Isaiah 48:18 - Exposition

Oh that thou hadst hearkened! (comp. Psalms 81:13-16 , "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries," etc.) Some render, "Oh that thou wouldst hearken!" etc; on the analogy of Isaiah 64:1 ; but unnecessarily. Dr. Kay says that God "upbraideth not," referring to James 1:5 . But he may expostulate. What is it but expostulation, when our Lord says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem , thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" ( Matthew 23:27 , Matthew 23:28 )? To look back on the past, and see what we have missed, is a good lesson for the future. Then had thy peace been as a river ; literally, as the river ( i.e. the Euphrates), abounding, overflowing, continuous. Thy righteousness. Not "thy prosperity" (Cheyne), but "thy good deeds." If Israel had clung to God, then God's blessing would have been poured upon them, and have enabled them to bring forth abundant fruits of righteousness. As the waves of the sea; i.e. innumerable and unceasing.