Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: The Lord has peace forever for His true people, but His enemies will perish.
Isaiah wishes the Lord would "rend the heavens and come down" and make His name known to His enemies. He says no one on Earth has seen any God besides Him, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. He also meets the one who rejoices and does righteousness and remembers God and His ways. Altogether, God's people have become unclean, and all their righteousness are like filthy rags. Their iniquities, like the wind, have taken them away, and no one seeks God. Yet God is their Father and Potter, and they are the works of His hand. Isaiah asks the Lord to look upon His people.
The Lord answers and says He was found by those who did not seek Him. He said, "Here I am," to a nation not called by His name. As for Israel, He says He has stretched out His hands all day long to a rebellious people. They sit among graves and eat abominable things. They tell the Lord not to come near and think they are holier than He. The Lord says He will repay them for their iniquities and their father's for worshipping other gods. The Lord says He will bring an Heir from Judah, and His elect will inherit it. The Lord says He called and they did not answer and would not hear when He spoke but instead chose evil. Because of this, His servants will eat, but they will be hungry, and drink, but they will be thirsty. His servants will rejoice and sing, but they will be ashamed and cry. The Lord will create a new heavens and a new earth, and no one will remember the former ones but will rejoice forever at what He creates. There will be no more weeping in the (true) Jerusalem. The days of His true people will be like the days of a tree. Their work will not be in vain. The Lord says that, "Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food."
The Lord says that heaven is His throne, and Earth is His footstool, so who could build Him a house to dwell in? He says He looks on the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at His word. The Lord says whoever kills a bull or a lamb is as if he were offering profane things, because their soul delights in abominations, and they have chosen their own ways. So, the Lord will choose their delusions and bring their fears upon them, because when He called no one answered, and they chose evil instead. The Lord says He will not bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery, nor will He shut up the womb (of Jerusalem.) The Lord says that He will give Jerusalem peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like the flowing stream. They will be comforted like one whom a mother comforts. When they see this, their hearts will rejoice. But the slain of the Lord will be many. The Lord knows their works and thoughts. He will gather all nations to see His glory. Those who escape, the Lord will send to the coastlands to declare His glory. For all those who transgress against Him, "There worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched," and "they will be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Thoughts/discussion questions:
We should often think of the new Heaven and the new Earth! It will inform our decisions here!