ISAIAH

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:9    Unless the LORD of hosts
        Had left us a few survivors,
        We would be like Sodom, 
        We would be like Gomorrah.

    Isaiah is referring to believers in the Lord God, in Israel and Judah [verse 1]. While this is from the Old Testament, believers in the true God were as rare then as I have found believers in Jesus today. Truly it is a narrow gate to get to Heaven and I keep believing that my mission is to open the gate wider to let a few more in. (DRM 5/1/05)

1:13    Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
           Incense is an abomination to Me.
           New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies —
           I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

    But didn't God start the sacrificial system for the Israelites? Now Isaiah calls the offerings worthless.
    The sacrificial system was created for people who believed in the Lord God and was an act of worship. When people of Israel followed other gods it was a worthless act. The system was a 'thank you' for being their God.
    In the same way, as Christians we go to church and want to thank the Lord Jesus for what He has already done to save us from our sins. Going to church or giving offerings do not guarantee salvation. (DRM 5/31/14)

1:16-17a    Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!

    No matter how hard I think that I am trying, I continue to sin every day. I am thankful that God wants me even though I am such a sinful person!
    This verse should be EVERYONE'S goal. . . to eliminate sins, stop doing wrong and learn to do right.
    With God's help, I'll keep trying! (DRM 10/21/87)

1:18    "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD,
           "Though your sins are as scarlet,
            They will be as white as snow;
            Though they are red like crimson,
            They will be like wool."

    How can we make something that is red turn white? Even bleach won't get rid of all the stain - it will be a shade of pink.
    Our sins are like this. We (I) can't remove my past sins. I'd need a "super bleach" and He is my Savior. I need to confess my sins and He will eliminate all traces of the red sin. If this doesn't occur, we are stained (with sin) for life. (DRM 5/1/11)

    In verse 18, "reason" means "come to an agreement" as one would in a court of law. "Scarlet" was a dye-fast color made from crushing the "scarlet worm." Humanly speaking, this stain could not be removed. It would take God's divine power to remove it. (Word of Life diary)

1:19, 20    "If you consent and obey,
                 You will eat the best of the land;
              ²⁰ "But if you refuse and rebel,
                  You will be devoured by the sword."
                  Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

    When God speaks to us in a still small voice, we are to listen. At times Satan or a demon also can tell us to do something. We need discernment to know the difference. The easy way to know is if the message received is Biblical or not. God would not tell us to do something that is outlawed in the Bible!
    Following Jesus=God will lead to rewards in Heaven - but, apparently, they can also provide for better things on earth (v. 19).
    Don't refuse God's direction, but DO refuse Satan's disgusting distractions. (DRM 12/27/15)

1:27, 28    Zion will be redeemed with justice
                 And her repentant ones with righteousness.
               ²⁸But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
                 And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.

    The song, "Redeemed, Redeemed" comes to mind, as we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb=Jesus.
    Zion/Israel will be redeemed when Jesus comes back to rule the earth. Those who repent of their sins (Jews and Gentiles) will become righteous in time.
    Those who oppose the Lord will all be together someday in Hell. (Together but also separate.) If more people just believed this and knew their fate, then I believe more would want to be sure of their destiny by following Christ.
    Are you and your family and friends sure to meet me in Heaven? (DRM 1/31/18)

2:2    Now it will come about that
         In the last days
         The mountain of the house of the LORD
         Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
         And will be raised above the hills;
         And all the nations will stream to it.

    This makes me think of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:10 and 21:26) which shows the consistency of the Bible - as these two passages (Isaiah & Revelation) were written hundreds of years apart.
    While it seems like today is part of the "last days," there's still the tribulation and wars to come. As Christians, we look forward to the imminent rapture, but the world will not end - Jesus will come again and a new government will come with Jesus as Lord of all.
    How great Thou art! (DRM 12/23/12)

2:4    He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

    During those 1,000 years, Christ will rule! This verse I have seen on the side of the United Nations building in New York City. 
    This is one more reason to ask Christ to return — soon! (DRM 12/16/87)

3:7   But in that day he will cry out, I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.

    In this chapter God is judging Jerusalem. People who do not have God in their hearts are afraid to become leaders as they do not know where the important decisions would come from.
   As Christians, we should not be afraid to take control if asked, as we know that our actions can and do come from God. (DRM 11/4/86)

4:2    In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.

    I have no Biblical education but feel the Holy Spirit tells me the meanings of things. I could be wrong here.
    The Branch of the LORD seems to refer to Jesus' final return. The fruit of the earth - referring to Israel - seems to be the believing Jews who went through the tribulation. At first I thought fruit was literally from trees, but not in this context. (DRM 5/2/11)

4:3    And it will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy - everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 

    Someday in the near future, a select few will remain in Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem is primarily a Jewish country, I expect it would be similar to the 144,000 remnant. Again in this verse I am reminded that God is the One who chooses who will participate - and when this will all happen. While I may not live in Jerusalem then, I can look forward to the New Jerusalem. (DRM 5/2/05)

5:2c, d, e, f    And He built a tower in the middle of it (vineyard) And hewed out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones. 

    This could be a good summary of the Bible, or at least the Old Testament! God had plans for Israel to be a great nation. They refused to follow Him. He tried many times until He sent His Son, Jesus, and still no response.
    I pray that I won't miss His direction for me. (DRM 5/3/05)

5:5    So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard:
            I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed;
            I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground.

    Verses five and six go together. God planted a vineyard and we call it Israel (v. 7). He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones (v. 2).
    This could be either physical or spiritual Israel. The people of Israel were generally dry spiritually and we (I) should remember the Lord daily so not to dry up spiritually. We need the Word of God daily. (DRM 5/3/11)

6:1    In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.

