2/3/2019 

Pastor Rusty Milton

"God's Commitment to His Own Glory"

Isaiah 48 ESV

God's commitment to himself and his glory is our greatest assurance that he will also be committed to us. When Israel rebelled for years, there was on hope: that God's name was still upon them as promised in the covenants of Israel. In Isaiah 48, we see God portrayed as eager to defer his anger and show grace because of these covenant promises (Vs. 9-11). Through the prophet, God also shows how following his commandments will not only bring glory to himself, but will also produce freedom and blessings of peace for his people (Vs. 17-19). In light of this, we should view God's pursuit of his own glory as being for our good as well, and should obey his commands out of love and joy, and should willingly follow the direction he places on our lives.

Isaiah 48 English Standard Version (ESV)

Israel Refined for God's Glory

48 Hear this, O house of Jacob,
    who are called by the name of Israel,
    and who came from the waters of Judah,
who swear by the name of the Lord
    and confess the God of Israel,
    but not in truth or right.
2 For they call themselves after the holy city,
    and stay themselves on the God of Israel;
    the Lord of hosts is his name.

3 “The former things I declared of old;
    they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;
    then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
4 Because I know that you are obstinate,
    and your neck is an iron sinew
    and your forehead brass,
5 I declared them to you from of old,
    before they came to pass I announced them to you,
lest you should say, ‘My idol did them,
    my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’

6 “You have heard; now see all this;
    and will you not declare it?
From this time forth I announce to you new things,
    hidden things that you have not known.
7 They are created now, not long ago;
    before today you have never heard of them,
    lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’
8 You have never heard, you have never known,
    from of old your ear has not been opened.
For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,
    and that from before birth you were called a rebel.

9 “For my name's sake I defer my anger;
    for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
    that I may not cut you off.
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
    I have tried[a] you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
    for how should my name[b] be profaned?
    My glory I will not give to another.

The Lord's Call to Israel

12 “Listen to me, O Jacob,
    and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first,
    and I am the last.
13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth,
    and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them,
    they stand forth together.

14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen!
    Who among them has declared these things?
The Lord loves him;
    he shall perform his purpose on Babylon,
    and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.
15 I, even I, have spoken and called him;
    I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way