Wednesday, December 25 – Isaiah 47, 48

1. How does the Lord promise to purify His people? (Isaiah 48:10)

2. How does the prophecy refer to Cyrus beforehand? (Isaiah 48:14)

3. From where does the Lord call His people to come out? (Isaiah 48:20)

Commentary and Reflection:

Isaiah 47 and 48 continue the prophecy regarding Israel’s captivity in Babylon and the deliverance God would accomplish for them through Cyrus.

God reveals this prophecy more than 100 years before its fulfillment as a witness to Israel that both their punishment and their liberation are entirely the work of the Lord.

Once again, Cyrus, the king of Persia, is named as God’s chosen instrument to deliver His people (Isaiah 48:14-16). This is an extraordinary demonstration of God’s love and sovereignty: He reveals the future so clearly, even naming the individual He will use. This shows that He has a plan, and that His plan will certainly come to pass.

Judah, or Israel, belongs to the Lord. The same God who created the heavens and the earth declares that Israel is His people (Isaiah 48:12-13). The captivity and trials His people endure serve as a discipline designed to correct them and lead them to salvation (Isaiah 48:17-19).

Then, He calls His people to come out of Babylon: “Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans!” (Isaiah 48:20, NKJV).

This is significant because some of the people would grow so accustomed to captivity that, when the time for liberation came, they would need to be urged to leave. This call parallels the message in Revelation 18:4:

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’” (Revelation 18:4, NKJV).

Chapter 47 speaks prophetically of Babylon. God expresses His anger against Babylon for the harsh treatment of His people (Isaiah 47:6-7). Babylon, in its arrogance, believes it is invincible, attributing its greatness to its gods and relying on sorcery for protection. However, these will fail, and Babylon will be judged.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary sheds light on the connection between Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and John in Revelation regarding Babylon:

“The symbolism and the language of the book of Revelation become more clear and meaningful when studied in the light of what the prophets of old wrote concerning events of their era. Various aspects of the punishment of literal Babylon as set forth in Isa. 47 are thus of value in connection with a study of the punishment of mystical Babylon, presented in Rev. 16 to 19.” (SDABC, Isaiah 47:1).

This shows that the enemy of Judah and Israel at that time is the same enemy God’s people face today. Babylon symbolizes idolatry and serves as an alternative to Jerusalem, representing false religion and a system of oppression and deception.

For us today, the historical and prophetic patterns remain the same. Babylon is alive and continues to act as a force of spiritual confusion and opposition to God’s people. The second angel of Revelation 14 announces Babylon’s fall.

“The term ‘Babylon’ is derived from ‘Babel,’ and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.” (The Great Controversy, p. 381).

“Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s example of iniquitous connection with ‘the kings of the earth’—the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term ‘Babylon’—confusion—may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.” (The Great Controversy, p. 383).

Just as God chose and sent Cyrus to deliver His people from Babylon, in our time, He will send Jesus to liberate His people from spiritual Babylon.

Let us hold on to this powerful thought and promise: “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18, NKJV).

May you find peace and hope in the Lord today and always.