The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

  47:5 Lady of Kingdoms. The title continues the analogy of v. 1 and speaks of the exalted position from which Babylon was to fall. She was mistress of the world, but would later become a slave woman (cf. v. 7), degraded by pride and false security (v. 8).

  47:6 showed them no mercy. Though God was punishing Israel in captivity, Babylon’s cruel oppression of the captive Israelites was cause for the kingdom’s overthrow. Cf. Jer. 50:17, 18; 51:33–40; Zech. 1:15.

  47:7–9 In Rev. 18:7, 8, 10, 16, 19, John alludes to these verses in describing the downfall of Babylon just before Christ’s return. Compare “a lady forever” with 18:7, “am no widow” with 18:7, and “in one day” with 18:8.

  47:8 no one else besides me. This pinnacle of Babylon’s pride was mockery of the true God in its frivolous presumption of deity (v. 10; cf. 44:6).

  47:9 In a moment, in one day. Babylon did not decay slowly, but went from being the wealthy lady, the unconquered virgin, the proud, invincible mother of many to a degraded, slave woman in the dust, who lost her throne, her children, and her very life. It happened in one night, suddenly and unexpectedly, when Cyrus and the Persian army entered the city (cf. Dan. 5:28, 30). loss of children, and widowhood. Babylon did lose its inhabitants, many of whom were killed and taken captive under Cyrus. This prophecy was fulfilled again when Babylon revolted against Darius; and in order to hold out in the siege, each man chose one woman of his family and strangled the rest to save provisions. Darius impaled 3,000 of the revolters.

  47:10 Sinners foolishly think they are safe, and there is none to judge them. Cf. Pss. 10:11; 94:7.

  47:11 evil…trouble…desolation. The Persians under Cyrus suddenly initiated (cf. v. 9) the visitation that ultimately obliterated Babylon. Its culmination is to come in conjunction with the destruction of a revived Babylon, the world headquarters of evil at the second coming of Christ (51:8; Rev. 18:2–24).

  47:12 enchantments…sorceries. The magical practices of Babylon, designed to aid against enemies (also v. 9), will characterize the Babylon of the future also (Rev. 18:23).

  47:13 Let now the astrologers…save you. Babylon relied heavily on those who looked for combinations of stars, who watched conjunctions of heavenly bodies, who made much of months of birth, and who relied on the movements of stars to predict the future (Dan. 2:2, 10). The prophet sarcastically points out the futility of such trust. This ancient deception is still popular today in the widespread use of horoscopes.

  47:14 They shall not deliver themselves. The astrologers were helpless to save themselves, much less the Babylonians who depended on them, or anyone else. The divine fire that came was not to be a fire to warm them, but to consume them.

  47:15 No one shall save you. When judgment comes, the astrologers with whom the people trafficked and spent their money, will run to their homes, unable to save themselves or anyone else.

  Isaiah 48

  48:1, 2 swear by the name of the LORD…not in truth. The people were nominally Israelites, but their hearts were far from God. This hypocrisy was common all through Israel’s history, even to the time of the Lord Jesus. Cf. Matt. 23:3, 13–39.

  48:3–5 The Lord predicted events that have happened as He predicted them (41:2–4; 46:10), so the people would not ascribe these events to other gods.

  48:3 former things. See note on 46:9.

  48:6 new things. From this point onward, the prophecies of Messiah’s first and second coming and the restoration of Israel have a new distinctiveness. Babylon becomes the Babylon of Revelation (v. 20), and God uses Isaiah to communicate truths about the messianic kingdom on earth and the new heavens and new earth that follow it (e.g., 11:1–5; 65:17). Verse 7 indicates that God had never before revealed these features about the future.

  48:9 For My name’s sake. The nation Israel had no merit to prompt God’s favor toward them (v. 8). They deserved wrath and death, but His mercy toward them originates in His desire to be glorified and His desire to display the integrity of His own name.

  48:10, 11 refined…tested. Since Isaiah’s time, Israel’s testings have included the Babylonian captivity and present worldwide dispersion from her Land; unlike silver purged in the furnace, the purging of Israel is not complete, and they are not refined. But God keeps up the afflictions until they are, so His name is not defamed through the destruction of Israel. The nation will be purged (cf. Zech. 13:1). God’s plan is such that He alone, not man or man-made idols, will receive credit for Israel’s salvation (42:8; cf. Rom. 11:25–27, 33–36). The adversaries of God are never to be given legitimate reasons for scoffing at God and His work.

