Isaiah 48:1-11

In this chapter the attention switches back from Babylon to Israel and Judah. It is possible to have ‘’a form of godliness’’ but deny ‘’its power’’ (2 Timothy 3:5). That’s how it was with God’s people at times: ‘’…you who…pray to the God of Israel…But do you mean it? You claim to be citizens of the Holy City; you act as though you lean on the God of Israel…’’ The Message. However, it was all empty routine and ritual. They did not want to know the ‘’truth’’ or live right (1). As Derek Kidner observes, they ‘’…emerge…as hardened hypocrites(1, 4, 8).’’ New Bible Commentary, p.660

God had made many promises to them that had already come to pass (3-6a). The reference is probably to things like their deliverance at the exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and the consequent settling in the Promised Land and flourishing as a nation. God told them many things in advance so that they would not be able to give the credit to idols for these blessings: ‘’ For a long time now, I’ve let you in on the way I work: I told you what I was going to do beforehand, then I did it and it was done, and that’s that…So I got a running g start and began telling you what was going on before it even happened. That is why you can’t say, ‘My god-idol did this.’ My favourite god-carving commanded this.’ You have all this evidence confirmed by your own eyes and ears. Shouldn’t you be talking about it?’’ The Message. Although no-one can prove the existence of God, there is much evidence that points to the Bible being true. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the greatest pieces of evidence that the Bible is God’s Book, and that He really lives. But the human heart can be stubbornly resistant to the obvious (4; see Romans 1:18ff.) I heard a story about a lawyer who lived in New York. One day a pastor was in conversation with him, and he asked him if he had ever considered the evidence for Christ’s resurrection. The legal man said that he hadn’t. Well, would he like to? ‘Yes’ replied the lawyer. The minister took him painstakingly through the compelling evidence. But the story goes that the attorney eventually said, ‘’The resurrection of Christ is established beyond all doubt as a fact. But I find I am no nearer the faith, for my problem is not with my head but my heart.’ If the story is true, that is a penetratingly honest assessment. It certainly is true to life.

God had new things in store for Israel which He was about to reveal (6, 7). These things probably included the deliverance from exile, the restoration in their own land, and, ultimately, the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. God would do these things even though His people had rebelled against Him (8). They deserved to be ‘’cut off’’ but He would ‘’delay’’ His wrath (9). Though they had been false, God would continue to be true and uphold the honour of His Name. Instead of destroying His people, God would refine and test them in the ‘’furnace’’ of Babylonian exile (10; compare Deuteronomy 4:20). In this way God would preserve a remnant of His people and keep His Name from being defamed (11). God’s supreme passion is for the glory and honour of His own Name. Let that desire for His fame in all the earth fire and fuel your life!

‘’God finds his supreme motive in Himself…God’s motive is his character, his name and nature, the maintenance of his honour in the face of the universe…He did not begin to save us because we were worthy or lovely, but because He would; and therefore He will not give up because we prove ourselves weak and worthless and difficult to save.’’ F.B.Meyer: ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.287.

Prayer: Lord I don’t want to fight you on any issue. I know I can’t win!