Isaiah 48 Study Notes

48:1-2 Isaiah addressed those connected to God by their genealogical descent from the patriarchs. Though part of Israel, they did not have a true relationship because of their disobedience (vv. 4,8).

48:3 The past events refers to the judgment of God on his people. He announced through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets what would happen to sinful Judah. He proclaimed what he would do and then acted on his words.

48:4 Nothing can get through a bronze forehead. An neck of iron is stiff and cannot turn around. This imagery shows the refusal of God’s people to hear him or to repent.

48:5 This verse explains why the Lord made his predictions of deliverance. It also shows that the obstinate ones in Israel were idol worshipers.

48:6-7 Up to this point God has been announcing judgment, but now he will announce new things—a message of grace after the judgment. Why had God kept the news of eventual restoration hidden? According to Brevard Childs, “God chose to keep the entrance of the new hidden until the very last moment because he knew that Israel would abuse its foreknowledge” (Isaiah). The new things include God’s use of Cyrus to deliver his people (vv. 14-15).

48:8 God’s people had closed their ears to God’s commands for a long time, thus the call for them to listen in this chapter (vv. 1,12,14,16). To hear means more than just listening; it implies acting on what is heard.

48:9 God will not completely destroy his people. A remnant will survive the judgment.

48:10 Pure silver is made by subjecting ore to high temperatures and removing the impurities. The image of refining is often used in the Bible to refer to removing sin from a person or a community (1:22), in this case, through affliction.

48:11 God acts to declare his glory.

48:12-13 On the image of God spreading and stretching out the heavens and the earth, see note at 42:5. Since God is the Creator, his people should pay attention to him.

48:14-15 The one whom the Lord loves is Cyrus (44:24-45:8)—the pagan king of Persia whom the Lord will use to deliver his people from the Babylonians. On Chaldeans, see note at 13:19.

48:16 Isaiah concluded this section by affirming that God was the one who had brought him to the people.

48:17-18 On Holy One of Israel, see note at 1:4. Israel’s past judgment was the result of their refusal to follow God.

48:19 Isaiah had earlier announced that Israel’s population would be reduced to a remnant (see note at 10:21-23). The allusion to sand goes back to the patriarchal promise that Abraham would have numerous descendants (Gn 22:17; 32:12; 41:49). It was Israel’s sin that led to a reduction of the population.

48:20-22 The chapter ends with a divine directive to leave Babylon, the nation that was the source of Judah’s oppression. The assumption is that the people should do this after the work of God’s Messiah, in this case Cyrus (see note at 45:1).

48:20 On Chaldeans, see note at 13:19.

48:21 The prophet alluded to the wilderness wandering when God brought his people out of Egypt and into the promised land. Isaiah had earlier used what might be called the “second exodus” theme (4:5; 11:15-16; 40:3-5; 43:18-19). He saw a parallel between God bringing his people out of a place of bondage (first Egypt, then Babylon). The specific reference is to the times when God provided water to Israel in the wilderness (Ex 17:1-7; Nm 20:1-13).

48:22 Though God will bring salvation to his people, he will not back down from his judgment on the wicked.