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One-sentence summary: The Lord has seen that there is no justice, so His own arm has brought Salvation.
Isaiah says the Lord's hand is not too short to save or His ear unable to hear, but Israel's iniquities have separated them, and their sins have caused God to hide His face so He will not hear. They have shed blood and spoken lies, spoken perversely, and not fought for justice. They devise evil and make webs for others. They work evil and are violent and quick to do evil and kill the innocent. Their thoughts are all evil, and "the way of peace they have not known." Isaiah admits they are like dead men, stumbling in the daytime, without justice or salvation, because of their transgressions, sins, and iniquities. They have left the Lord. "Truth has fallen in the street... so truth fails, and he who departs from evil, makes himself a prey." However, he says the Lord saw it, that there was no justice, and wondered why there was no intercessor, so "His own arm brought salvation for Him, and His own righteousness sustained Him." He will repay His enemies, and they will fear His name "from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun... When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Him." The Lord says a Redeemer will come from Zion, and His covenant will be that His Spirit will not depart from them nor His words from their mouths or their descendant's mouths forever.
"Arise, shine! For your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold! The darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." The Gentiles will come to their light, and their sons will come from afar, and they will be filled with joy. Also, the wealth of the Gentiles will come to them. Foreigners will build up their walls, and their kings will come to them. The Lord struck them in His wrath but has had mercy on them in His favor. Their gates will always be open, and all nations will serve them. The Lord's sanctuary will be beautiful and glorious. Those who afflicted and despised them will come bowing to them, and Jerusalem will be called The City of the Lord. They will be an "eternal excellence" and "the joy of many nations," whereas before they were desolate. All will know that the Lord is their Savior. They will not need the sun or moon, for the Lord will be their everlasting light. Their mourning will be ending, and everyone will be righteous and inherit the land so that the Lord may be glorified. The next passage is probably the most famous one in all Scripture: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old ruins. They shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.... instead of your shame, you will have double honor, and instead of confusion, they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land, they will possess double; everlasting joy will be theirs." This is because the Lord loves justice, and He will make an everlasting covenant with them, and all will see and acknowledge that they are His and He has blessed them. Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."
The Lord says, "For Zion’s sake, I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem In the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah (Cared For), and your land Beulah (Married); for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married." The Lord has set watchman on Israel's walls, and they will not hold their peace day or night. Isaiah tells those who mention the Lord not to give Him rest until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah says to build up the highway for the Lord and tell Zion her Salvation is coming, and that His reward is with Him. They will be redeemed and called sought-after, a city not forsaken.
This next passage is similar to the Song of Solomon. One asks who is coming up out of Edom with His garments red. The Lord says that since there was no one to help, His own arm has brought salvation and vengeance. Isaiah praises the lovingkindness of the Lord. He says the Lord carried His people, but they forsook Him, so He fought against them. Then they remembered Him and what He had done for them. He asks the Lord to look down from heaven and declares the Lord is their Father and Redeemer. He asks why He has hardened their hearts and asks Him to return to them, saying they have become like those "who were never called by Your name."
Thoughts/discussion questions:
We have everything in Christ and nothing without Him. All of these promises are still for Israel and for us, too!