There is at the start of this chapter a contrasting between the truly righteous and the self-righteous (or those that put on airs of righteousness, but who are not truly righteous). The distinction is laid out as such:
…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
verse 2
Of the other, the Lord says:
Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations… when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
verses 3 & 4
Verses 5 and 6 read like this:
Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
If I put myself in the shoes of the one who trembles at the word of the Lord, why would there be those of my brethren who would be ashamed when I rejoice in the appearance of my Lord? For it their Lord, too. Could one hope to be saved, and not expect the same or greater blessing for those around them?
“Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11 or Mark 2:16)
This morning at the early hour of 5am, I have read the whole of the chapter. I had been struggling to make sense of it all, but this morning it all sits fairly clear in my mind what Isaiah is talking about. And what is he talking about in this chapter?
- The Savior’s Second Coming (the whole of the chapter)
- The restoration of Jerusalem and the house of Israel (vs. 10 -14)
- The appearance of Zion within a day (vs. 7-9)
- The humble and the contrite that will be there to meet their Lord (vs. 1-2, 5)
- The destruction of the wicked (vs. 3 & 4, 5 & 6, 14-18, 24)
- The new heaven and earth that will remain forever, and the promise that the seed of the righteous shall also remain. (vs. 22)
- All will come to worship the Lord (vs. 23)
This is where the prophets stop. What actually happens during the Millennium is far less documented than what is happening leading up to the Millennium, culminating in the Messiah’s return in the Second Coming. This is where Isaiah stops.