Today: [Isaiah 48] Called By His Name. In chapter 48 of Isaiah the prophet speaks against the obstinacy of the southern kingdom against God. He declares that the foretelling of events years in advance was primarily so that when the events themselves take place the people would know that God and not their false idols had revealed all beforehand. In spite of the rebellion and stubbornness of the people there is still the insistence that they are called by God’s name and that He will punish their enemies and deal mercifully with them for His own sake. This is a reflection of our lack of piety at times even after giving our life to Christ. We may become Christians but still sin, and still willfully fall short of God’s desire for us to live in cleanliness and holiness before Him. Yet He still loves us and imputes righteousness – the righteousness of His name even during seasons where we lapse and fail.