    The differences between Heaven and earth are so vast that most of the time I read about it, I have a hard time visualizing how I'll be a part of it "soon."
    Even in this verse, it's difficult to visualize our King having a robe train THAT long. How would He be able to walk? My mind is limited to earthly terms and I/we will need to understand totally new perspectives. (v. 2 is another example of this.)
    It will be exciting to be in Heaven - I can't wait - it will be a totally new experience and nothing there will be fearful.  (DRM 2/21/15)

6:5    Then I [Isaiah] said,
         "Woe is me, for I am ruined!
         Because I am a man of unclean lips,
         And I live among a people of unclean lips;
         For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

    This is described as "Isaiah's Vision" at the beginning of the chapter. No one can see God and live. (People could see Jesus while He had a body while on earth.)
    Isaiah's attitude is similar to what the world is like today. We all have unclean lips (sin) in comparison to God or Jesus. It is a fallen world where most people have no interest in God, nor in serving Him.
    We (I) are to be the exceptions and to be in the world and not of it. Worship, praise and honor the King — Jesus. (DRM 9/17/13)

6:6, 7    Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. ⁷He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips, and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."

    This is an Old Testament example of God providing a way to cover or provide a substitute for our sin.
    After Jesus arose, He became a substitute for our sins, if we repent and ask Him for forgiveness. Everyone has sin and need His forgiveness. (DRM 5/4/11)

6:8    Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I, Send me!"

    We must always be prepared to tell others of God's love and promise of salvation. While everyone feels uncomfortable doing this in a different way, it is my hope that I won't be as shy and silent about the Lord as I have been in the past, but willing to share when given the opportunity. (DRM 3/20/87)

6:11    Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered, "Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people, And the land is utterly desolate."

    How long should we proclaim the gospel? This verse gives us God's answer - and also confirms the destruction in the book of Revelation. With God's will clearly given in this section [6:1-13], I wonder why people won't even try to do evangelistic things when they already are Christians. I know I need improvement. (DRM 5/4/05)

7:10, 11    Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven."

    God wanted to give another prophecy to Ahaz, the grandson of Uzziah, king of Judah. (v. 1)
    Ahaz didn't want to test the Lord (v. 12) by asking for a sign.
    What is confusing to me in the following verses, is that Ahaz was the one who then gave the prophecy about Jesus. Even though he didn't ask the Lord God for the "sign," he was still told the words to tell Israel of Immanuel (v. 14).
    Even when we least expect it, God can, and will, tell us things that we could never think of ourselves. When He does, we may have to take action to serve Him. (DRM 12/14/14)

7:14    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us.)

    Isaiah must have been a great prophet. . . but what is a prophet? He was telling us what God told him to say. 
    This is just one of the many things that were prophesized long before Jesus' birth so that we would know it was indeed Jesus who was the Immanuel that was spoken of. (DRM 12/17/87)

7:15    He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

    I really can't explain this verse. John the Baptist ate locusts and food from the land. This prophecy is clearly about Jesus=Immanuel (v. 14).
    At the time that Jesus knew to choose good, He ate curds and honey. I wonder if He could have eaten this while He was in the wilderness and tempted by the devil? (DRM 5/5/11)

7:16    "For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken."

    This verse refers to the boy Jesus [verse 14]. This verse prophecies that before Jesus was very old that both the King of Judah and Israel would die or leave office? I know that King Herod died while the family was in Egypt, but am not sure about the other king. This applies to my life in showing again how the Lord God fulfills prophecy, and directs my life towards Him. (DRM 5/5/05)

8:13    "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread."

    One of my biggest sins is fear. Yesterday I had a little fear in going to the top of the John Hancock Building! {Recollections of 9/11/01} This verse clearly shows that we should not fear anything on earth, but rather the Father in Heaven. He will be in control forever and I have Him to protect me and lead me to situations that will bring Him all the glory. Jesus=God is the One I want to please. (DRM 5/6/05)

8:17    And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.

    This verse could be written anywhere in the Bible and applies to everyone who reads it - from the time it was written to today.
    With little historical knowledge, I don't know if other prophecies that Isaiah gave to Israel in this chapter have occurred or not. (DRM 5/6/11)

8:19b, 20    Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 

    This is in reference to mediums and spiritualists who think they can conjure up your future. This verse gives me the actual proof that these people are not to be trusted, as they derive their "power" from the dead or darkness, whereas we derive our "power" from the Bible or the Light. (DRM 12/21/86)

9:2    The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. 

    This refers to the people "on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles." [Israel or Jordan?] Their spiritual eyes will be opened, and they no longer will be living in the darkness. The new Leader, Jesus, will be the Prince of Peace [verse 6] and He will reign forever [verse 7]. PTL! (DRM 5/7/05) 

9:3    You shall multiply the nation,
         You shall increase their gladness;
         They will be glad in Your presence
         As with the gladness of harvest,
         As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

    This refers to Jesus' second coming; not the first time in Bethlehem.
    When Jesus comes to rule, the nation Israel and the world will grow. There will be gladness that today's corrupt world system will be over, the people will be glad that Jesus' presence will be on earth as ruler; it will be like the days of plenty when crops are harvested, there will be no lack of food. Whatever is left of the old system will be divided and given to those who remain at the beginning of Jesus' reign.
    As Christians, we have a lot to look forward to! (DRM 12/26/16)

9:5    For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
         And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

    Some of the verses in this chapter of Isaiah clearly refer to Jesus' birth, but others seem to be about His second coming and time of peace - which certainly hasn't arrived yet.
    This verse seems to me to refer to Israel's enemies who will fight a battle and lose decisively - with blood that makes me think of the battle of Armageddon.
    God is in control. He has sent His Son and He will return to end war and peace will then truly come to earth. That's a great reason to worship Him, and no other god. (DRM 12/20/15)

9:6    For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
         And the government will rest on His shoulders;
         And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
         Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

    This is what I would call a split prophecy. The first line already occurred when Jesus was born. The rest of this verse is still future.
    This is a reminder to me what the future Kingdom will be like. We will have One ruler - and He won't be a dictator like many nations have had. (DRM 5/7/11)

9:7    There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
         On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
         To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
         From then on and forevermore.
         The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

    What encouragement! While we don't like the increase in government in this day, that's because it is run by human beings. In that day, the Ultimate ruler will be Jesus - and we will know that everything will be run ethically/honestly.
    There will be peace over the whole earth - which seems inconceivable today.
    How can this happen? The Lord Jesus will accomplish it. With our faith in Him - we will see that day. (DRM 12/21/13)

10:3    What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?

