Isaiah 48:14

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...

14._Assemble, all of you, and hear. _There can be no doubt that the Prophet addresses the Jews, though here he utters nothing that ought not to be acknowledged by all. But because unbelieving and irreligious men have no ears, on this account he does not invite them to “hear.” We know that the Jews enjoyed this privilege above other nations, that God revealed himself to them. (Psalms 147:19; Romans 3:2.) “God is known in Judea,” says the Psalmist,: his name is great in Israel.” (Psalms 126:1.) So much the less excusable was either their slothfulness or their obstinacy, in paying scarcely any regard to their own prosperity. Whence arose their great levity or proneness to revolt, but from their undervaluing or despising the inestimable treasure of heavenly doctrine? T

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 48:14. _WHICH AMONG THEM HATH DECLARED THESE THINGS_ - "Who among you hath predicted these things"] For בהם _bahem_, "among _them_," twenty-one MSS., nine ancient, and two editions, one of them that of the year 1488, fourteen of _De Rossi's_, and one ancient of my own, have _bachem_, "among _you_;" and so the _Syriac_. _THE LORD HATH LOVED HIM: HE WILL DO HIS PLEASURE ON BABYLON_ - "He, whom JEHOVAH hath loved, will execute his will on Babylon"] That is, Cyrus; so _Symmachus_ has well rendered it: Ὁν ὁ Κυριος ηγαπησε ποιησει το θελημα αυτου, "He whom the Lord hath loved will perform his _will_." ON _THE CHALDEANS._] The preposition is lost; it is supplied in the edition of 1486, which has בכשדים _bechasdim_, and so the _Chaldee_ and _Vulgate_....

ALL YE, ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES AND HEAR - Ye Jews who are in Babylon, gather together, and listen to the assurance that God is able to protect you, and that he will certainly restore you to your own country. WHICH AMONG THEM - Who among the pagan? HATH DECLARED THESE THINGS? - The things relating to the destruction of Babylon, and the rescue of his people. This is an appeal similar to that which God has often made, that he alone can predict future events. None of the astrologers, soothsayers, or diviners of Babylon had been able to foretell the expedition and the conquests of Cyrus, and the capture of the city. If they had been able to foresee the danger, they might have guarded against it, and the city might have been saved. But God had predieted it a hundred and fifty years before it occurred, and this demonstrated, therefore, that he alone was God....

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

ALL YE ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES, AND HEAR,.... That is, the people of the Jews, Jacob and Israel his called, before addressed; who are bid to gather together, and draw nigh, that they might hear what the Lord had to say to them: WHICH AMONG THEM HATH DECLARED THESE THINGS? that are future, that concern the redemption and salvation of Israel? which of all the idols among the nations, or of the priests and soothsayers among them, whom the Jews were prone to listen to, that could foretell things to come, such as these the Lord had said should be? THE LORD HATH LOVED HIM; not Israel, as the Targum; but Cyrus, whom the Lord loved as a man, as he does all his creatures; and whom he distinguished from others, by bestowing excellent qualifications on him; and whom he raised to great dignity, and gave him great honour, by using him as an instrument in his hand for the deliverance of his people; and...

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