Isa 48:3-6 | KingComments | STEP | Now follows a renewed explanation of the might God alone has to proclaim future things without failure ( ). But there is a difference with earlier explanations of this unique feature of God. In earlier statements ( ) that statement is in contrast to the idols and idolaters in Israel ( ). Here it concerns the prophecy of the LORD in view of the apostasy and hardening of Israel. He has declared and proclaimed that He will bring salvation ( ). But the people did not want to bow their necks to obey Him. There is no place for Him in their minds ( ). If He, while the people are in such a state, would accomplish the announced salvation, it could still happen that the people would attribute it to the idols of Babylon ( ). What is an encouragement for the faithful, that He will redeem them, is a warning for the stubborn. God tells the stubborn what He is going to do so that they will not think to attribute the redemption to the idols. He guards for His honor. He wants them to acknowledge that it is He Who does it ( ). Furthermore, the LORD will show them things He creates new, not things He created a long time ago ( ). Man is so evil, that he can misuse the knowledge God gives him of what He is going to do in order to attribute what He does to the idols. These new things relate to the deliverance of Israel from the power of Babylon. He will work this suddenly. The LORD says all this because He knows the heart of His people. If He had given His people the wages they deserve, He would have destroyed them. But He cannot deny His mercy. For the sake of Himself He has subdued them and has not exterminated them ( ). The severe exile, as well as the still future great tribulation and the present bitter experiences, are a purifying process ( ). He has “refined” them, “but not as silver”, for their value far exceeds that of silver. The exile has purified them of idolatry. But since their hearts were not cleansed, they rejected Christ. The house of Israel is empty and swept and decorated, where the demon of idolatry will return with “seven other spirits more wicked than itself” ( ). Israel must be cleansed of these too. For this purpose God sends the great tribulation. The price of salvation must also be paid. Paying that price is what the LORD has announced as new things in this section. That will be explained in the next part, Isaiah 49-57. This gracious purpose is what the Lord has in mind in the trials we face. It will enable us to appreciate and praise His love and grace that we experience in them. We will then be kept from despair. He only wants to remove all the ‘slugs’, the dirt, from our life of faith and make our faith, which is compared to gold, pure gold ( ; ). This refining process will come to an end and show a blessed result. He will do it “for My own sake, for My own sake”, the repetition underlining the great importance of this fact ( ). And what will He do? He will deliver His people. The opponents of the LORD and His people will never find any ground to taunt God and His actions. His ways and His actions constitute His glory which will never be given up. To Him all honor will only belong and be given.

‏ Isaiah 48:3-6

Former and New Things

Now follows a renewed explanation of the might God alone has to proclaim future things without failure (Isa 48:3-6). But there is a difference with earlier explanations of this unique feature of God. In earlier statements (Isa 41:22 ; Isa 42:9 ; Isa 43:9) that statement is in contrast to the idols and idolaters in Israel (Isa 46:9-10). Here it concerns the prophecy of the LORD in view of the apostasy and hardening of Israel.

He has declared and proclaimed that He will bring salvation (Isa 48:3). But the people did not want to bow their necks to obey Him. There is no place for Him in their minds (Isa 48:4). If He, while the people are in such a state, would accomplish the announced salvation, it could still happen that the people would attribute it to the idols of Babylon (Isa 48:5).

What is an encouragement for the faithful, that He will redeem them, is a warning for the stubborn. God tells the stubborn what He is going to do so that they will not think to attribute the redemption to the idols. He guards for His honor. He wants them to acknowledge that it is He Who does it (Isa 48:6a).

Furthermore, the LORD will show them things He creates new, not things He created a long time ago (Isa 48:6b-8). Man is so evil, that he can misuse the knowledge God gives him of what He is going to do in order to attribute what He does to the idols. These new things relate to the deliverance of Israel from the power of Babylon. He will work this suddenly.

The LORD says all this because He knows the heart of His people. If He had given His people the wages they deserve, He would have destroyed them. But He cannot deny His mercy. For the sake of Himself He has subdued them and has not exterminated them (Isa 48:9). The severe exile, as well as the still future great tribulation and the present bitter experiences, are a purifying process (Isa 48:10). He has “refined” them, “but not as silver”, for their value far exceeds that of silver.

The exile has purified them of idolatry. But since their hearts were not cleansed, they rejected Christ. The house of Israel is empty and swept and decorated, where the demon of idolatry will return with “seven other spirits more wicked than itself” (Mt 12:43-45). Israel must be cleansed of these too. For this purpose God sends the great tribulation. The price of salvation must also be paid. Paying that price is what the LORD has announced as new things in this section. That will be explained in the next part, Isaiah 49-57.

This gracious purpose is what the Lord has in mind in the trials we face. It will enable us to appreciate and praise His love and grace that we experience in them. We will then be kept from despair. He only wants to remove all the ‘slugs’, the dirt, from our life of faith and make our faith, which is compared to gold, pure gold (1Pet 1:7; Zec 13:9).

This refining process will come to an end and show a blessed result. He will do it “for My own sake, for My own sake”, the repetition underlining the great importance of this fact (Isa 48:11). And what will He do? He will deliver His people. The opponents of the LORD and His people will never find any ground to taunt God and His actions. His ways and His actions constitute His glory which will never be given up. To Him all honor will only belong and be given.