This chapter contains renewed assurances of the deliverance of the exile Jews from Babylon. It is designed, in the main, to state the causes for which the captivity would occur, and to furnish the assurance also that, notwitbstanding the judgment that should come upon them, God would deliver them from bondage. It contains lamentations that there was a necessity for bringing these calamities upon them; assurances that God had loved them; appeals to themselves in proof that all that they had suffered had been predicted; and a solemn command to go forth out of Babylon. It is to be regarded as addressed to the exile Jews in Babylon, though it is not improbable that the prophet designed it to have a bearing on the Jews of his own time, as given to idolatry, and that he intended that the former part of the chapter should be an indirect rebuke to them by showing them the consequences of their proneness to idolatry. The chapter is exceedingly tender, and full of love, and is an expression of the kindness which God has for his own people.
It is not very susceptible of division, or of easy analysis, but the following topics present probably the main points of the chapter.
I. A reproof of the Jews for their idolatrous tendencies, reminding them that this was the characteristic of the nation, and indirectly intimating that all their calamitics would come upon them on account of that Isaiah 48:1-8. This part contains:
1. An address to the Jews, as those who professed to worship God, though in insincerity and hypocrisy Isaiah 48:1-2.
2. A solemn declaration of God that he had foretold all these events, and that they could not be traced in any manner to the power of idols, and that he, therefore, was God Isaiah 48:3-7.
3. Their character had been that of rebellion and treachery, from the very commencement of their history Isaiah 48:8.
II. Promises of deliverance from the evils which their sins had brought upon them, with expressions of regret that their conduct hurl been such as to make such judgments necessary Isaiah 48:9-19.
1. God says that he would restrain his anger, and would not wholly cut them of Isaiah 48:9.
2. The purpose of the calamities brought upon them was to refine and purify them, as in a furnace Isaiah 48:10.
3. All his dealings with them had been for his own glory, and so as to promote his own honor Isaiah 48:11.
4. An assertion of his power, and his ability to accomplish what he had purposed Isaiah 48:12-13.
5. He had solemnly purposed to destroy Babylon, and the Chaldeans Isaiah 48:14.
6. He had raised up for that purpose one who should accomplish his designs Isaiah 48:15-16.
7. He expresses his deep regret that their conduct had been such as to make it necessary to bring these heavy judgments on them, and states what would have been the result if thcy had observed his commandments. Their peace would have been as a river, their righteousness as the waves of the sea, and their offspring as the sand Isaiah 48:17-19.
III. A command to go forth from Babylon, implying the highest assurance that they should be delivered from their long and painful captivity Isaiah 48:20-22.
1. They should go out with singing and triumph; and the ends of the earth should see it Isaiah 48:20.
2. God would provide for them in the deserts, and cause the waters to flow for them in their journey through the pathless wilderness Isaiah 48:21.
The chapter concludes with a general declaration that the wicked have no peace, implying that they only have peace and security who put their trust in God Isaiah 48:22.