(Is 42:21) "The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable."
God's contention with you is the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness. You are held captive by those who do not say, "Return" – (Is 42:22) "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore [Return]."
You have been spoiled because you have refused to walk in His way. Therefore, He's terrorized you, and you knew it not– (Is 42:24-25) "Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger [in the conscience], and the strength of battle [God is not showing Himself pleased with you]: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart [you received no instruction thereby]."
You didn't recognize Him to be a God that sees and observes not (Is 42:19-20). You thought, "He sees and observes a little". You did not know that pardon was total. Micah 7:18 declares, "Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity, and that passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage…?"
The cause of your bondage is that you did not trust God to be sufficiently well pleased with Jesus Christ (Is 42:21). You say, "YES, I know God raised Him from the dead… YES, I believe that He is well pleased with His elect people… YES, I know that He's blessing my faithful brethren." BUT, you did not confess Him, from the heart, to be well pleased with you! To believe God is well pleased with Jesus Christ is to believe that He is well pleased with you.
Did you misunderstand the command to repent, be baptized, and receive not only forgiveness but also the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:28)? This is to fellowship with God and be empowered by God. This is to walk in this world with the confidence that all things commanded & promised are possible for you. He told you that the believer is entirely justified from having to produce righteousness (Acts 13:38-39). Righteousness is declared to you as something Christ has already accomplished.
The Lord said that He is well pleased for Christ's righteousness' sake… not only with Christ, but also with you. And yet, you went into bondage rather than hearing Him. You tried to live in part law and part gospel, which is part what Christ has done and part you. You thought that blessings came from CO-OBEDIENCE. So, you waited, stood afar off, and disbelieved. Therefore, the Lord God, because He cannot give His glory to your works, sent you into captivity & afflicted you. The result? You have gone on forwardly; you continued in your unbelieving way; and you secretly thought God was unmerciful (Is 44:25).
And, here is what the Lord God, right now, after all that you have done, squandered, and neglected has to say to you– "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine (Is 43:1)."
1. Now, He's going to speak to your heart with irresistible power. Now, even though you deserve nothing, He has redeemed you–not only from the power of condemnation by Christ paying for what you have done… but now also by the Holy Spirit enlightening you from bondage. You never knew what darkness you were walking in until the lights were turned on. Now you see your chains and your captors, and you see the Lord Jesus Christ saying, "Come over, and put your foot on their neck".
2. Are you fearful that you will fail in the future? Are you fearful of succumbing to your past? God will not keep you in fear. He promises that He will be with you in the waters– "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with the; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee… (Is 43:2)." When trials come, you will be reconciled still. The same righteousness wherein you have comfort now, and the same hope of His calling will abide with you. The Word of the Lord will not alter; neither will He change the thing that has gone out of His mouth.
The rivers of woe shall not overflow you. Just as He strengthened Christ by sending messengers (Luke 22:42-44), He will strengthen you as well. He will bring alive the Word of Promise, cause you to fear disobedience, and He will make sure that you have hope– "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Cor 10:13)."
Be faithful in the trial of fire (Is 43:2). Do not give in to denying God His faithfulness. No human frown shall by any means hurt you. The wrath of man will be the means of strengthening your confidence (read Acts 5 where the disciples rejoice at being beaten for Christ's sake). This is the fellowship of Christ's sufferings whereby we learn patience and our Father's perfect faithfulness.
Finally, here is one last confirmation that you are His. He gave nations for you (Is 43:3-4). God would not allow Israel to lean upon Egypt or Ethiopia when they needed deliverance from Assyria. He destroyed both those nations to destroy the false confidence of His people. Likewise, He has not allowed you to lean upon this present world. He has shown you that every other idol and confidence is bondage. And, what He has done in the past, He will continue to do in the future. Blessedly, you will find no other refuge, joy, or comfort except full-blown liberty in Christ. God says, "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honored, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life (Is 43:4)."