What is the meaning of Isaiah 48:15? I, even I, have spoken God Himself underscores that the voice behind the promise is His alone. • The double “I” stresses exclusivity: there is no rival counsel shaping history (Isaiah 45:21). • By reminding Judah that He has “spoken,” the Lord links this verse to earlier pledges—“Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass” (Isaiah 46:11). • Scripture consistently portrays God’s word as immovable (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 33:9). The verse therefore grounds every hope of the exiles in the unbreakable reliability of divine speech. Yes, I have called him The “him” is first a literal reference to Cyrus, the Persian ruler God appoints to release Israel from Babylon (Isaiah 45:4 – 5). • God’s “call” is personal and purposeful, echoing His earlier summons of Abraham (Isaiah 41:2) and David (1 Samuel 16:12–13). • Because the Lord directs even Gentile kings, Judah can trust that no human barrier blocks His redemptive plan (Proverbs 21:1). • Beyond Cyrus, the verse foreshadows the ultimate Servant, Christ, whom the Father also calls (Matthew 12:18; John 10:18). I have brought him The Lord not only selects but also escorts His chosen instrument onto the stage of history. • He “stirs up” Cyrus, granting victories from the east (Isaiah 41:3 – 4; 45:13). • God’s guidance is hands-on: “‘I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand’” (Isaiah 41:13). • The pattern mirrors Israel’s own story—delivered from Egypt and “brought” into the land (Exodus 6:6-8)—reinforcing that salvation is always God-initiated and God-sustained. And he will succeed in his mission Success is guaranteed because it rests on divine backing, not human prowess. • The same Lord who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10) ensures that Cyrus conquers Babylon and decrees the Jews’ return (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). • God’s word “will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please” (Isaiah 55:11). • For believers today, Christ’s completed work perfectly embodies this promise of triumphant mission (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 10:12-14). summary Isaiah 48:15 assures Judah—and every reader—that the Lord who speaks is the Lord who calls, guides, and guarantees success. His faithful word raised up Cyrus to liberate the exiles and prefigured the greater deliverance achieved by Jesus. Because God alone authors history, His people can rest in confident expectation that every promise He has spoken will be fulfilled. |
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