Isaiah 48:1-11

Isaiah 48:1-11

[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.  [2] For they call  themselves of the holy  city,  and stay  themselves upon the God  of Israel;  The LORD  of hosts  is his name.  [3] I have declared  the former things  from the beginning;  and they went forth  out of my mouth,  and I shewed  them; I did  them suddenly,  and they came to pass.  [4] Because I knew  that thou art obstinate,  and thy neck  is an iron  sinew,  and thy brow  brass;  [5] I have even from the beginning  declared  it to thee; before it came to pass  I shewed  it thee: lest thou shouldest say,  hath done  them, and my graven image,  and my molten image,  hath commanded  them. [6] Thou hast heard,  see  all this; and will not ye declare  it? I have shewed  thee new things  from this time,  even hidden things,  and thou didst not know  [7] They are created  now, and not from the beginning; even before  the day  when thou heardest  them not; lest thou shouldest say,  Behold, I knew  [8] Yea, thou heardest  not; yea, thou knewest  not; yea, from that time that thine ear  was not opened:  for I knew  that thou wouldest deal very  and wast called  a transgressor  from the womb.  [9] For my name's  sake will I defer  mine anger,  and for my praise  will I refrain  for thee, that I cut thee not off.  [10] Behold, I have refined  thee, but not with silver;  I have chosen  thee in the furnace  of affliction.  [11] For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do  it: for how should my name be polluted?  and I will not give  my glory  unto another. 

What does Isaiah 48:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This section recapitulates the revelation that Yahweh predicts the future, so that when the event He predicts happens, people will recognize that He is the only true God. He can cause new things to happen because He alone is the Creator. This prophecy has been the source of much critical attack on Isaiah. [1] Again, the critics" disbelief in God"s ability to predict the future and then bring it into being is the problem.