ISAIAH
CHAPTER 48
The Lord reveals his purposes to Israel—They have been chosen in the furnace of affliction and are to go forth from Babylon—Compare 1 Nephi 20.
[chapter 48 distills the ch. 40-47 block into a single chapter and combines it with a Torah (i.e. the Law, as in the Law of Moses, the Pentateuch) summary. Chapter 48 & 49 are found in 1 Ne as quoted by Nephi ; 50 & 51 in 2 Ne. quoted by Jacob; 53 is quoted by Abinadi in Mosiah; Savior himself quotes chapter 52 & 54 in 3 Ne; ]
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, [ amplified by an additional phrase in
the Book of Mormon where this chapter is quoted. Although the additional phrase "or
out of the waters of baptism" in 1 Nephi 20:1 was not in the original
1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith allowed it to be included
in later editions as an inspired interpretation of the phrase "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.
2 For they call themselves of the holy city, [ Jerusalem ] and stay themselves upon [ pretend to rely upon. This is similar to the condemnation of Jerusalem made by Lehi and other Prophets (see 1 Nephi 1:13, 18–19), and could be a form of condemnation which was given to Laman and Lemuel. ] the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.
3 I have declared the former things [ He spoke of them before their occurrence, and then “shewed them … suddenly” by bringing them to pass (Old Testament Student Manual, “The Gathering of Isreal and the Coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 48–54) ] 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; [seem to speak directly to the rebellious and stubborn members of Nephi’s family” and “fits Nephi’s older brothers Laman and Lemuel perfectly.” (Andrew Skinner, Isaiah in the Book of Mormon p 100) ]
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, [ see also Abraham 1:5; By telling them before hand the apsotates could not give credit to the power of their various idols. ] 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. [ 1 Cor 9: 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! ]
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. [ or "I already knew that." The Lord then promised to defer His anger but utterly refused to give His glory to false gods or to suffer His name to be polluted (compare v. 11 with 1 Nephi 20:11). Thus the Lord’s purpose for revealing the future unto man is partly made clear: it is the solid proof that He is truly God, for no mute idol could possibly duplicate such a feat. (Old Testament Student Manual, Kings–Malachi, “The Gathering of Isreal and the Coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 48–54) ]
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. [ Ps 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. ]
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. [ Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call “the furnace of affliction” …Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become. Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 2000 “…if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery. …I love the verse of ‘How Firm a Foundation’
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’er flow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle. p 98
(Also see: “The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design, thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine” Hymns, no. 85)
Note how Isaiah’s metaphor introduced back in verse 4 still applies—those whose necks are iron and whose brows are brass need to be melted down and made pliable in the furnace of affliction—Bytheway, Isaiah for Airheads, Kindle Edition
The Savior’s “mission is to cleanse, purify, and refine the human soul so that it can return to his Father’s kingdom in purity, free from dross. (3 Ne. 27:19–21.) His cleansing power ‘is like a refiner’s fire, … And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ in that great day when he comes to judge the world. (Mal. 3:2–3; 3 Ne. 24:2–3; D.&C. 128:24)” Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 624]
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my bname be polluted? [The Luther Bible translates this mean: “lest my name be slandered for not keeping my promise.” David J. Ridges, Isaiah in the Book of Mormon Made Easier, p 130 The names of God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, are sacred. The prophet Isaiah taught that the Lord will not suffer these names to be dishonored—“polluted” as the scriptures say. (See 1 Ne. 20:11; Isa. 48:11.) Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 1986, p 49 ] and I will not give my glory unto another.
12 ¶ Hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; [ “I am He” The Lord reaffirms His identity. The Lord told Moses that his name was “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), and the phrase “I am” appears three times in verse 12. The Lord is the creator of the earth and the heavens. All the elements in the universe listen to and obey the Lord. ] I am the first, I also am the last.
13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, [ In the previous verse “The Lord declares He is the First and the Last” then in this verse, ” He is the God of the Old Testament—Jehovah—as well as the Savior of the New Testament—Jesus Christ! By His right, or covenant, hand He has created all things. He reminds His chosen (called) people that His creations obey Him.” —Hoyt W. Brewster, Isaiah Plain & Simple, p 181 ] and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure [ The most important point in this verse is that the Lord will fulfill his word which his servants and prophets have declared. The LDS Bible footnote aGod will use the Persian King Cyrus will do his desire, or wish. ] on Babylon, [ the cultural, commercial center to the east. In D&C 133:14, the Lord’s people are told to “go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.” ] and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: [ In addition to “him” being Cyrus, Monte Nyman believes “him” could be Israel. Great are the Words of Isaiah p 171.
Victor Ludlow believes the description best fits the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Isaiah, Prophet, Seer and Poet, 405
David J. Ridges, suggests it “could also mean that Heavenly Father called Christ to prophesy; also that Christ called Isaiah prophesy.—Isaiah in the Book of Mormon Made Easier, p 131 ] I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
16 ¶ Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret [ The intent in the Book of Mormon is that the Lord has spoken openly and not in secret, and that his spoken openly from the time that the prophecies were first declared. The intent is again that Israel shall have no excuse for not knowing that the Lord was the source of the prophecies. H. Clay Gorton, The Legacy of the Brass Plates of Laban, p 102 ] from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. [the Lord is speaking of His prophets who have “declared” what the Lord has revealed to them. He loves them and will “fulfil” all his words which they have spoken. Thomas R. Valletta, The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families, p 62
The Lord’s counsel and commandments are always for the blessing (profit) of the obedient, while they who reject his words sow the seeds of sorrow and disappointment. (See Hymns 239, Choose the Right)—Hoyt W. Brewster, Isaiah Plain & Simple, p 183]
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to
my commandments! [if you would have done as you
were asked to] then
had thy peace been
as a river, [your life would have been so much
more peaceful, restful - like a lazy river that slowly moves down stream. less
friction, all moving together provides support, flows easily. Isaiah, speaking for the Lord, laments the wonderful blessings that the wicked Israelites are throwing away. He compares the peace of righteousness that the Israelites could obtain to an endlessly flowing river and to infinitely rolling waves of the sea.] and thy righteousness
as the waves of the sea:
19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, [We will be heirs to the Abrahamic promises: we will have descendants as numerous as the sands of the seashore, and an everlasting name before God ] and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 ¶ Go ye forth of Babylon, [ or leave Babylon behind. Vs 19 and 20 are unmistakable Abrahamic language, language we’re all quite familiar with. …cast somewhat negatively here, since Israel hasn’t kept the Lord’s commandments to them, and so they haven’t yet seen anything of the fulfillment of these promises. But Israel has another chance. Always another chance. They’re given a new commandment: “Go ye forth of Babylon! Flee ye from the Chaldeans!” ] flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: [ A reminder by Isaiah of what God has done for them. He uses as examples events from the time of Moses. Examples of Gods great power. (see Exodus 17:1–6; Numbers 20:11). Water from a rock could be a symbol of the Living Water that comes from Christ, who is also the “rock of our salvation” ] he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace,
[ hebrew "shalom" = not only means lack of war, but implies
everything that you need health, well-being. Shalom comes from the root
verb Shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. Completeness, wholeness,
health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness,
fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.] saith
the LORD, unto the wicked. [In
other words you will never find or know this peace unless you are righteous. Miracles do not bring peace to the soul if you continue in sin. You have seen the miracles us them to turn toward God (57:21; 1 Ne. 20:22; Alma 41:10)]