Chapter 48
The nation of Israel is addressed. Their position as God's people is stated, but also the way they confess God is "not in truth or right".
2021 - This verse:
3 "The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. [Isa 48:3 ESV]
A description of how prophecy works in the Bible. The future is declared, but then it might sit there for decades, centuries, millennia. And then it slams down all at once, over and done. So taking the position that if it hasn't happened yet, it is unlikely to happen, flies right in the face of how God says He does things. This is why things in Revelation let's say, are inexplicable, and remain so, possibly right up until the day before they happen. God doesn't say that he brings events about slowly, predictably, inexorably. He says they are going to happen, and "on that day", they do so. This is significant. We need to keep this in mind any time we are dealing with prophecy. What a good study to go back and look at some of the OT prophecies that have come to pass and see just how suddenly they "appeared".
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God's word makes predictions far in advance, lest the people of that time claim their own idols brought these things about. God tells what is to come before these false gods are even fabricated from metal or wood. This is why prophecy is here.
2021 - But look at vss 6-8!? They say some new things are about to be announced. Not old prophecies repeated, but brand new ones, never before stated. Almost like these were done to put the lie to the enchanters in Babylon.
Thank God for this verse:
9 "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. [Isa 48:9 ESV]
He is not patient for our sake, but for His own name's sake. Only he deserves patience in what He does. All others deserve instant justice, but he forbears.
Isn't this verse interesting:
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. [Isa 48:10 ESV]
Is this what Hitler was about? God still refining His people into the purity of heart he requires?
2022 - These verses:
12 "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. 13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. [Isa 48:12-13 ESV]. Third time we have seen the one calling himself the first and the last also say he is the creator of the world. This is Jesus talking, this is Jesus as creator in the OT. Four total times now, all in the 40's of Isaiah. This is confirmed in vs 6 where it says "From this time forth I announce to you new things". Isn't that what Jesus' entire ministry was about. New wine. And reading these verses , the whole point seems to be that God is going to go in a completely unanticipated direction. Jesus as suffering servant was unexpected in the first century. No one was looking for that. So...will the end be like that also? Will it come about in a way that absolutely no one anticipated? That's what Dwight thinks will happen.
God pleads with Israel, that they may recognize Him for who He is. The one who created all, who sees all, and who knows what will come about, because He has made it so. God laments their disobedience. Then there is this verse:
18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; [Isa 48:18 ESV]
2024 - It looks to me like we have several Messianic verses here. 13, 14 if we put see future Babylon in the prophecy, brought down by Jesus, 15, 16b. Then look what happens in 17. It is as if God ceases to speak, and the Son begins. This whole thing is introduced in vs. 6: 6 "You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, Even hidden things which you have not known. [Isa 48:6 NASB95]. Something new, something hidden...but here it is! I think this is clearly about the coming New Covenant and the Redemption of man. YES! MSB confirms it. He says "From this point onward, the prophecies of Messiah's first and second coming and the restoration of Israel have a new distinctiveness. Babylon becomes the Babylon of Revelation (vs 20) and God uses Isaiah to communicate truths about the messianic kingdom on earth and the new heavens and new earth that follow it. " This was a NEW, previously unrevealed revelation.