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One-sentence summary: The wrath of the Lord is coming against all evildoers, but the righteous will live in everlasting peace and rest.
The Lord says woe to those "who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses... but do not look to the Holy One of Israel nor seek the Lord." The Lord will bring disaster and rise against evildoers. When the Lord stretches out His hand, the one who is helped and the one who helps with both fall. The Lord will be like a lion to them and fight for Mt. Zion and preserve it. Isaiah tells the people to return to the Lord. In that day, men will throw away their idols, and Assyria will be brought down. "A King will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. A Man will be as a hiding place from the wind and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The eyes of those who see will not be dimmed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. Also, the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be able to speak plainly." Isaiah says a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity, he will stand. Isaiah tells the complacent women to rise up and listen. He says their crops will fail, and they will be troubled. He tells them to put on sackcloth and mourn for the loss of the harvest. The wilderness will be as a fruitful field, and the fruitful field will be as a forest. Then, justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness in the fruitful field. "The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." The Lord's people will dwell in "a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places," even though hail comes down on the forest and the city is brought low in humiliation. And "blessed are those who sow beside many waters and send out freely."
The Lord says woe to those who plunder and deal treacherously for no reason; the same will happen to them. "Oh, Isaiah says, "Lord, be gracious to us. We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, their salvation also in the time of trouble." The Lord says at the noise of the tumult, the nations will flee. The Lord has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. "Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation. The fear of the Lord is his treasure." The highways lie waste, and men do not travel them. They have broken the covenant, and the earth mourns and languishes. The Lord says He will rise and be exalted, and they will give birth to chaff and stubble. Their own breath will devour them. The people will be like thorns cut off and burned in the fire. The Lord tells all near and far to acknowledge what He has done. Isaiah asks, "Who among us will dwell with everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly. He who despises the gains of oppressions and refuses to hear bloodshed or see evil. He will dwell on high in fortresses," and the Lord will surely provide for him. Isaiah says that Jerusalem will be a quiet home, a place of broad rivers and streams, and the Lord will be their judge and king. The lame will take the prey, and no one will be sick. They will be forgiven their iniquity.
The Lord tells the nations to come near and also all the earth and all that is in it. The indignation and fury of the Lord is against all the nations and their armies. He has given them over to the slaughter. The host of heaven will be dissolved at that time, and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll; all their hosts will fall down like leaves from the vine and fruit from the fig trees. It will all come down on the cursed people for judgement. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. As for the Lord's enemies- their land will be soaked with blood, for "it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion." Its smoke will ascend forever from generation to generation. It will lie waste, and no one will pass through it forever and ever. The line of confusion and stones of emptiness will be spread over it. Isaiah says to search from the book of the Lord and read. They will possess it forever. From generation to generation, they will dwell in it.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
"The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance (confidence) forever," and He will give them "a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places," Wow! What promises! May our hope be fully anchored in heaven! Not only that- let us expect His kingdom now in our hearts!