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Overview 

Isaiah 48 reminds the reader that God has chosen Israel and Judah—but His choosing is simply according to His character and His divine plan. Israel is stubborn and stiff-necked, but again YHWH made covenantal promises to His people. Therefore, these promises are irrevocable, because God does not lie. 

Isaiah 48:9-11

“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. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

YHWH repeats Himself three times, using the phrase—”For my name’s sake”. This is the starting point for the Godhead. In hearing this, some have accused God of being narcisstic or even selfish. Yet this cannot be the case. For one thing, God is the Creator. It is His right to mold and make His creation however He wants it to be. But it is not just that. God is the highest being in existence. He is the most wise. He is perfect. He knows the beginning and the end. Of course, He makes decisions based on His glory, His renown, His sovereign decree. Why would God do anything if it wasn’t based on His perfect, omnipotent and wise character? 

Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.”

You can almost feel the emotion of YHWH pleading with His people. He loves them. He wants to bless them. But Israel keeps tripping on their own feet. God offered them peace and righteousness. He offered to lead them so they can prosper. God wanted Israel to be a light to the nations. But they failed. Once again, God is faithful. He never moves—we are the ones who move. We are the ones who try and do this without Him. 

The commandments of God will lead us to life, to peace. This is why we need to commit to spend time with God everyday. God’s word truly is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Isaiah 48:22

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Verse 22 is very clear. The wicked will not experience peace, in this life or in the life to come. Why is this the case? The reason is simple: Only God—and specifically—only a personal relationship with God can bring a human peace. The word for peace in Hebrew is shalom. I like this word because it expresses completeness, wholeness. This is what God wants for us. To be complete, to be whole. Sin ruined that. But thankfully, God provided a way to get us back. To bring us shalom. 

But there is a part for us to play in this. Much of the peace the Christian enjoys is when he/she embraces and executes the mind of Christ. Trusting God is crucial. His ways are not our ways. Sin is enticing—and the only way to strip away its appeal is to enjoy something (or more accurately) someone who satisfies us more deeply. Our souls are immaterial and spiritual. Only an invisible, eternal spiritual being can make us whole. 

So run to God. Run to His word. God promises that if we drink in the well of life—we will be satisfied. Nothing quenches our thirst other than God. Drink deep. Drink often.