The following commentary covers Chapters 46, 47, and 48.
God's
pleading against idolatry; sovereign redemption
In chapters 46, 47, the
application is made to Babylon and to her idols, but
still as pleading for Israel as beloved of God; for
governmental judgment is always the deliverance of the
beloved righteous. Babylon with all her pride and all her
idols must come down and sit in the dust. In chapter 48
Jehovah at length pleads with Israel. He specifies
Israel, the name of relationship with Himself, Jehovah,
which those He is pleading with bear and claim, while
noting that they were descended from Judah—in a
word, the Jews, who had the place of Israel and called
upon the name of the God of Israel; but He declares their
wickedness and obstinacy. He had told them many things
long before, and had made new revelations to them, that
they might know that Jehovah is God. But they hearkened
not; they did not understand. Nevertheless for the glory
of His name Jehovah would not cut them off; but would
refine them as silver. He reminds them in an affecting
manner of the blessing they would have enjoyed had they
kept His commandments. Nevertheless it is even now
declared unto them that Jehovah has redeemed His people.
But as for the wicked, there is no peace unto them. This
continual pleading against idolatry, whilst giving
instruction for that day, seems to prove that, up to the
end, the question of Israel's either testifying against
idolatry or being defiled with it themselves will have a
principal place. For the government of the world it is a
primary question. The god of this world governs by means
of idols; Jehovah, by His own name. Israel ought to have
been the witness of this. They will be unfaithful to it
in the last days. This is the reason why there is so much
testimony here on the subject.
Isaiah 48 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
God's pleading against idolatry; sovereign redemption
In chapters 46, 47, the application is made to Babylon and to her idols, but still as pleading for Israel as beloved of God; for governmental judgment is always the deliverance of the beloved righteous. Babylon with all her pride and all her idols must come down and sit in the dust. In chapter 48 Jehovah at length pleads with Israel. He specifies Israel, the name of relationship with Himself, Jehovah, which those He is pleading with bear and claim, while noting that they were descended from Judah—in a word, the Jews, who had the place of Israel and called upon the name of the God of Israel; but He declares their wickedness and obstinacy. He had told them many things long before, and had made new revelations to them, that they might know that Jehovah is God. But they hearkened not; they did not understand. Nevertheless for the glory of His name Jehovah would not cut them off; but would refine them as silver. He reminds them in an affecting manner of the blessing they would have enjoyed had they kept His commandments. Nevertheless it is even now declared unto them that Jehovah has redeemed His people. But as for the wicked, there is no peace unto them. This continual pleading against idolatry, whilst giving instruction for that day, seems to prove that, up to the end, the question of Israel's either testifying against idolatry or being defiled with it themselves will have a principal place. For the government of the world it is a primary question. The god of this world governs by means of idols; Jehovah, by His own name. Israel ought to have been the witness of this. They will be unfaithful to it in the last days. This is the reason why there is so much testimony here on the subject.