Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
Isaiah 48 stands as a powerful testament to God's patience and sovereignty, even in the face of Israel's persistent rebellion. This chapter serves as both a rebuke and a reminder, urging the people to remember God's past faithfulness and to recognize His power to orchestrate their future. It also foreshadows the coming of the Servant-Messiah, hinting at the salvation that will be offered to all who turn to Him. This chapter is a crucial part of understanding God's character and His unwavering commitment to His promises.
Stubborn Hearts and Unheeded Warnings (Isaiah 48:1-9)
The Lord begins by addressing the "house of Jacob," those who bear the name of Israel but whose hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 48:1). They swear oaths in God's name, but their words are empty, devoid of truth and righteousness. This hypocrisy is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, highlighting the disconnect between outward religious practice and genuine inward devotion.
God reminds them that He declared future events long ago, through prophets like Isaiah, demonstrating His divine foresight and control (Isaiah 48:3). He revealed these things so that when they came to pass, the people would know that He alone is God, the only one worthy of worship. However, Israel stubbornly clung to idolatry, ignoring God's repeated warnings. Therefore, God will reveal "new things" (Isaiah 48:6) – things they have never heard before – to accomplish His purposes.
This prophecy of Israel's captivity and return wasn't entirely new. Deuteronomy had already warned that disobedience would lead to scattering, followed by eventual regathering (Deuteronomy 30:1-5). The "new" element was the specific revelation of Cyrus as Israel's liberator. Until God revealed Cyrus by name, the people had no idea how God would bring about their release from Babylonian captivity. This highlights God's meticulous planning and His ability to use unexpected instruments to fulfill His promises.
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction (Isaiah 48:10-16)
The impending judgment, the "furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10), is not arbitrary punishment but a refining fire designed to purify Israel. God's intention is to burn away the idolatry that has plagued them, for idols have no place in His kingdom. He declares, "I will not give my glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). This statement underscores God's unique position as the one true God and His intolerance of any rivals.
Idols are powerless to predict the future or declare the end from the beginning. But God can, because He was there in the beginning and will be there in the end (Isaiah 48:12-16). He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. This same claim is made by the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:13: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." This connection between God's declaration in Isaiah and Jesus' self-identification in Revelation reveals the continuity of God's character and the divinity of Christ.
The Path to Peace and the Promise of Freedom (Isaiah 48:17-22)
The chapter concludes with a poignant reflection on what could have been. If only the Israelites had listened to and obeyed God, the horrors of the Babylonian captivity could have been avoided. They would have experienced peace and righteousness (Isaiah 48:18). However, "there is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22). This is a fundamental principle of God's created order: wickedness inevitably leads to turmoil and unrest.
Despite their rebellion, God mercifully proclaims freedom: "Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans!" (Isaiah 48:20). The Jews in Babylon are called to imitate their ancestors who fled Egypt, trusting in God to sustain them (Isaiah 48:21). Just as God provided for them in the wilderness, He will provide for them on their journey back to their homeland.
The Servant's Salvation (Isaiah 49:1-57:21)
Isaiah 48 serves as a bridge to the following chapters, which introduce the concept of salvation through the Servant. This section of Isaiah contains some of the most profound andMessianic prophecies in the Bible. The portrait of the suffering and triumphant Servant-Messiah clearly points to the ministry of Jesus Christ. He has either already fulfilled, or will ultimately fulfill, all of these amazing prophecies. The themes of redemption, restoration, and the establishment of God's kingdom are central to this section and offer hope to all who seek Him.
Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
Isaiah 48 stands as a powerful testament to God's patience and sovereignty, even in the face of Israel's persistent rebellion. This chapter serves as both a rebuke and a reminder, urging the people to remember God's past faithfulness and to recognize His power to orchestrate their future. It also foreshadows the coming of the Servant-Messiah, hinting at the salvation that will be offered to all who turn to Him. This chapter is a crucial part of understanding God's character and His unwavering commitment to His promises.
Stubborn Hearts and Unheeded Warnings (Isaiah 48:1-9)
The Lord begins by addressing the "house of Jacob," those who bear the name of Israel but whose hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 48:1). They swear oaths in God's name, but their words are empty, devoid of truth and righteousness. This hypocrisy is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, highlighting the disconnect between outward religious practice and genuine inward devotion.
God reminds them that He declared future events long ago, through prophets like Isaiah, demonstrating His divine foresight and control (Isaiah 48:3). He revealed these things so that when they came to pass, the people would know that He alone is God, the only one worthy of worship. However, Israel stubbornly clung to idolatry, ignoring God's repeated warnings. Therefore, God will reveal "new things" (Isaiah 48:6) – things they have never heard before – to accomplish His purposes.
This prophecy of Israel's captivity and return wasn't entirely new. Deuteronomy had already warned that disobedience would lead to scattering, followed by eventual regathering (Deuteronomy 30:1-5). The "new" element was the specific revelation of Cyrus as Israel's liberator. Until God revealed Cyrus by name, the people had no idea how God would bring about their release from Babylonian captivity. This highlights God's meticulous planning and His ability to use unexpected instruments to fulfill His promises.
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction (Isaiah 48:10-16)
The impending judgment, the "furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10), is not arbitrary punishment but a refining fire designed to purify Israel. God's intention is to burn away the idolatry that has plagued them, for idols have no place in His kingdom. He declares, "I will not give my glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). This statement underscores God's unique position as the one true God and His intolerance of any rivals.
Idols are powerless to predict the future or declare the end from the beginning. But God can, because He was there in the beginning and will be there in the end (Isaiah 48:12-16). He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. This same claim is made by the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:13: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." This connection between God's declaration in Isaiah and Jesus' self-identification in Revelation reveals the continuity of God's character and the divinity of Christ.
The Path to Peace and the Promise of Freedom (Isaiah 48:17-22)
The chapter concludes with a poignant reflection on what could have been. If only the Israelites had listened to and obeyed God, the horrors of the Babylonian captivity could have been avoided. They would have experienced peace and righteousness (Isaiah 48:18). However, "there is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22). This is a fundamental principle of God's created order: wickedness inevitably leads to turmoil and unrest.
Despite their rebellion, God mercifully proclaims freedom: "Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans!" (Isaiah 48:20). The Jews in Babylon are called to imitate their ancestors who fled Egypt, trusting in God to sustain them (Isaiah 48:21). Just as God provided for them in the wilderness, He will provide for them on their journey back to their homeland.
The Servant's Salvation (Isaiah 49:1-57:21)
Isaiah 48 serves as a bridge to the following chapters, which introduce the concept of salvation through the Servant. This section of Isaiah contains some of the most profound andMessianic prophecies in the Bible. The portrait of the suffering and triumphant Servant-Messiah clearly points to the ministry of Jesus Christ. He has either already fulfilled, or will ultimately fulfill, all of these amazing prophecies. The themes of redemption, restoration, and the establishment of God's kingdom are central to this section and offer hope to all who seek Him.