Isaiah 48

“Hear this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and have come out of the waters of Judah. You swear by the LORD’s name, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness—

for they call themselves citizens of the holy city, and rely on the God of Israel; the LORD of Armies is his name.

I have declared the former things from of old. Yes, they went out of my mouth, and I revealed them. I did them suddenly, and they happened.

Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow bronze;

therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I showed it to you; lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them. My engraved image and my molten image has commanded them.’

You have heard it. Now see all this. And you, won’t you declare it? “I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.

They are created now, and not from of old. Before today, you didn’t hear them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’

Yes, you didn’t hear. Yes, you didn’t know. Yes, from of old your ear was not opened, for I knew that you dealt very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.

For my name’s sake, I will defer my anger, and for my praise, I hold it back for you so that I don’t cut you off.

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how would my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he. I am the first. I am also the last.

Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens. when I call to them, they stand up together.

“Assemble yourselves, all of you, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? He whom the LORD loves will do what he likes to Babylon, and his arm will be against the Chaldeans.

I, even I, have spoken. Yes, I have called him. I have brought him and he shall make his way prosperous.

“Come near to me and hear this: “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it happened, I was there.” Now the Lord GOD has sent me with his Spirit.

The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.

Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Your offspring also would have been as the sand and the descendants of your body like its grains. His name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.”

Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With the sound of joyful shouting announce this, tell it even to the end of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!”

They didn’t thirst when he led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them. He also split the rock and the waters gushed out.

“There is no peace”, says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter confronts Judah’s religious hypocrisy and idolatrous tendencies despite their covenant identity, emphasizing God’s sovereign foresight in declaring future events to demonstrate His uniqueness. It reaffirms His purpose to redeem His people for the sake of His own name, culminating in a call to leave Babylon and declare God’s saving faithfulness, while underscoring that there is no peace for the wicked.

Flow.

God addresses Jacob’s formal but insincere worship, marked by oath-taking without truth or righteousness (v. 1–2).
He asserts His sovereign control over history, revealing things beforehand so no idol might claim credit (v. 3–7).
He rebukes Israel’s persistent rebellion, yet declares His restraint for the sake of His name and their preservation through affliction (v. 8–11).
The Lord proclaims His eternal deity and creative power, calling a gathered people to witness His purpose to judge Babylon through His chosen servant (v. 12–16).
The Redeemer instructs His people, lamenting their disobedience and its lost blessings, then issues a summons to go forth from exile and proclaim redemption (v. 17–20).
The chapter closes with a stark contrast: miraculous provision for God’s people in the wilderness, but no peace for the wicked (v. 21–22).

Connections. Following chapter 47, which details Babylon’s fall and the exposure of idolatry, chapter 48 turns to Israel’s own need for repentance and deliverance from spiritual complacency. It prepares the way for chapter 49, where the Servant of the Lord speaks of His mission to gather Jacob and be a light to the nations, taking up the theme of divine calling and redemptive purpose introduced here.

What it teaches. God alone declares the future and governs history to prevent idolatrous boasting (WCF 3.7; LC 17). His people are chosen and refined not for their righteousness but for His name’s sake, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness (WCF 5.7; HC LD 10). He is the Holy One who redeems (WCF 8.5; HC LD 1), and His instruction leads to life—a peace like a river—had they listened (HC LD 32). Yet the reprobate face no peace, underlining the finality of divine judgment (WCF 17.5; AC 28).

Apply. The call to leave Babylon is a summons to receive God’s redemption by departing from false trust and proclaiming His work with joy.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.