四十八章記載神向那些虛偽敬拜神，又向拜偶像的以色列後裔說話，上帝告訴他們，帶領他們的不是任何一個偶像而是上帝，預言成就證明上帝的存在，因為沒有一個偶像能夠正確的預言將來的事，只有上帝能（48：3~5）。

        上帝起初即知祂所揀選的子民也將犯罪，但為祂自己名的緣故，和為要完成祂救贖世界的計畫的緣故，上帝未照他們所行的對待他們，祂將他們放置火爐中熬煉他們，其中只有一部分餘剩；榮耀信實只給真神（48：9~11；42：8），就是不改變永恆的創造者(48：12~13；啟1~8；來1：3；13：8；約1：1~3)，絕不歸給假神或撒但。上帝要祂的子民想一想，誰能用一個外邦國家（波斯）成為工具，成就上帝所喜悅的事，毀滅巴比倫呢（48：14~15）﹖更令人驚訝的是，上帝樂意與祂立約的子民相通，且向他們顯示祂的心意和預言；上帝最大的啟示，是將祂自己顯現在耶穌基督身上（來1：1~2），耶穌說：「現在耶和華差遣我和祂的靈來」（48：16），在這一處聖經中清楚看見三位一體的真理，在希伯來文中，此處用的動詞是單數。

        上帝的子民想到上帝所行的一切都是為了他們，他們應該悔改相信上帝，若他們聽從上帝的話，巴比倫的擄掠就不需要臨到，並且能享受上帝奇妙的平安，但在邪惡犯罪中沒有平安。上帝要拯救猶太人之前，上帝已告訴他們，必要用歡呼的聲音傳揚上帝的救贖（48：17~22）。

        四十九章預言彌賽亞耶穌，具有人的形像，是上帝委任的僕人，祂的信息針對外邦人所說，為要他們明白救恩的路；上帝差祂的僕人耶穌，從人形的嬰孩來到人世間，為童貞女馬利亞所生（49：1，太1：21，路1：31）；耶穌教導上帝的話，像是一把利刃，能深入人心帶來公義（49：2；啟1：16；來4：12）。耶穌被稱為「我的僕人以色列」，因耶穌是那唯一實踐了上帝心意的人，讓神聖的國度降臨，且讓上帝得尊榮（49：3；約13：31~32；17：1）。

        偉大的僕人耶穌，也有沮喪的時刻，當祂的教導被人誤解，又被祂所召聚拯救的的子民所拒絕、輕視時，祂十分沮喪（49：5；53：3；太23：37），但是祂的工作不會徒勞，因上帝有祂的計畫（49：4）。相信上帝的，祂必復興他們，耶穌自己成為外邦人的光（49：6；路2：32；徒13：47），上帝盼望全地的人都經歷到上帝的救恩，藉耶穌的死和復活，成就了上帝的恩典（49：8）；耶穌在世上時雖被輕視，但當祂再來時，世上的君王及官長們都要稱頌祂（49：7；腓2：5~11）。上帝的慈愛也要臨到外邦人，眷顧引導他們歸向祂，就是遠在地極的國家，都要成為屬靈的以色列人。上帝奇妙慈愛的工作，差耶穌來安慰祂的子民，使全地歡喜快樂。

        先知預言錫安（耶路撒冷），被巴比倫人毀滅受苦之後，必會呼求上帝，人們會忘記耶路撒冷曾被毀多年，但上帝說祂永不忘記她，因祂為這城有一榮耀的計劃，在祂的信實中，祂要永遠的保護耶路撒冷及不斷的愛她（49：14~16；耶31：3）。上帝從大能的擄掠者中釋放耶路撒冷的兒女，回到自己的家園建造城牆（49：17；尼1：3；2：17~18）；一個更榮耀的應許將賜給錫安：相信主的外邦人將充滿城中，承受荒涼之地為業（49：8，19），上帝高舉釘十架的耶穌，使外邦信祂的人聚集到耶路撒冷生養兒女，那日外邦人將要帶領猶太人回到上帝面前，他們要合而為一，成為上帝的子民（49：22）。

        感謝主，您記念我們，為我們征戰，當我們站在您身旁時，您使我們獲勝；服事您是何等大的祝福。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        God's message in chapter 48 is addressed to all the children of Israel who are hypocritical in their worship to Him and practice idol worship on the side. God specifically tells them that He has given prophecies so that they may know it was He who brings them to pass and not one of their idols. Fulfilled prophecy is a proof of God's existence, for no one, not even a demon-possessed meduim, can accurately and specifically predict events that are far in the future, only God (48:3-5).