    How short my life is! What am I doing with it? On the day of reckoning I hope I can say "Here I am, your good and faithful servant." There is a LONG WAYS to go before I can say that. I have to act more like Jesus every day, and not like a foolish man who doesn't think before he speaks.
    Only with Your help will I succeed, Lord. (DRM 12/18/87)
    I think Jesus is the One who should be saying if we were "good and faithful servants," and not ourselves. We must strive for Him to say that to us upon our arrival in heaven. (DRM 2/21/2004)

10:20    Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

    Quite often when the Bible refers to when the Jewish people return to Israel, they are called the remnant. The Jewish population never grew exponentially like others because of different things, but most recently because of the Holocaust.  They are truly a small remnant of what they could have been. (DRM 5/8/11)

10:22    For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea,
            Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

    Time after time I've read that the Jews would return to Israel at the time of the end. This verse seems a little more specific. While large numbers will return, only a very few will be believers in the true God=Jesus. And that's how it is today. Prophecy fulfilled. (DRM 5/8/05)

11:3    And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
           And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
           Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

    Clearly this is a prophecy about the coming Messiah = Jesus.
    Jesus doesn't judge people by their outward appearance or the good words that people can say - but He knows their heart attitude.
    Jesus wants our faith to be completely in Him, and not just our words. (DRM 5/9/11)

11:4    But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
           And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
           And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
           And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

    This is prophecy about Jesus' future rule on earth. One reason I know this for sure is the writer used a capital "H" in He in the first line, and all the other things are what we would expect Jesus to do as ruler. He will be kind and helpful to those who have loved Him, but also strong to put down those who ignored and opposed Him and His kingdom before He arrives. He will be fair to all.
    It seems to me that those who oppose Him today should take these words into consideration - quickly - because no one knows what hour He will return, then it will be too late. (DRM 12/11/14)

11:5    Also righteousness will be the belt around His loins,
           And faithfulness the belt around His waist.

    This verse is within a series of verses prophesying Jesus' future rule on earth.
    While Jesus was righteous and faithful to His Father while here 2,000 years ago, He will also be in His future reign. If you think about it, for Christians, Jesus already is reigning as King of kings in our hearts . . . so He represents us to the Father today.
    To get ready for His future rule on earth, we need to give our total devotion to Him now. If you haven't already, do this today. He will soon be the real King on earth. (DRM 2/9/18)

11:6    The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

    This sounds to me like the manger scene. While I don't know exactly which animals were present that night, certainly Jesus Christ was the little child referred to. 
    As Christmas approaches, let me NEVER forget what Jesus Christ has done for me — and let us honor Him for His gift to us. (DRM 12/21/87)
    I now believe that this is a prophetic verse about when our King Jesus will rule in the future. At that time the natural animal enemies will cease to want to fight each other - nor will we! (DRM 2/21/2004)

11:10    Then it will come about in that day That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, 
            Who will stand as a signal for the peoples, And His resting place will be glorious. 

    This verse refers to Jesus return to earth, most likely in the 1,000 year reign. As ruler, nations will resort to Him. He will be their leader, and His home will be in the New Jerusalem - the glorious city! The best part is knowing that I'll see all of this occur! (DRM 5/9/05)

12:1    Then you will say on that day,
           "I will give thanks to You, O LORD;
           For although You were angry with me,
           Your anger is turned away,
           And You comfort me."

    "That day" can be one of many possibilities. It could be the day that Israel returns to the land, the day that believers "die" to earth and arrive in Heaven, or the true Day of the Lord when we are raptured into Heaven.
    When we confess our sins, He forgives us of those sins - any anger He had will be forgiven and His comfort will come through His love.
    Whatever "day" this is, we know He will be waiting for us and showing His love and compassion. (DRM 1/9/16)

12:4    . . . And in that day you will say,
           Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name.
           Make known His deeds among the peoples;
           Make them remember that His name is exalted."

    If I didn't look at the top of the page, I thought I was reading a praise Psalm.
    Still, this starts prophetic, "in that day," so clearly it's from a prophet of God.
    We (I) are always to give praise to Him, as He knows what is best for us. We (I) are to share our life with others and to include how He has provided for our needs. (DRM 5/10/11)

12:5    Sing to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

    What a great verse! To just think of what God has done for me — starting by being alive — is just too great for words. To know Him personally is the greatest gift of all. 
    Someday, I hope I can share my gift of eternal life with someone else. 
    Lord, we must spread the Word - together. (DRM 12/20/87)

    Singing is an important part of worship. He deserves all the praise - and I find it easier to remember a tune-song than to memorize a verse. He deserves the glory, and singing is a great way to express it! I have been known to hum a song of praise in a hallway etc., but need to be bolder and let His praise be known in a more public setting. (DRM 5/10/05)

13:9    See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger - to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners in it. 

