Living Stream Ministry

V. ISRAEL’S UNTRUTHFULNESS,
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, OBSTINACY, AND TREACHERY

In chapter forty-eight the prophet Isaiah uses certain extraordinary words to describe Israel. Israel makes mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or in righteousness (v. 1). Verse 4 says that Israel is obstinate, and verse 8 indicates that Jehovah knew that Israel would deal treacherously. In verse 5 Jehovah says, "Therefore I declared them to you long ago; / Before things came to pass I let you hear; / Lest you should say, My idol has done them, / And my graven image and my molten image commanded them."

VI. JEHOVAH’S WISE CONSIDERATION
IN DEALING WITH ISRAEL

Chapter forty-eight also reveals Jehovah’s wise consideration in dealing with Israel. When He dealt with Israel, He exercised His wisdom. In verses 9 through 11 Jehovah says, "For My name’s sake I will defer My anger,/And for the sake of My praise restrain it from you,/In order not to cut you off./Behold, I have refined you but not like silver;/I have tried you in the furnace of affliction./For My own sake, yes, for My own sake, I will do it,/For how can My name be profaned?/And I will not give My glory to another."

VII. JEHOVAH’S LOVE FOR CYRUS
AND HIS USING HIM TO DO HIS PLEASURE

Another matter revealed in this chapter is Jehovah’s love for Cyrus and His using him to do His pleasure, that is, to subdue Babylon and release the captives of Israel.

A. Jehovah Being the First and the Last

In verses 12 and 13 Jehovah makes a declaration concerning Himself. He says, "I am He; I am the First,/I am also the Last./Indeed, My hand laid the foundation of the earth,/And My right hand spread out the heavens;/When I call to them,/They stand together."

(Life-Study of Isaiah, Chapter 24, by Witness Lee)