Tyndale Open Study NotesIsaiah 48

We can draw two conclusions from the earlier evidence that the Lord alone is God:

1. Babylon's great pride is foolish (Isaiah 47:1–15);

2. Israel should listen to the word of the Lord (Isaiah 48:1–22).

This prophecy is a disputation, a speech in which the prophet argues a set of points against his audience.

The Lord urges Israel to abandon its long history of rebellion and pay attention to his words. In Hebrew, the word for listening often means the same as obeying or acting on what is heard.

Israel was religious but not truly committed to the Lord.

Jacob … Judah: Isaiah usually focused on Judah, but here he spoke to all the tribes of Israel.

The Lord had warned Israel about what was going to happen in the exile.

Although Israel often did not believe God's past predictions, God revealed new things they had not heard. Specifically, God revealed that Babylon would fall and Israel would be restored.

The exile in Babylon was a period of intense suffering (compare Deuteronomy 4:20) that God used to purify Israel.

For My own sake … I will act: Israel's exile made other nations question the Lord's character and reputation. These nations did not see that Israel's wickedness caused the exile. Instead, they saw it as a failure of Israel's God to protect his people and their land (see Isaiah 36:19–20; 37:12; Ezekiel 36:19–26).

This final trial speech reviews the arguments of Isaiah 40–48 and presents the final conclusion.

chosen ally: See Isaiah 44:28; 45:1–2.

I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission: Cyrus would humiliate Babylon and liberate Israel (Isaiah 45:1–4).

• I have not spoken in secret: God's promises are clear, though they do not always specify how or when they will happen.

• And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit: The identity of the one sent is unclear. Isaiah might be referring to himself as a prophet inspired by the Spirit, speaking God's words to Israel. The connection with the spirit suggests it refers to the promised servant, the Messiah.

• The presence of the Spirit ensures the servant's success.

• Peace and righteousness will be established when the kingdom of God fully comes (see Isaiah 66:12).

• like a river … like waves of the sea: There will be abundant peace and overflowing righteousness (compare Amos 5:24). Israel could have had this if its people had listened to God.

Your descendants … as the sand: This fulfills God's promise to Abraham (see Genesis 22:17). In contrast, the Israelites were almost destroyed during the exile in Babylon (see Isaiah 44:26).

Leave Babylon: See also Isaiah 52:11–12; 55:12.

not thirst … rock … water gushed out: These reminders of God’s provision in the exodus provide a fitting summary of what he would do to rescue Israel from captivity in Babylon (see Numbers 20:11).

This phrase, There is not peace … for the wicked (also Isaiah 57:21), highlights the clear difference between the godly and the wicked (see 66:24). Peace represents God's kingdom, which does not include the wicked.