What is the meaning of Isaiah 48:14? Come together, all of you, and listen • God summons His covenant people to attentive unity, just as Moses called Israel to “assemble the people before Me, and I will let them hear My words” (Deuteronomy 4:10). • The invitation underscores that revelation is not private but communal (Isaiah 34:1; Revelation 2:7). • By gathering to hear, Israel is reminded of her role as witness to the nations (Isaiah 43:10-12). Which of the idols has foretold these things? • The question exposes the impotence of false gods; none can predict or perform (Isaiah 41:22-24; 44:6-8; 46:9-11). • Prophecy is God’s signature. Fulfilled prediction demonstrates His sovereignty and validates Scripture’s literal accuracy (2 Peter 1:19). • Idolatry always fails to deliver; only the living LORD knows “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon • The “chosen ally” is Cyrus, identified by name in Isaiah 44:28–45:1, long before his birth. God raises even a pagan ruler to execute divine purpose (Ezra 1:1-3). • Historically, Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., liberating the exiles (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). Prophecy moved from promise to fact, proving God’s faithfulness. • Spiritually, Cyrus foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Anointed who liberates from a greater captivity (Luke 4:18; Galatians 5:1). and His arm will be against the Chaldeans • “Arm” pictures active power (Exodus 6:6; Isaiah 52:10). Babylon’s elite—the Chaldeans—fall under divine judgment (Isaiah 47:1-5). • God’s might, not human strategy, topples empires (Jeremiah 51:24-26). For believers, this assures that no worldly system can thwart His plan (Psalm 2:1-6). • Final fulfillment extends to end-time Babylon, when the Lord’s arm brings ultimate justice (Revelation 18:2-8). summary Isaiah 48:14 invites God’s people to listen, contrasts the futility of idols with the Lord’s proven prophetic power, announces the rise of Cyrus as God’s instrument against Babylon, and celebrates the divine arm that topples proud kingdoms. The verse anchors faith in the God who speaks, predicts, and accomplishes His will, affirming that His word is true, history is His canvas, and deliverance is certain for all who trust Him. |
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