Isaiah 48:12

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. -The Almighty, who has founded heaven and earth, can, and will restore His people. Verse 12. I (AM) THE FIRST, I ALSO (AM) THE LAST - (; .) Verse 13. MY RIGHT HAND HATH SPANNED THE HEAVENS - hath measured them out (). (WHEN) I CALL UNTO THEM, THEY STAND UP TOGETHER - (; .) But it is not their creation so much which is meant, as that, like ministers of God, the heavens and the earth are prepared at His command to execute His de...

12._Hearken to me, O Jacob. _We have formerly explained the reason why the Lord declares his eternity. It is, that we may know that he is always like himself, and that we may not measure him by our capacity. He bids us “hearken to him;” because we are led into errors and are carried away by false opinions, in consequence of refusing to lend our ears to him. _And Israel, my called. _When he says that “Israel has been called by him,” he indirectly contrasts this statement with the reprobation mentioned by him at the beginning of the chapter; for he shewed that the Jews falsely assumed this name, and idly gloried in it, inasmuch as they did not prove themselves to be true Israelites. Here, on the contrary, he affirms that “Israel is his called.” Just as if a father, in rebuking his son, should call him a bastard, and yet should afterwards acknowledge him to be his son, so the Lord shews tha...

9-15 We have nothing ourselves to plead with God, why he should have mercy upon us. It is for his praise, to the honour of his mercy, to spare. His bringing men into trouble was to do them good. It was to refine them, but not as silver; not so thoroughly as men refine silver. If God should take that course, they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away. He takes them as refined in part only. Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in them, in the furnace of affliction. It is comfort to God's people, that God will secure his own honour, therefore work deliverance for them. And if God delivers his people, he cannot be at a loss for instruments to be employed. God has formed a plan, in which, for his own sake, and the glory of his grace, he saves all that come to Him....

Verse Isaiah 48:12. _O JACOB_ - "O Jacob, my servant"] After יעקב _yaakob_, a MS. of _Kennicott's_, two of _De Rossi's_, and the two old editions of 1486 and 1488, add the word עבדי _abdi_, "my servant," which is lost out of the present text; and there is a rasure in its place in another ancient MS. The Jerusalem Talmud has the same word. _I ALSO_ AM _THE LAST_ - "I am the last"] For אף אני _aph ani_, "even I," two ancient MSS. and the ancient Versions, read ואני _veani_, "and I;" more properly....

HEARKEN UNTO ME - This is a solemn call on the Jews in Babylon to attend to what he was now about to say. It is the commencement of a new part of the argument, containing the assurance that he would deliver them, and utterly destroy the Chaldeans. He begins, therefore, by asserting that he is the only true God, and that he is able to accomplish all his purposes. MY CALLED - The people whom I have chosen, or called. I AM HE - I am the same; or I am the true and only God. I AM THE FIRST - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6)....

EXPOSITION The present chapter, which terminates the second section of Isaiah's later prophecies, consists of a long address by God to his people, partly in the way of complaint, partly of combined premise and exhortation. The address is divided into three portions, each commencing with a call on Israel to pay attention: ISAIAH 48:1, "Hear ye this," etc.; Isaiah 48:12, "Hearken unto me," etc.; Isaiah 48:16, "Come_ _ye near unto me, hear ye this," etc. ISAIAH 48:1 THE FIRST ADDR

HEARKEN UNTO ME, O JACOB AND ISRAEL, MY CALLED,.... Called before out of Egypt, and now out of Babylon, and who had the name of God called upon them, and who called upon the name of the Lord; so such who are called with a holy calling, according to the purpose and grace of God, by the Spirit and grace of Christ, unto fellowship with him, to partake of his grace here, and glory hereafter, are styled "the called of Jesus Christ", Romans 1:6 and who seems to be the person here speaking, as appears from the following clause: and it may be observed, that Jacob and Israel are described here in a different manner from what they are in the beginning of the chapter, since the Lord had declared his designs of grace towards them, and that he had chosen them, and would save them for his name's sake: which they had reason to believe he could and would do, from the account which he gives of himself: a...

Isaiah 48:1. _Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness._ There always were false professors, and I suppose there always will be till Christ comes. A Judas was among the twelve apostles, and we cannot wonder that we find such in every church, but what a dreadful thing it is to wear the name of God, and yet not really to serve him, to be called Christians, and yet not to be like Christ! It must be a very God-provoking thing to be called by his name, and then insult it by not being true to it. Isaiah 48:2. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD

CHAPTER 48 The Divine Restatement Concerning His People, Their Condition and Future 1. _Their condition and Jehovah's predictions (Isaiah 48:1)_ 2. _Jehovah acts for His Name's sake (Isaiah 48:9)_ 3. _I am He” (Isaiah 48:12)_ 4. _Israel's future blessing (Isaiah 48:17)_ 5. _No peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22) _ This chapter touches once more upon the different phases of Jehovah's messages from Chapter s 40-47. Israel's apostate condition, Jehovah's sovereign grace and mercy towards them, Cyrus ...

THE NEW THINGS WHICH YAHWEH SHOWS. Yahweh emphasizes His incomparable and eternal majesty as Creator. When He had fashioned the earth and the heavens at His word they took their places. Let Israel assemble and answer His question, What heathen god has foretold that which is now taking place? Who has brought Cyrus forth to do His will on Babylon? It is He who has called him and prospered his way. He is not speaking in secret but from the time when the event comes into being He announces (its end?). ISAIAH 48:15. HE SHALL MAKE: read, I have made (LXX). Isaiah 48:16. The last clause, suddenly introducing the speaker, as Isaiah 48:2 Is. never does, is a gloss. SPIRIT: prophetic spirit; object to