    I have mixed feelings about the day of the Lord. Personally I can't wait because I know I will go to heaven as a result of Jesus Christ's dying for my sins. . . 
    But the other 95-98% of the world WILL NOT listen and they will all be destroyed. Lord, I want to help promote your always living Word and show more people how easy it is to receive the gift of Jesus Christ. (DRM 12/22/87)

    Is God love? How could He do this? I think the point is that He wants His children to also love Him. If they disown their Father, why would He want them to live with Him forever? He will take good care of His loving children, but allow the others to die from His presence. (DRM 5/11/05)

13:19    And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride,
             Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

    Babylon was a literal city in Iraq. The way this is written it seems that God through Isaiah is referring to this city. While Saddam Hussein tried to rebuild this city, no one lives there - just like the Bible says.
    This is one of many reasons to trust in the Lord - as all His Bible prophecies come true - eventually. (DRM 5/11/11)

14:12    How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

    This is the verse that describes the casting out of Satan from heaven to earth.
    There is no doubt in my mind that Satan still lives. Looking at the worldly things that go on around me indicates proof of that fact.
    Lord, please don't let me fall into Satan's temptations. May I always honor You! (DRM 12/3/87)

14:13    "But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 

    Pride is what sent the "star of the morning [verse 12], Satan, to the earth. He wanted to be better than the stars of God. Certainly I know I'll never be better than God, but I'm concerned that I have other aspects of pride, and need to confess and eliminate them with God's help. (DRM 5/12/05)

14:16, 17    Those who see you will gaze at you,
                   They will ponder over you, saying,
                   "Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
                   Who shook Kingdoms,
                ¹⁷Who made the world like a wilderness
                   And overthrew its cities,
                   Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?"

    Since this is a continuation from verses 12 and 13, I believe this tells us more about our enemy, Satan. When the battle is all over, we will wonder what he looked like, etc.
    Our job on earth is to be prepared for Satan's attacks. We (I) can be more prepared by reading/studying the Bible and trusting in Jesus for our defense.  (DRM 5/12/11)

    Verses 15-17 would apply to both Satan and the human he uses. Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein were modern examples. The Antichrist will be the ultimate fulfillment of this passage. (Word of Life diary)

15:1a    Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night.

    This chapter deals with a prophecy about the city of Moab.
    The best I could comprehend from this verse (and chapter) was that God is almighty and powerful.
    God can destroy anything that does not honor Him and did so to Moab in one night. (DRM 12/23/87)

16:3    "Give us advice, make a decision;
           Cast your shadow like night at high noon;
           Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive."

    In this verse, Isaiah seems to be requesting or praying to God that He would protect the outcast people in Moab. Since Petra is in Moab, He could hide people there.
    Like today, Isaiah was waiting on God for a decision.
    Only God can make a long shadow at noon, as that is the high point of the sun, when we "normally" have the shortest, or no, shadows.
    In this case it seems that "the fugitive" are the innocent people who trust in Him.
    All these things we could use today. (DRM 9/27/13)

16:5    In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it - one from the house of David - one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. 

    I believe that this is another prophecy of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of Isaiah 16 seems to be dealing with the people of Moab and how they will be despised, but this verse appears - seemingly unrelated!
    Thank you again Lord, for showing us far in advance that our savior was indeed coming and that we can have no doubt about who He was! (DRM 12/27/87)

17:1, 14a    An oracle concerning Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city - but will become a heap of ruins. ¹⁴in the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning they are gone!

    I understand that all the problems of the world are centered in the Middle East. These clues seem to me to indicate that a bomb will fall on Damascus some evening and everything will be gone the next day. These things could not have happened (normally) until 40 years ago, but easily can happen today.
    Lord, don't let me be afraid. I know You are watching over all your servants. (DRM 12/28/87)

17:9    In that day their strong cities will be like forsaken places in the forest,
           Or like branches which they abandoned before the sons of Israel;
           And the land will be a desolation.

    Clearly this is a prophecy about the future. Earlier in the chapter Damascus is the named city, but it isn't clear if this verse refers to Damascus and the cities of Syria, or cities all over the earth.
    Imagine the war is over and the cities are rubble. No one can live in the cities any longer - so they are abandoned and the remaining people will want to start over from plain earth, rather than fixing the mess.
    All these things will occur because people didn't trust in the Lord and His salvation and provision and protection (v. 10).
    This COULD be the same after the Great Tribulation. (DRM 7/26/14)

18:3    All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth,
           As soon as a standard is raised on the mountains, you will see it,
           And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hear it.

    Isaiah 18 is more challenging because I don't know if I should take the terms literally or spiritually.
    In this verse I see aspects of Jesus' return; hopefully in our near future. Everyone on earth will see Jesus stand on the Mount of Olives the day He returns to earth - that can happen because of television, etc.
    The trumpet of the rapture, or calling away of the saints will be heard by all Christians at their departure moment, but also trumpets are mentioned during Revelation judgments (Rev. 8:6) (DRM 10/20/12)

19:2    "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian - brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. . . (declared the Lord)

    This could be still another reference to Jesus Christ as He said that he would not bring unity unless they were both believers.
    Ryrie indicates that this is a reference to a Egyptian civil war.
    Understanding prophecies is still complex and I lack total understanding as yet. With more study, I know He will help! (DRM 12/29/87)

21:9    Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: "Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!"

    This is still another prophecy that came true. 170 years after this was written (in 709 B.C.) Babylon fell (in 539 B.C.)
    While these prophecies seem far out of date and only "history," I can't really agree with that.
    These prophecies show us that the Bible truly is the word of God. He knew what would happen. He still knows what WILL happen and we should believe in all unfulfilled prophecies, as God wrote them. (DRM 12/30/87)

22:11    You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

    This chapter was about Jerusalem "of the future." This verse has special meaning to me because it is so easy to see something happen, and not credit God for unexpected occurrences. 
    If something happens that just doesn't seem possible - we should think of God as the source - and NOT chance, luck or fluke occurrence.  (DRM 1/1/88)

23:11    The Lord has stretched out his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble.

    In this chapter, the Lord told Isaiah that the city of Tyre would be destroyed. This occurred later by the Babylonians.
    Today's verse impressed me as it is still another example of the power of God. No matter what, God will do as He pleases - and when He does everyone WILL listen! (DRM 1/6/88)

24:6    Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left. 

