Isaia 48:18

18 Oh fossi tu pur attento ai miei comandamenti! la tua pace sarebbe come un fiume, e la tua giustizia, come le onde del mare;

Isaia 48:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:18

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments
Which the Jews did not, but slighted and despised them, and were not obedient to them. So, in the times of Christ, they disregarded his doctrines, though so profitable; and despised his ordinances and commands, which were not grievous; they neither hearkened to them themselves, nor would suffer others; wherefore our Lord expresses his great concern at it, and his desire, as man, after their welfare; see ( Matthew 23:13 Matthew 23:37 ) : then had thy peace been as a river:
their prosperity, temporal and spiritual, had been abundant, and would have always continued, have been increasing and ever flowing, yea, overflowing, like the waters of a river. The Targum is, the river Euphrates, a river which ran through Babylon: but they had no regard to the things which related to their temporal, spiritual, and eternal peace, these were hid from their eyes, ( Luke 19:42 ) : and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
large, abundant, numerous as the waves of the sea; which may regard acts of justice and righteousness, which are the support of a people and state, and blessings the fruit thereof; and which God of his goodness bestows on such a people, as all kind of prosperity, protection, safety, and continuance.

Isaia 48:18 In-Context

16 Avvicinatevi a me, ascoltate questo: Fin dal principio io non ho parlato in segreto; quando questi fatti avvenivano, io ero presente; e ora, il Signore, l’Eterno, mi manda col suo spirito.

17 Così parla l’Eterno, il tuo redentore, il Santo d’Israele: Io sono l’Eterno, il tuo Dio, che t’insegna per il tuo bene, che ti guida per la via che devi seguire.

18 Oh fossi tu pur attento ai miei comandamenti! la tua pace sarebbe come un fiume, e la tua giustizia, come le onde del mare;

19 la tua posterità sarebbe come la rena, e il frutto delle tue viscere come la sabbia ch’è nel mare; il suo nome non sarebbe cancellato né distrutto d’innanzi al mio cospetto.

20 Uscite da Babilonia, fuggitevene lungi dai Caldei! Con voce di giubilo, annunziatelo, banditelo, datene voce fino all’estremità della terra! Dite: "L’Eterno ha redento il suo servo Giacobbe.