Isa 48:2 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is especially addressed to the prisoners of Judah, “who came forth from the loins of Judah”, that is, those who have their source, their origin, in Judah ( ). It indicates their natural ancestry. Judah means ‘praise’ ( ), which indicates the purpose of their existence in the presence God: a people who praise God. They have a great confession – they “are named Israel,” which means “warrior of God” ( ) – but their ways are not consistent with that. They swear “by the name of the LORD” and call Him “the God of Israel”, but they are untruthful in this. They boast of being of “the holy city” ( ), but they behave unholy. They do not think that they are dealing with “the LORD of hosts”, a Name that demands reverence and submission and not an outward religion. The apostle Paul later writes: “They are not all Israel who are [descended] from Israel” ( ). The same unfortunately also applies to many Christians who have been baptized and attend church meetings, but are not born again and therefore do not have a personal relationship with the living God.

‏ Isaiah 48:2

Confession of Israel

This chapter is especially addressed to the prisoners of Judah, “who came forth from the loins of Judah”, that is, those who have their source, their origin, in Judah (Isa 48:1). It indicates their natural ancestry. Judah means ‘praise’ (Gen 49:8), which indicates the purpose of their existence in the presence God: a people who praise God. They have a great confession – they “are named Israel,” which means “warrior of God” (Gen 32:28) – but their ways are not consistent with that. They swear “by the name of the LORD” and call Him “the God of Israel”, but they are untruthful in this.

They boast of being of “the holy city” (Isa 48:2), but they behave unholy. They do not think that they are dealing with “the LORD of hosts”, a Name that demands reverence and submission and not an outward religion. The apostle Paul later writes: “They are not all Israel who are [descended] from Israel” (Rom 9:6b). The same unfortunately also applies to many Christians who have been baptized and attend church meetings, but are not born again and therefore do not have a personal relationship with the living God.