Season 6, Podcast 107, Isaiah 48:1-22, “Go Ye forth of Babylon, Flee Ye from the Chaldeans.”

Season 6, Podcast 107, Isaiah 48:1-22, “Go Ye forth of Babylon, Flee Ye from the Chaldeans.”

The conquest of Judah by Babylon occurred in three stages. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar II, after defeating Egypt, conquered Judah, making Judah a vassal state. In 597 BC, a second wave occurred deporting a large portion of Judah to Babylon. The third and final invasion of Babylon occurred in 586 BC when King Zedekiah, allying with Egypt, rebelled against Babylon. The majority of the Jews were either killed or deported to Babylon. Zedekiah’s sons were killed. Following the slaughter of his sons, Zedekiah’s eyes were put out and Zedekiah died a prisoner in Babylon. Jerusalem was burned and Solomon’s temple destroyed. The Jews were held captive in Babylon for 70 years.

Isaiah was prophet of Judah for 50 to 60 years from 740 BC to 686 BC; therefore, his prophecies concerning the Babylonian captivity were prophesied approximately 100 years before the event, yet he speaks of it in terms of the present. But that isn’t all. He also saw not only the fall of Babylon by the Persians in 539 BC, but like John the Revelator he compares Babylon to the World which will be destroyed just prior to the Second Coming of Christ; therefore, when he tells the Jews to come out of Babylon, it has a double meaning. 

The first meaning refers to the immediate present. Judah has become an idol worshiping nation. It is for that reason they will be destroyed. When Isaiah tells them to come out of Babylon he means for them to get Babylon out of Judah and quit worshiping idols and return to God.

The Second meaning refers to our day just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. Isaiah is speaking of the gathering of Israel. He is also speaking to all Christians to come out of Babylon and prepare for the second coming of the Savior. With that in mind we can better understand Isaiah 48.

First Isaiah speaks of the sins of Judah.

Isaiah 48:1

1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Isaiah condemns Judah for their hypocrisy.

Isaiah 48:2

2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

But they have become an obstinate and proud people. 

Isaiah 48:3-4

3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord reminds Judah that he is the God of Israel, not dumb idols.

Isaiah 48:5-7

5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.

But Judah refused to hear the admonition of the Lord. 

Isaiah 48:8

8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

But the Lord was patient, and reminds them that they are the chosen people. It was he who brought them out of Egypt.

Isaiah 48:9-11

9 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.