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One-sentence summary: The Lord promises judgement on those who do evil and redemption for His people.
Woe "to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower"... to those who are overcome with wine. The Lord has a mighty and strong One... who will bring them down to the earth with His hand. In that day, the Lord will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, and a spirit of justice to those who sit in judgment. Both the priest and the prophets have erred in vision and judgment because of wine, and "no place is clean." Who will the Lord make to understand the message, Isaiah inquires? Babies? He says it must be "precept [built] upon precept," "line upon line." The Lord says, "With stammering lips and an unknown tongue [I] will speak to this people." The Lord wanted them to rest and be refreshed, but they would not hear. To them, God's word was "precept upon precept, line upon line"... that they might be snared and caught. Isaiah speaks to the scornful leaders in Jerusalem, who have "agreed with death" and said "lies are [their] refuge" and that they will not be punished. Therefore, the Lord says He is laying in Zion a stone" for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not act hastily. Also, I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet. Their covenant with death will be annulled." Isaiah tells them not to be mockers, "lest [their] bonds be made strong." He says he has heard from the Lord a destruction determined for the whole earth. "Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil...? Does he not plant the wheat in rows? The barley in its appointed place, and the spelt in its place? For He instructs him in right judgment; his God teaches him. He does not thresh it forever... this also comes from the Lord of hosts who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance."
Woe to Ariel, the city where David dwelt. The Lord will distress it. There will be heaviness and sorrow, and the Lord will encamp it all around and lay siege to it, and it will be brought down. They will be punished suddenly, and all those who fight against Mt. Zion will be like it. "They are drunk, but not with wine... for the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep and has closed your eyes." He has closed their eyes (the prophets) and covered their heads (the seers). The Lord says, "Inasmuch as these people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men- therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder. For the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden." "Woe to those who seek to hide their counsel from the Lord, and whose works are in the dark; they think no one sees them." But actually, Isaiah says, they have it backwards. The Lord says, "Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay? Or shall the thing made say to Him who made it, 'He did not make me?' Or shall the thing formed say of Him who formed it, 'He has no understanding?'" Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field. The eyes of the blind will see, and the humble will increase their joy in the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, for "the terrible one is brought to nothing; the scornful one is consumed, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off." The Lord says to Jacob that he will not be ashamed; He will see His children, and they will hallow the Lord and fear Him. The ones who erred will understand, and those who complained will learn doctrine.
Woe also to the rebellious children who take counsel, but not of the Lord and who devise plans but not of His Spirit, that they may "add sin to sin," who walk to go down to Egypt and have not asked the Lord's advice, to strengthen themselves "in the strength of Pharaoh and to trust in the shadow of Egypt." Therefore, it will be to their shame. The Lord also has a burden against "the beasts of the south: a land of trouble and anguish through which came the lion and lioness, viper, and fiery, flying serpent." The Lord says that they are a rebellious people and liars who will not hear the law of the Lord. They tell the seers not to see and the prophets not to prophesy right things. Instead, they want them to prophesy deceit. So the Lord says because they despised His word and instead trusted in oppression and perversity, this iniquity will be like a breach to them, a bulge in a high wall whose breaking comes suddenly and instantly. "He will break it like the potters vessel that is broken into pieces; He will not spare." The Lord says, "In returning and rest, you will be saved; in quietness and confidence will be your strength." But Isaiah says they would not, but instead said, "No, we will flee on horses." So the Lord says, "Therefore you will flee, and those who pursue you will be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five you will flee." However, the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to them, and therefore, He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on them. "For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for Him. They will dwell in Zion and weep no more. He will be very gracious to them and to the sound of their cry, and He will answer them. Though He gives them the bread of adversity and the water of affliction... your eyes will see your teachers. Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way. Walk in it.' Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." They will throw away their idols like unclean things, and then He will give them rain for the seed with which they sow the ground and bread of the earth. Their cattle will feed in large pastures. On every high mountain and hill will be rivers of water. The light of the moon will be like the sun, and the sun's light will be sevenfold- when the Lord binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound. "Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, burning with His anger, and His burden is heavy." His tongue is like a devouring fire and His breath like an overflowing stream... to sift the nations. There will be a bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err. Yet Israel will have a song and gladness of heart, and the Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard. Assyria will be beaten down when He strikes it with the rod. The breath of the Lord is like a stream of brimstone.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
"You will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" The Living Word is always speaking. Are we listening? There is not area of your life or a time when He is not speaking... even in His silence.
The proud will be brought low, the humble exalted. The Lord loves to do things in a way that is "backwards" to the world. But to those who are listening to Him and have His wisdom, His way is upright and perfect.