481 " Hear this , O house of Jacob , who are named e Israel And who came forth from the loins of Judah , Who swear by the name of the Lord And invoke the God of Israel , But not in truth nor in righteousness . 2 "For they call themselves after the holy city And lean on the God of Israel ; The Lord of hosts is His name . 3 "I declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth , and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted , and they came to pass . 4 "Because I know that you are obstinate , And your neck is an iron sinew And your forehead bronze , 5 Therefore I declared them to you long ago , Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, So that you would not say , 'My idol has done them, And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.' 6 "You have heard ; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time , Even hidden things which you have not known . 7 "They are created now and not long ago ; And before today you have not heard them, So that you will not say , 'Behold , I knew them.' 8 "You have not heard , you have not known . Even from long ago your ear has not been open , Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously ; And you have been called a rebel from birth .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 48:1-8
Commentary on Isaiah 48:1-8
(Read Isaiah 48:1-8)
The Jews valued themselves on descent from Jacob, and used the name of Jehovah as their God. They prided themselves respecting Jerusalem and the temple, yet there was no holiness in their lives. If we are not sincere in religion, we do but take the name of the Lord in vain. By prophecy they were shown how God would deal with them, long before it came to pass. God has said and done enough to prevent men's boasting of themselves, which makes the sin and ruin of the proud worse; sooner or later every mouth shall be stopped, and all become silent before Him. We are all born children of disobedience. Where original sin is, actual sin will follow. Does not the conscience of every man witness to the truth of Scripture? May the Lord prove us, and render us doers of the word.