    The title of this chapter is listed as "The Lord's devastation of the Earth." And that day WILL come! It seems to me that now over 50,000 people have AIDS that that could be the curse referred to.
    Obviously the burning could be a nuclear war, but I have confidence now that God will save me from the destruction to come due to the saving blood of Jesus Christ! (DRM 1/14/88)

24:7    And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples;
           Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.

    Unbelievers have a spiritual covering or veil that seems to prevent them from knowing the truth. When they (we) trust in Jesus as our personal Savior, the veil is lifted and we behold the light — which is a full understanding of Jesus and all that He did for us. The veil will be gone when He is back on earth. (DRM 5/13/11)

25:2    For You have made a city into a heap,
           A fortified city into a ruin;
           A palace of strangers is a city no more,
           It will never be rebuilt.

    The first five verses of this chapter seem to remind us of God's protection of His people.
    In this verse I thought of the city of Jericho, but there are probably many more examples. When God wants to change something, it happens. When people in a nation or city don't follow Him, they should expect His vengeance to wake them up. God loves and protects the people who worship Him. He has always done this in the past - and we should expect it in the future.
    We can still have individual trials, but this time I'm writing about nations. (DRM 8/16/15)

25:8    He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth, For the LORD has spoken. 

    The future Kingdom will be so much better than the present. We won't think about dying or our rush to get things done "on time" for an appointment. We won't be sad, but I wonder if we will have tears of thankfulness to our King? 
    The future looks great - but there is still work in the present. (DRM 5/13/05)

25:9    In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

    This seems to be another prophecy about Jesus Christ, our Savior. We can indeed trust in Him and He saved us from our sins. 
    By believing in Him, we can be confident in His salvation. (DRM 1/9/88)

25:12    The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down,
             Lay low and cast to the ground even to the dust.

    This verse is similar in thought to verse two and makes me think of what God did to Jericho as an example.
    God knows who our personal and national enemies are. If they are not believers and following His direction, they will fail eventually. While we may not see it quickly, God has time and all will be made right.
    While I/we don't know when, we have been given the assurance that in the future Jesus will rule and all His enemies will be defeated. We can look forward to that day. (DRM 3/23/18)

26:3    "The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee."

    While this is about the people of Judah in the future, I can apply it to myself today. As I continue to wait and learn of His direction for my future, I have peace knowing that He has a plan that I just don't know yet. Now that I'm in Chicago, I'm organizing and anticipating His leading. What's next, Lord? (DRM 5/14/05)

26:8    Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD,
           We have waited for You eagerly;
           Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls.

    In this chapter of Isaiah, he refers to our "strong city" (v. 1) that appears to be Heaven or New Jerusalem. The judgments in this verse have occurred throughout history, but will be more and more obvious during the great tribulation. . . which is why the people have waited for God=Jesus eagerly.
    In all ages, we honor and glorify God's name and memory of what He has done. It is the desire of all souls that put their faith in Him that He return soon to rule the earth. (DRM 8/6/17)

26:9    At night my soul longs for You,
           Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently;
           For when the earth experiences Your judgments
           The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

    When a calamity comes to the earth (e.g. terrorist strike, earthquake, tornado), it seems that there is a call to prayer throughout the world.
    Why don't people pray every day, instead of just during times like this? As Christians, we should be like the first two lines, and ALWAYS pray and trust in the Lord Jesus. (DRM 5/14/11)

26:19    But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. 

    This "has" to be a description of our receiving our new bodies after the tribulation. It's great to se how so many of the things I have been taught really are in the Book! (DRM 2/6/89)

27:5    Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me. 

    I think the Me's in this verse should be capitalized. We must come to God for our refuge. We must make peace with God and ask forgiveness of our sins for salvation. Thank God for His grace! (DRM 2/7/89)

28:7    And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment.

    This verse seems to point out the sin of a very small group, and it probably continues for some today. Perhaps the point is that people in authority could have their judgment impaired by drinking of any type. This isn't a personal problem for me, and I certainly am not in any authority! (DRM 5/15/05)

28:9    To whom would He teach knowledge,
           And to whom would He interpret the message?
           Those just weaned from milk?
           Those just taken from the breast?

    The priests are drunk (v. 7-8) and can't explain the Word of God. Who should He have?
    This verse questions if He would choose new believers - as the priests were incapable.
    History shows that Jesus taught NEW believers the Gospel and Christianity was born. We (I) have to be careful to whom we listen for explanations of the Gospel. (DRM 5/15/11)

    Verses 9 and 10 are the mocking rejection of Isaiah's preaching by the people of Ephraim. They complain that Isaiah was talking to them like they were children. (Word of Life diary)

28:16    So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. 

    I think this is another prophecy of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is my sure foundation and I am SO glad that I have trusted in Him! (DRM 2/8/89)

    I think this is another reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. God's only Son, Jesus was "tested" in His Old Testament appearances then placed in Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago. By our faith in Him, we will not be disturbed by the events and now terrors of the world - because our faith is in Him - Jesus! My fears could overtake me without my faith in Him. (DRM 5/16/05)

28:21    For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim,
             He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon,
             To do His task, His unusual task,
             And to work His work. His extraordinary work.

    Both Mt. Perazim and Gibeon are in Israel, thus I think this is telling us that Jesus, the Cornerstone (v. 16), will be coming back to Israel - or it could be for the first time as this is Isaiah.
    Either way, Jesus will indeed come to Israel and do His extraordinary work. We are to be ready at all times for His return. (DRM 5/16/11)

    "Mount Perazim" and "Valley of Gibeon" (v. 21) are references to great victories God gave Israel in the past (David against the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:17-25 and 1 Chronicles 14:16). Now God would turn against His people. This is a "strange" (v. 21) work (thankfully) as God delights in helping His people, not punishing them. (Word of Life diary)

29:15    Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"

    It seems that it would be easy to hide in a closet from people — but God knows EVERYTHING that we have ever done. It's easy to hide from people, but impossible to hide from God.