  48:14, 15 him; He…His arm…him…him…his way. Beginning with v. 6, the prophet began to write of the new things. Babylon is the final one of Rev. 18, and the instrument of God’s judgment is Messiah. The pronouns refer to Jesus Christ whom the Lord will anoint to defeat the final Babylon at His second coming and bring Israel to her land and kingdom. That it is not Cyrus is also clear from the statement, “The LORD loves him,” which is too strong to apply to the pagan king—but not to God’s Beloved, the Lord Jesus.

  48:16 sent Me. Here it was not the prophet who spoke, but the Messiah, the Servant of the Lord whom the Lord God and the Holy Spirit will send for the final regathering of Israel and establishment of His kingdom as described in 61:1–7.

  48:17–19 Chastisements of Israel by the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel are for discipline (42:18—43:13; cf. Heb. 12:10). Some day they will end, when Israel heeds the Lord’s commandments and God’s punishments will turn to prosperity. A future generation will do so and enjoy the refreshment of a continuous stream of God’s peace and righteousness that rolls over them like the relentless sea (65:18).

  48:19 like the sand…like the grains of sand. Because of Israel’s disobedience, God’s promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants (Gen. 22:17) has not yet been finally fulfilled. Even though the nation was temporarily set aside during the Babylonian captivity and during the dispersion before 1948 A.D., and will suffer deadly assaults in the coming time of Jacob’s trouble (cf. Jer. 30:7), God will be true to His promise.

  48:20 Go forth from Babylon! The worldwide proclamation of deliverance, along with the statement that “the LORD has redeemed…Jacob” shows that it is not the return of a meager 50,000 Jews from historic Babylon while most stayed in that pagan land, but the final redemption of the nation as Zechariah spoke of it in Zech. 12:10—13:1 and Paul in Rom. 11:1, 2, 25–27. A redeemed Israel is to make a complete separation from the final Babylon and its wicked system, and proclaim to the world the Lord’s grace toward the nation. John repeats this command in Rev. 18:4.

  48:21 they did not thirst. Isaiah pointed to the way that God miraculously provided for Moses’ generation, after He delivered them from Egypt (Ex. 17:6; cf. Is. 41:17, 18), as an illustration of how He will provide for redeemed Israel when they escape the final world empire of Babylon.

  48:22 no peace…for the wicked. Cf. 57:21. Not every Israelite will enjoy the LORD’s salvation, but only the faithful remnant who have turned from their wicked ways. The wicked will be purged out before the kingdom of peace is established (cf. Zech. 13:7–9).

  Isaiah 49

  49:1—57:21 This section defines the Messiah/Servant’s prophetic and priestly functions, His equipment for His task, His sufferings and humiliation, and His final exaltation. The word “servant” occurs about 20 times in this portion, which magnifies Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who was slain to redeem God’s elect.

  49:1–13 The second of 4 Servant-songs (cf. 42:1–9; 50:4–11; 52:13—53:12). This one tells of the Servant’s mission and spiritual success.

  49:1 from the womb; from the matrix of My mother. The whole world, including Gentiles (“coastlands,” “people from afar”) are called to recognize two significant points: (1) the Messiah/Servant will be a human being, born as others are of a woman, yet virgin born (cf. 7:14; Luke 1:30–33), and (2) He will be an individual as distinct from a personified group such as the nation of Israe
l, which has also been called the Lord’s servant (41:8, 9; 42:19; 43:10; 44:1, 2, 21, 26; 45:4; 48:20; 50:10).

  49:2 My mouth like a sharp sword. The Lord has given power to His Servant to speak effectively and thereby to conquer His enemies (11:4; cf. Ps. 2:9; Rev. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15). His Word is always effective (55:11; Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12) hidden Me. Messiah, before His appearing, was hidden with God, ready to be drawn out at the precise moment (cf. Gal. 4:4, 5).

  49:3 You are My servant, O Israel. That the Lord’s use of the name Israel refers here to Messiah (42:1; 49:5, 6, 7; 52:13; 53:11) is explainable through the intimate relationship that exists between the nation and her King.

  49:4 in vain…for nothing and in vain. At His first coming, the Servant met with rejection by His nation. It may have appeared to some that His mission was a failure because of the suffering and rejection He endured (cf. John 1:9–11). The last two Servant-songs also emphasize the Servant’s suffering (50:4–11; 52:13—53:12). But, though rejected by men, the Servant expresses His strong assurance that He is doing God’s work and will be rewarded with complete success.

