Prior to the destruction in 587 B.C., their prayers had been insincere (v.22), their worship empty (v.23), their devotion lacking (v.24), and their sins weighty (v.24). For these reasons, Yahweh brought destruction (v.28).