29:16    You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made should say to its maker, "He did not make me"; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

    Most people who are not Christians turn things around and don't trust or believe that God made them. They seem to have no idea where they really came from and how the Lord was watching each of their body parts as they grew in their mother's womb. God doesn't get enough credit for His work, but at least I can thank Him for what He has done for me! (DRM 5/17/05)

29:19    The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD,
             And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

    "On that day" (v. 18) always indicates a prophecy to me, so here's another hope for the future.
    Generally I think of the afflicted as people with various disabilities; which can be physical or mental. Of course they would be glad to be cured and normal human beings "on that day." (DRM 5/17/11)

30:1    "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD,
           "Who execute a plan, but not Mine,
           And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,
           In order to add sin to sin;

    As one of God's children, we could do just as this verse warns. I feel that I've done it, even if not intentionally.
    What's the solution? - the way to only do His will? By following His instruction book - the Bible to start - then analyze to see if the plan that's being proposed would be something He would approve of. This is where WWJD - "What would Jesus do?" fits in. If Jesus wouldn't do it, then neither should we. (DRM 3/6/14)

30:9    For this is a rebellious people, false sons,
           Sons who refuse to listen
           To the instruction of the LORD;

    The title for this chapter in my Bible is, "Judah Warned against Egyptian Alliance," so this verse refers to Judah in Isaiah's time.
    While I can't speak for Israel's heart today, clearly they are not believers in God's Son, Jesus. Changing this fact will eventually come - but there will be tribulation for them to go through first. (DRM 5/18/11)

30:15    For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust in your strength." But you were not willing, 

    Over and over again the Israelites seem to refuse to listen to the direction of the Lord God. He sent the prophets as mentioned here, and they were all ignored. This verse clearly gives us direction on how the people of the Old Testament could be saved, but they were not willing. How can I do better than Him? (DRM 5/18/05)

30:21    Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

    We are told the Holy Spirit came to all believers at Pentecost, after Jesus went to Heaven. We also know some Old Testament prophets received the Holy Spirit to write what they did - which is now the Bible.
    This verse seems to refer to the Holy Spirit giving direction. Since Isaiah wrote it, he experienced this leading. He wrote "will hear" to indicate others would receive the Holy Spirit in the future - which was true then.
    Thankfully, as believers, we have received the Holy Spirit - now we have to listen to Him and do as we are told!  (DRM 1/24/15)

30:22    Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

    After we accept the Lord, or learn to walk in His path, our desires for the material world will go away and we will seek only to serve Him. (DRM 2/10/89)

32:3    Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.

    This seems to be another prophecy of what heaven will be like. With His Spirit, I have no problem believing that this will indeed be true! What a place that will be! (DRM 2/11/89)

32:15    Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,
             And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,
             And the fertile field is considered as a forest.

    This refers to an aspect of the future Kingdom which I think is called New Jerusalem. Certainly this Holy Spirit will be there, as it lives in all believers.
    I always visualized New Jerusalem as a big city, but considering it's size, now realize that it also contains fields and forests - which is logical, as everyone needs variety. (DRM 5/19/11)

    Hebrew society was basically agricultural. Greek society was urban. Heaven in the Old Testament is a farm, in the New Testament a city! (Word of Life diary)

32:18    Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.

    Since the earth has never had a long period of time without a war, I think this and the surrounding verses refers to either Heaven or the New Jerusalem where Jesus will rule. Since we will all be a part of the same "family" of God, there will be no wars and only "a peaceful habitation."
    I am looking forward to going there, but also know my duty is to bring others with me, which is my job now. (DRM 5/19/05)

33:6    And He will be the stability of your times,
           A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
           The fear of the LORD is his treasure.

    Earlier in this chapter a war is referred to. The enemy/destroyer seems to have won temporarily, but God will win in the end.
    In this verse we are reminded that He is our rock - stable at all times. He never changes. Whatever our problem, we can go to Him as He has all wisdom and knowledge.
    Even as we go to Him in fear, He is compassionate, hears our prayers and acts on them in some way, so long as we have put our full trust in Him.
    God=Jesus loves you. Don't be afraid to go to Him in prayer. (DRM 2/25/18)

33:18    Your heart will meditate on terror:
             "Where is he who counts?
              Where is he who weighs?
              Where is he who counts the towers?"

    Whenever the Bible refers to terror, I think of a terrorist act like 9/11/01. When that occurred, people asked questions in this verse, of God.
    Only God knows why things happen. For a short time it brought people closer to Him. We (I) will receive answers to our questions when we get to Heaven. (DRM 5/20/11)

33:20    Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes shall see Jerusalem an undisturbed habitation, A tent which shall not be folded, Its stakes shall never be pulled up Nor any of its cords be torn apart. 

    Jerusalem and New Jerusalem will last forever. I can take this literally because of it's great wall, or spiritually because of other Bible passages - especially in Revelation, etc. 
    How will this affect me? I know that I will have a future home that will last forever and planned just for me. (DRM 5/20/05)

33:22    For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.

    What else could I write to summarize this verse? Only Jesus the Lord can save me from my sins. How I wish my co-workers and "friends" understood this! (DRM 2/12/89)

34:4    All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

    This sounds to me like the end of the age. Another prophecy of what will happen someday. It seem incredible that all the stars would go away etc., but God who made everything, can also take it away. . . (DRM 2/13/89) How about the day we personally enter heaven? Since we would no longer be on earth, we would no longer see the stars. It could come at any moment! (DRM 6/6/2004)

35:4    Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you."

    Some people don't believe that God should have any vengeance on anyone, however, the people who follow Satan's plans will need something for their efforts. PTL I am on His side and have nothing to fear. He still has a plan for my life and will save me to do His will. I just have to listen and do it. (DRM 5/21/05)

35:8    And a highway will be there; it will be called the way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in the way; wicked fools will not go about on it. 

