Isaiah Chapter 48 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 48:1–2
"Listen to this, house of Ya'akov, called by the name of Isra'el, who have come from the spring of Y'hudah, who swear by the name of ADONAI and invoke the God of Isra'el! - it is not sincerely or justifiably that they call themselves people of the holy city or rely on the God of Isra'el - ADONAI-Tzva'ot is his name:"
In this passage, we see that there is a difference between the talk of Judah and their action. We are reminded that the name Ya'akov means pursuer and the spring of Y'hudah speaks of the blessings of praise so the people were seen as trusting and following God and even being blessed by God. God said that their actions did not go with what they were being called.
Isaiah 48:3–5
"I announced things that happened at the beginning, long ago; they issued from my mouth, I proclaimed them. Then suddenly I acted, and they occurred. Because I knew that you were stubborn, your neck an iron sinew, your forehead bronze, I announced it to you long ago; before it occurred, I proclaimed it to you; so that you could not say, 'My idol did it; my carved image, my statue, gave the order for it.'"
God goes on to explain how the people had heard what God said would happen and seen it come to be but they were too full of pride to bow to the one true God. We also see that the people are prone to idolatry and crediting the things of God to their idols.
Isaiah 48:6–8
You have heard and seen all this, so why won't you admit it? "Now I am announcing new things to you, secret things you have not known, created now, not long ago; before today, you did not hear them: so you can't say, 'I already know about them.' No, you haven't heard, and you haven't known; these things have not reached your ears before. For I knew how treacherous you were - you were called a rebel from the womb."
We see that the people wanted to take the credit for what God had done and God said that He had been guarding new things which they have never heard so that they could not take credit for them. We also see that God describes them as traitors and criminals.
Isaiah 48:9–11
"Yet for the sake of my own reputation I am deferring my anger; for the sake of my praise I am patient with you, so as not to cut you off. 'Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my sake I will do it, for my own sake. I will not let [my reputation] be tarnished; I will not yield my glory to anyone else.'"
This passage speaks of the fact that there was nothing about the people of Israel that caused God to choose them for His purposes but He is going to keep the covenant that was made with them. We see the fact that God does not completely destroy the people as there would be a remnant and He gives them time to come to their senses.
Isaiah 48:12–15
"Listen to me, Ya'akov; Isra'el, whom I have called: I am he who is first; I am also the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summoned them, at once they rose into being. 'All of you, assemble and listen: which of you has foretold what is coming? ADONAI's friend will do his will against Bavel, using his arm against the Kasdim. It is I who have spoken, I have summoned him, I have brought him, and he will succeed.'"
The people are once again reminded that God is the creator of all things and even the heavens listened when He called to them. God calls them to listen to what He is going to do in bringing judgement onto the Babylonians and we see that He will use His Son to judge the Chaldeans.
Isaiah 48:16–19
"Come close to me, and listen to this: since the beginning I have not spoken in secret, since the time things began to be, I have been there; and now Adonai ELOHIM has sent me and his Spirit." Thus says ADONAI, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Isra'el: "I am ADONAI, your God, who teaches you for your own good, who guides you on the path you should take. If only you would heed my mitzvot! Then your peace would flow on like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would be numerous as the sand, your offspring countless as its grains. Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from my presence."
This new thing that God is revealing to His people is the fact that He has sent the Messiah with His Spirit to redeem them. The people had not held to the truth contained in His commandments and so they were in exile but the Messiah was going to redeem them through His righteousness.
Isaiah 48:20–22
Get out of Bavel! Flee the Kasdim! With shouts of joy announce it, proclaim it! Send the news out to the ends of the earth! Say, "ADONAI has redeemed his servant Ya'akov." They weren't thirsty when he led them through the deserts, he made water flow from the rock for them - he split the rock, and out gushed the water. But there is no peace, says ADONAI, for the wicked.
The chapter ends with a call for all nations to turn from idolatry and accept the redemption that is offered through Yeshua Messiah. For those that do, there is peace and provision from God but, for those that reject Messiah, there is no peace and when there is no peace there is only the prospect of judgement.