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One-sentence summary: The prophet Isaiah sees a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
The prophet Isaiah sees a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah. "Hear, oh heavens, and give ear, oh Earth, for the Lord has spoken!" He goes on to say that He (the Lord) has reared and nourished children, but they have rebelled against him. The ox and donkey know their owners, but Israel does not know their Maker. Isaiah mourns that the people have become evildoers and have turned from the Lord. "The whole head is sick, and the while heart faints. From the soul of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it.... Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire." "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom... like Gomorroh." Isaiah says there is no point in Israel being stricken by the Lord, because they will only rebel again. The Lord says He is sick of their sacrifices and says they are futile, along with all their feasts. In fact, He hates them, and they are burdensome to Him. He says He will hide His eyes from them because their hands are full of blood. He implores them to wash themselves, make themselves clean, stop doing evil, and learn to do good, to seek justice and rebuke oppression and defend the fatherless and the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow... if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." The faithful city has become a prostitute, Isaiah says, and there is no justice, but murder. So the Lord will take vengeance against His enemies. He will restore their judges and counselors, and then they will become "the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City." Zion will be redeemed with justice, but those who forsake the Lord will be consumed.
Isaiah sees concerning Judah and Jerusalem that in the latter days, the mountain of the Lord's house will be established, and all nations will flow to it. The word of the Lord will come from Jerusalem and from Zion the law, and He will judge the nations. "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks... nation will not lift up sword against nation." He pleads with the house of Jacob to walk in the light of the Lord instead of walking in eastern ways. The pride of man will be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The day of the Lord will come upon all the proud and lofty, and they will be brought low. He will destroy the idols.
The Lord says he will let children be Israel's princes, and all will be oppressed and oppress one another, and no one will have regard for anyone else. They will be brought to desperation, because the Lord will take everything from them, all their supply. This is because their words and doings are against the Lord. They don't even attempt to hide their sin. "Woe to their soul, for they have brought evil upon themselves." However, for the righteous, it will be well with them, because "they will eat the fruit of their doings." The Lord is sad that Israel's leaders have caused the people to sin, so He will judge the elders and the princes. They have crushed his people, especially the poor. The Lord will take away extravagance from Israel, and there will be mourning and desolation.
In that day, seven women will beg to marry one man, asking him to take away their reproach and give them something to eat. But the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. The ones left in Zion and Jerusalem will be called holy, after the Lord has washed and purged Zion "by the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning." Israel will again be led with a cloud by day and fire by night, and it will be a place of refuge.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
How can we apply these words to our lives and situations?