    Heaven. This has got to be the way to go! The more I read about heaven, the more appealing it becomes. My mission should be to tell more people about what they could be missing! (DRM 2/14/89)

35:9    No lion will be there,
           Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
           These will not be found there.
           But the redeemed will walk there,

    The title given this chapter in my Bible is, "Zion's Happy Future," thus it doesn't refer to Heaven?
    There could be a lion in Jerusalem today, but it would be in a zoo and not free roaming - as the city is too big.
    Today Jerusalem has people from many faiths, thus the redeemed walk there today, but, when the Jewish people put their faith in the Messiah=Jesus, then the redeemed will truly walk there in abundance.
    I (we) can look forward to that day! (DRM 4/14/13)

35:10    And the ransomed of the LORD will return
             And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
             With everlasting joy upon their heads.
             They will find gladness and joy,
             And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

    This chapter is titled "Zion's Happy Future" in my Bible. This could refer to believers coming to New Jerusalem or give us a clue of what Heaven will be like.
    Today has been heavily advertised as a "Rapture Day." While I don't believe any one will know that day in advance, I'm looking forward to the departure whenever it is. (DRM 5/21/11)

36:18a    "Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, 'The Lord will deliver us.' . . . "

    In this chapter the King of Assyria said today's quote. Certainly we know he was wrong, and Hezekiah was on the Lord's side. We must always stay on the Lord's side also. (DRM 2/15/89)

37:20    . . . Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God."

    The king of Assyria (v. 10) was fighting his neighbors and was planning on taking Judah and Jerusalem.
    King Hezekiah of Judah put his trust in the Lord God as he knew he would not fight this battle in his own strength; he prayed to God that He would protect the nation. God was pleased (v. 21) and fought the battle (v. 36) to protect Judah.
    When we pray like King Hezekiah did, completely trusting in the Lord, He will hear our prayers and answer them according to His will l in the matter. Don't give up on the effectiveness of prayer. (DRM 9/1/16)

37:35    "I (the Lord) will defend this city (Jerusalem) and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!"

    Continuing from Chapter 36, the Lord would not let the King of Assyria take over Jerusalem and diverted him back the way he came (v.29). We must always depend upon the Lord! (DRM 2/16/89)

37:36    Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead.

    Hezekiah was king of Judah. The Assyrians were coming to invade and Judah couldn't defend herself.
    Because Hezekiah prayed to the Lord (v. 21), the Lord defended the land and killed all these soldiers in one night. What He did is not known. . . if they had heart attacks or food poisoning or what in earthly terms, but God clearly defended Judah.
    With God on our side, anything is possible. Clearly this is an example that He can do anything to defend the people who trust in Him. (DRM 11/14/15)

38:4, 5    Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, ⁵"Go and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. . .

    King Hezekiah of Judah "did right in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kings 18:3). He became ill to the point of death and Isaiah the prophet came to him to tell him he would die (v. 1). After he prayed to the Lord, God gave him 15 more years of life - and to prove it was the Lord, He did the sign of the shadow on the stairway (v. 8). For that to happen, He had to make the sun go "backwards." Only God can do that!
    This is a reminder that God hears our prayers and loves His people. If it is His will, He will give a positive response.
    Keep praying! (DRM 10/11/17)

38:17    Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 

    God was kind to Hezekiah and allowed him to live 15 extra years. This chapter emphasizes the power of prayer and reminds me of how much God loves me and listens to prayers. (DRM 2/17/89)

39:6    The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.

    Hezekiah was so happy that he would live for 15 more years that he showed the enemy (Babylon) his palace. Isaiah warned him in this verse. We should learn not to tell everyone everything. (DRM 2/18/89)

40:2    "Speak kindly to Jerusalem;
           And call out to her, that her warfare has ended,
           That her iniquity has been removed,
           That she has received of the LORD'S hand
           Double for all her sins."

    When this was written it was prophecy, and it's still prophetic of Jerusalem to come in the future.
    Jerusalem still has warfare in all respects, but, according to the Bible and this verse, the day is coming when Jerusalem will have peace, and God's wrath against her prior sins will end.
    This is an encouragement not only to the Israelis, but also us as believers, as we know that Jesus will rule and there will be peace for a thousand years - just to begin with. (DRM 8/9/12)

40:3    A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. . . "

    This seems to be another prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ to me. This verse seems to refer to John the Baptist and his preparation for the way of the Lord. (DRM 2/19/89) 

40:4    Let every valley be lifted up,
           And every mountain and hill be made low;
           And let the rough ground become a plain,
           And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

    I have read similar verses in the Bible, and wonder if the whole earth will be flat in the future? I like mountains and think there must be a different meaning to verses like this.
    We will all be equal in Jesus' Kingdom, no one will be exalted and higher than our Savior, Jesus. (DRM 5/22/11)

    In ancient times, citizens would straighten and smooth the highway leading to their city for the visit of royalty (v. 4). Humanity longs for a visit from the Great King, but before He can come, the road must be ready. Spiritually, this requires repentance. (Word of Life diary)

40:5    Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
           And all flesh will see it together;
           For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

    The earth has been leveled (v. 4) and the Lord will be revealed. This seems to be the beginning of the new heavens and the new earth.
    When these changes take place, there will be no doubt Who did them and Who is in control. No one else can do this like the Lord God=Jesus.
    At the moment this happens everyone will believe that He is alive and working. That's a day I'm ready and waiting to see!
    Come, Lord Jesus. (DRM 12/30/12)

40:7    The grass withers, the flower fades,
           When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
           Surely the people are grass.

    Time continues for all people on earth. This verse makes me think of the aging process and how the Lord God is in control.
    In the spring, we have new life and expectations with the new green grass and flowers. In the fall, the grass withers and the flower fades with approaching winter.
    Still, God is in control. When it looks like something (e.g. grass, flowers, Jesus) is dead, it's really alive in God's plan. It's just in transition.
    The people on earth are as numerous as blades of grass, but only a few will enter Heaven through the narrow gate. (DRM 4/18/15)

40:8    The grass withers, the flower fades,
           But the word of our God stands forever.