        The Lord also knew from the beginning that the people He chose would be transgressors. Yet for His own name's sake and to accomplish His plan of redemption for the world, he would not annihilate them as they deserved. Rather, he would put them through the furnace of trials and purge them, so that only a remnant would remain, and the glory and honour of this possession would not be given over to an idol or to Satan but to the Lord alone (48:9-11; 42:8), the unchanging, eternal Creator (48:12-13; cf.Rev. 1:8; Heb. 1:3; 13:8; Jn. 1:1-3). God calls His people to stop and think about it.. .who but the Lord could use a heathen instrument (Cyrus) to do His pleasure on Babylon (i.e. destroy it; 48:14-15)? What is even more amazing is that from the very beginning He has communicated with His covenant children to reveal His will and to reveal prophecy. The greatest revelation of God, however, was in Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2), who declares, "And now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me" (48:16). The three-in-one (the trinity) is seen in this one verse, which in the Hebrew has a singular verb.

        God's people should consider all He has done for them, repent, and trust in Him, for if they had obeyed Him, the Babylonian captivity would not have been necessary, and they would have enjoyed wonderful peace. But there is no peace for the wicked. The Lord exhorted the children of Israel beforehand that when He would deliver them from Babylon, they should flee while the way was open and joyously declare to the heathens that the Lord has redeemed them (48:17-22).

        The One who spoke through Isaiah in chapter 49 must be none other than the Person of the preincarnate Messiah Jesus, the Servant whom God commissioned. The message is directed to the Gentile nations, in order to declare unto them the way of salvation. God sent His Servant in the form of a baby, and even before His birth God made mention of His name to the virgin Mary (49:1; Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31). Jesus' teaching (the Word of God) was like a sharp sword which penetrates into one's heart and brings justice (49:2; Rev. 1:16; Heb. 4:12). He is referred to as, "My Servant, Israel", for Jesus was the only one who truly fulfilled God's expectations of the holy nation, and it was through Him that God was glorified (49:3; cf. John 13:31-32; 17:1).

        The Servant would have moments of discouragement, because His teachings were misunderstood, and He was rejected and despised by the very people He was sent to gather unto Himself and save (49:5; 53:3; Matt. 23:37). Yet His work would not be in vain, for God had a wider purpose (49:4). As well as restoring the souls of the "preserved ones" (the faithful Jewish remnant) through faith in Himself, He would be "a light to the Gentiles" (49:6; Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47). God purposed that people from all parts of the world would experience His salvation which He would procure in the "acceptable [fullness of] time" by Christ's death and resurrection, thus fulfilling the covenant of Grace (49:8). Indeed, the Servant who was despised, would be praised by kings and princes (49:7; cf. Phil. 2:5-11). The Gentile believers, on whom the Lord would have mercy, would be cared for and guided unto Himself, even though they may come from as far away as China ("Sinim") to become a part of spiritual Israel. The Lord's marvelous and merciful work of sending Jesus to comfort His people would cause the whole earth to rejoice.

        The prophet speaks on behalf of Zion (Jerusalem) who, after suffering destruction from the Babylonians, would cry out that God had forsaken her. Although the people may forget Jerusalem over the many years in Exile, God tells Jerusalem that He would never forget her, since He had a glorious plan for that city. He had an eternal, protective, and continuous love for her which was based on His faithfulness (49:14-16; cf. Jer. 31:3). Her "sons" (or "builders" in other manuscripts) would return to build her walls (49:17; Neh. 1:3; 2:17-18), for the Lord would release them from the hands of their mighty captors. A more glorious and distant future promise is also given to Zion: the Lord would more than fill her "desolate places" with believing Gentiles. The Gentiles would fill the "desolate heritages" that were lost by unbelieving Jews (49:8,19). God would lift up His "standard" of the cross of Jesus Christ, that the Gentiles who believe may flock to it. They would come to Jerusalem bearing her own sons and daughters (possibly referring to Gentiles who have led Jews to the Lord Jesus), and together they will make the one people of God (49:22).

        Thank You, Lord, for remembering us, fighting our battles, and giving us the victory as we stay close to Your side. What a blessing it is to serve You!