  49:5 back to Him…gathered to Him. The Servant’s mission will include the priority of bringing Israel to the Lord. Cf. Matt. 10:5, 6; 15:24; Rom. 1:16; 11:25–27. He will complete this at His second advent (cf. Zech. 12:10—13:1).

  49:6 raise up the tribes of Jacob…My salvation to the ends of the earth. The Servant’s goal is the salvation and restoration of Israel for the fulfillment of the covenant promise. But not limited to Israel, He is to function as a light bringing salvation to the Gentiles. Israel’s mission had always been to bring the nations to God (19:24; 42:6). This she will finally do very effectively in the tribulation after the conversion of the 144,000 witnesses (Rev. 7:1–10; 14:1–5) and when she is restored to her Land at the Servant’s return to earth. Cf. 9:2; 11:10; 42:6; 45:22; Luke 2:32. Paul applied this verse to his ministry to the Gentiles on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:47).

  49:7 man despises…nation abhors. This speaks to the humiliating treatment of the Servant at His first advent, a theme emphasized by Isaiah (50:6–9; 52:14, 15; 53:3). The “nation” is used collectively for all who reject Him, particularly Gentiles, who are the rulers, kings, and princes referred to as someday giving exalted treatment to the Servant at His second advent. Former oppressors will bow down to Him as in 52:15, because of the salvation of Israel.

  49:8 acceptable time…day of salvation. Messiah is represented as asking for the grace of God to be given to sinners. God gives His favorable answer in a time of grace (cf. 61:1) when salvation’s day comes to the world (cf. Gal. 4:4, 5; Heb. 4:7). At His appointed time in the future, the Lord will, by His Servant, accomplish the final deliverance of Israel. Paul applied these words to his ministry of proclaiming the gospel of God’s grace to all people (2 Cor. 6:2). a covenant to the people. See note on 42:6. When the Lord saves and regathers Israel, they will return to the Land, to which Joshua brought their ancestors after their exit from Egypt, now restored and glorious (44:26; Josh. 13:1–8).

  49:9, 10 prisoners…darkness…feed…pastures. At the Messiah’s second advent, Israel’s condition will change from captivity and oppression to contentment and prosperity such as that enjoyed by a well-fed, protected, and watered flock of sheep. These ideal conditions will be enjoyed by the faithful remnant returning for their kingdom in Israel. John reveals that this condition is a foretaste of heaven (Rev. 7:16, 17).

  49:12 come from afar. Israel’s regathering will be from a worldwide exile (43:5, 6), even far away places like Sinim, probably an ancient name for what is China.

  49:13 Cf. Rev. 12:12.

  49:14 Here is the summary of the history of lament by the nation during its long period of suffering. Verses 15–23 follow with words of assurance responding to the despondency.

  49:16 The Lord is referring here to the Jews’ custom, perhaps drawn from Ex. 13:9, of puncturing their hands with a symbol of their city and temple, as a sign of devotion (cf. Song 8:6).

  49:17, 18 Your sons…bind them on you. Zion’s sons will return as the city’s destroyers depart and will adorn the city. Israel will be the means of the conversion of the nations in the end (cf. Rom 11:11, 12, 15).

  49:19–21 After the faithful remnant is regathered in salvation, and Gentiles come to faith in the kingdom through Jewish witnesses, millennial Jerusalem will not be large enough to contain all her inhabitants.

  49:22 nations…shall bring your sons…and your daughters. The promise will find literal fulfillment as the nations of the world assist the faithful remnant of Israel to their land (14:2; 43:6; 60:4; 66:20). At the outset of the kingdom, when this regathering takes place, all the Gentiles will be believers in Jesus Christ who, by faith, escaped the wrath of the Lamb on the Day of the Lord and entered the kingdom (see notes on Matt. 25:31–46). Nations and leaders, that in history oppressed Israel, will humble themselves before the redeemed people of God’s covenant, and Israel will know that waiting on the Lord will not disappoint (8:17; 40:31).

  49:24 prey be taken…captives…be delivered. As in v. 14, Isaiah speaks of Zion again expressing her despondency over her captivity and wondering about deliverance. The Lord replies again with encouraging words in vv. 25, 26.

  49:25, 26 feed…with their own flesh…drunk with their own blood. Strong language against Israel’s enemies reassures her of eventual deliverance from her exile. The angel of the waters draws on this terminology in celebrating the third bowl judgment in Rev. 16:6. The destruction of Israel’s enemies, led by Satan in the tribulation (cf. Rev. 12:15, 16), also fulfills this pledge.

