Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Hearken unto me is God calling Jacob and Israel as His called people and declaring that He is God, the first and also the last. His standing as the first and the last rests on His work as Creator, who founded the earth and spread out the heavens, and those created heavens and earth answer when He calls them. That call belongs to the whole rebuke of Isaiah 48, which lays bare obstinacy, treachery, and idolatry in a people who have received truth line upon line yet refuse warning, hinder the work and cause of God by misrepresentation, falsehood, and heresy, and turn away from the voice of the Spirit.
For His own name's sake, that His name should not be polluted and His glory should not be given to another, He defers His anger and refrains from cutting off His wayward people. He keeps carrying forward His work of redemption in their hearts after long bearing with wayward, self-exalting ways, lest the enemies of truth triumph. He does this for the glory of His own name, not because they are righteous or obedient, and not because of any goodness, devotion, purity, faithfulness, or fear of the Lord seen in those in high places and in leaders. If the wayward repent and turn decidedly from evil ways, they will become monuments of His almighty power and abounding grace and witnesses for the truth.
The chapter illustrates the experience of publishing institutions, whose prosperity is in God through Christ and depends on humility, meekness, wholehearted obedience, and devotion to Him. Together with Isaiah 48 through 52, the verse shows the appointed work to be done at this time and calls for united and determined effort to proclaim the message throughout the world. That effort includes decided work in the cities without delay, an increase of workers, the bringing in of means for soul-saving, allowing no voice to hinder the work, girding on the armor, and reconsecration and harmony with the Lord God and with Christ His only begotten Son. It includes prompt help by lay members who have means, resisting temptation to enter commercial enterprises and instead investing means in the Lord's work, and careful study of these chapters with prayer for willingness to do His bidding.
Hearken unto me is God calling Jacob and Israel as His called people and declaring that He is God, the first and also the last. His standing as the first and the last rests on His work as Creator, who founded the earth and spread out the heavens, and those created heavens and earth answer when He calls them. That call belongs to the whole rebuke of Isaiah 48, which lays bare obstinacy, treachery, and idolatry in a people who have received truth line upon line yet refuse warning, hinder the work and cause of God by misrepresentation, falsehood, and heresy, and turn away from the voice of the Spirit.
For His own name's sake, that His name should not be polluted and His glory should not be given to another, He defers His anger and refrains from cutting off His wayward people. He keeps carrying forward His work of redemption in their hearts after long bearing with wayward, self-exalting ways, lest the enemies of truth triumph. He does this for the glory of His own name, not because they are righteous or obedient, and not because of any goodness, devotion, purity, faithfulness, or fear of the Lord seen in those in high places and in leaders. If the wayward repent and turn decidedly from evil ways, they will become monuments of His almighty power and abounding grace and witnesses for the truth.
The chapter illustrates the experience of publishing institutions, whose prosperity is in God through Christ and depends on humility, meekness, wholehearted obedience, and devotion to Him. Together with Isaiah 48 through 52, the verse shows the appointed work to be done at this time and calls for united and determined effort to proclaim the message throughout the world. That effort includes decided work in the cities without delay, an increase of workers, the bringing in of means for soul-saving, allowing no voice to hinder the work, girding on the armor, and reconsecration and harmony with the Lord God and with Christ His only begotten Son. It includes prompt help by lay members who have means, resisting temptation to enter commercial enterprises and instead investing means in the Lord's work, and careful study of these chapters with prayer for willingness to do His bidding.