  49:26 All flesh shall know. God’s deliverance of Israel will be so dramatic that the world will recognize that the Lord, the Savior, Redeemer, and Mighty One of Israel is the true God (11:9; 45:6; Ezek. 39:7; Hab. 2:14).

  Isaiah 50

  50:1 certificate of your mother’s divorce…My creditors. Though the sufferings of Judah were the necessary result of sin, no certificate of divorce or sale to creditors occurred because Zion’s separation from the Lord was only temporary. In fact, God gave the non-Davidic northern kingdom a certificate of divorce (see note on Jer. 3:8). However, the unconditional promises of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7) precluded such a divorce for Judah, although there would be a time of separation (cf. 54:6, 7).

  50:2 Why…? God asked why no one was willing to believe and obey Him, even after all had seen His redemptive power in Egypt, when He dried up the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21), opened the river Jordan by turning it into dry land (Josh. 4:23), and killed the fish in Egypt (Ex. 7:18–21). The Lord’s power to redeem was indisputable (59:1). He proved it by His deliverance from Egypt (43:16, 17; 44:27; 46:9; 48:3, 21).

  50:4–11 This is the third of 4 Servant-songs (cf. 42:1–9; 49:1–13; 52:13—53:12), and it is Messiah’s soliloquy about being perfected through obedience (vv. 4, 5) and sufferings (v. 6). The Apostle John writes much about Jesus’ obedience to God in fulfilling His will (cf. John 5:19, 36; 6:38; 7:16, 29; 12:49, 50). Cf. Phil. 2:8; Heb. 5:8; 10:7.

  50:6 My back…My cheeks…My face. The Servant remained obedient though provoked to rebel by excessively vile treatment. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by remaining submissive to the Father’s will (Matt. 26:67; 27:26, 30; Mark 14:65; 15:19; Luke 22:63; John 18:22).

  50:7 set My face like a flint. So sure was He of the Lord God’s help that He resolutely determined to remain unswayed by whatever hardship might await Him (cf. Ezek. 3:8, 9). Jesus demonstrated this determination in setting His face to go to Jerusalem to be crucified (Luke 9:51).

  50:8, 9 No matter how He was mistreated, mocked, and repudiated, the Servant had full confidence of the Lord God’s support, so He welcomed an adversary to come.

  50:10, 11 Here was a call to the unconverted to believe and be saved, along with a warning that those who tried to escape moral, spiritual darkness by lighting their own fire (man-made religion, works righteousness) were to end up in eternal torment.

  Isaiah 51

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nbsp; 51:1, 2 The prophet assured the nation of deliverance by pointing to God’s past covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3), who was the rock in the quarry from which they were hewn as a people. Originally, Abraham was but one person, but God multiplied his descendants as He had promised (Gen. 13:16; 15:5; 17:5; 22:17).

  51:3 waste places…Eden…desert…garden of the LORD. The same God whose power fulfilled His promises to Abraham is to transform Israel’s desolation into a primeval paradise, both nationally and spiritually, causing joy and songs of thanksgiving to ring from it.

  51:4 law…justice…light of the peoples. The Servant’s rule over Israel’s earthly kingdom is to cause righteousness to prevail for the benefit of all nations.

  51:5 near…gone forth. The Servant’s power to restore His people and bring justice, righteousness, and salvation to the world was at work, but God’s perspective differs from man’s reckoning of time. Though near by God’s reckoning in timeless eternity, the fruition of His deliverance was yet many centuries from Isaiah’s day. The nations who survive judgment will trust in Him and enter His kingdom.

  51:6 heavens will vanish…earth will grow old. This begins to take place in the time of tribulation (cf. Rev. 6:12–14; 8:12, 13; 16:8–10, 21), setting the stage, along with the earthly judgments on land, sea, and fresh water (cf. Rev. 6:14; 8:6–11; 16:3–5), for a renewed earth during the Millennium. The actual “uncreation” or destruction of the present universe, of which Peter wrote (2 Pet. 3:10–13), occurs at the end of Christ’s millennial reign on the earth, when a new heaven and a new earth will replace the present creation (2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 21:1).

  51:7, 8 Israel’s enemies will perish, but the Servant’s salvation will be permanent.

  51:9, 10 This prayer for deliverance in the future was based on times past when the Lord overcame Rahab, which was a term widely used to refer to things that wreak havoc, often, as in this case, Egypt (see Ps. 87:4).