    In this verse the first line makes me think of aging. God can do whatever He wants and can take us out of the world at any moment; but fading flowers indicates time passage to me.
    Still, whenever, our time will end on earth someday and this is contrasted to the word of our God, the Bible, which will stand/last forever.
    As God's Word stands forever, He also is still alive and with us at every moment. (DRM 3/28/12)

40:9    Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily,
            O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"

    "We have a story to tell to the Nations" song comes to mind here. God's design was for the Israelites to show the rest of the nations their faith in God and to proclaim His Kingdom to others. Since that didn't happen, Jesus came and His followers [us] are to do the same. He wants us [me] not to have fear in my bearing of His good news. (DRM 5/22/05)

40:10    Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might,
             With His arm ruling for Him.
             Behold, His reward is with Him
             And His recompense before Him.

    This is clearly prophecy about Jesus' second coming. When this was written, Jesus had not yet come the first time, but then He came as a (spiritual) gentle shepherd.  The second coming will show His authority that wasn't evident in His first coming.
    His (Jesus) reward coming with Him could be the church age saints that were recently raptured or perhaps angels that will announce His return.
    As Christians today, we are to always anticipate His soon return. We don't know the day or the hour. Be ready! (DRM 8/29/16)

    Verses 9 and 11 are about His first coming. (DRM 8/29/16)

40:11    Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
             In His arm He will gather the lambs
             And carry them in His bosom;
             He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

    This verse shows a great visualization of Jesus' love for His flock of believers . . .  and He wasn't even "born" on earth when this was written. David wrote in a similar way in Psalm 23.
    As believers in Jesus, He wants to give us special care and attention. He wants to lead us in the right path to follow, but we can go astray if we don't listen to His voice.
    Someday, either in "death" or rapture, He will gather His lambs and lead us to our eternal home. That day is coming - but we don't know when. (DRM 3/19/17)

40:12    Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
             And marked off the heavens by the span,
             And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,
             And weighed the mountains in a balance
             And the hills in a pair of scales?

    Sometimes I think of God as a human being, like the Father of Jesus, but then am reminded of all the other things He has done and continues to do. He HAS to be bigger than anything I/we can imagine.
    This verse gives more examples of the size and wisdom God has. Perhaps the most amazing thing after reading of such large sizes, is that He truly cares for each of us that are so small in comparison. He knows how every cell in our body works and we can talk to Him and He truly hears our prayers.
    Nothing else compares with Him. (DRM 5/18/17)

40:14    With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?
             And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge,
             And informed Him of the way of understanding?

    God is all powerful. He knows everything. The answer to this verse only He knows. Who taught Him all these things?
    There are certain things that we have to do by faith - and this is one of them - trust that He knows all and what is best for each of us.
    As part of the Trinity, Jesus also knows what the Father knows - and He knew he had to die for our sins . . . before we could comprehend it.
    As Christians, we need to put all our faith and trust in God=Jesus, even when we don't know everything — and never will. (DRM 10/12/17)

40:22    It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
             And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
             Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
             And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

    As I read this verse, I tried to visualize what is written.
    God is not in some far away galaxy. He is just above the earth, keeping track of everything that we do. The circle seems to be just a description of the earth - long before it was "discovered" to be round.
    Perhaps we are grasshoppers because of our quantity, but He still loves each of us.
    The stars/heavens were created to show us signs - including ones for His return.
    The tent concept alludes me. The heavens are contained within this area, but how big are they? From where we are they seem endless. (DRM 11/12/14)

40:24    Scarcely have they been planted,
             Scarcely have they been sown,
             Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth,
             But He merely blows on them, and they wither,
             And the storm carries them away like stubble.

    The question is "What are they?" The previous verse refers to the rulers of the earth, but we/I could fill in a lot of things that 'they' could be. (e.g. evil thoughts, new inventions, or business ideas).
    No matter what people can arrange or think, God is still in control. If He wants this to happen, it will happen. If not, then the ruler or thought or idea will come to nothing. Remember, even Satan's plans will be overruled eventually.
    God is in control. Only He deserves our worship. As we arrange or think of things, be sure He is glorified in what we say or do. (DRM 6/3/16)

40:26    Lift up your eyes on high
             And see who has created these stars,
             The One who leads forth their host by number,
             He calls them all by name;
             Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
             Not one of them is missing.

    God created EVERYTHING. Nothing was done without His knowledge. Look at the stars and the galaxies and imagine how complex they are and how (seemingly) few collisions occur in comparison to the number of them!
    From the vastness of space to the tiny detail of the cells in our body, He made them all. He deserves our worship just for what He has done. (DRM 10/12/11)

40:27    Why do you say,
             O Jacob, and assert, O Israel,
             "My way is hidden from the LORD,
             And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?

    This follows v. 26 where we are reminded that God created every star and named each one . . . then comes this verse where the writer points out that we can't hide from God.
    God knows everything we do while on earth. Nothing escapes His attention. How He does this is not clear - but He can do anything and knows everything.
    In the future, we will be judged on the actions we did today. With that knowledge, we should try daily to please the Lord God and try to do things that we know to be His will. (DRM 10/12/15)

    The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God brings out the stars and calls them all by name (40:25-26). Because of "his great power and mighty strength" not one of them is missing (v. 26). And just as God knows the stars by name, He knows us individually and personally. We are each under His watchful care. (v. 27) (from Our Daily Bread 10/12/15)

40:28    Do you not know? Have you not heard?
             The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth
             Does not become weary or tired.
             His understanding is inscrutable.

    So long as a person believes and has faith in God, they should also believe every word that is in the Bible - God's Word to us who inhabit earth.
    Based on this, and other verses, God is everlasting - will be alive forever. God is the LORD - "I AM who I AM". God is the Creator of everything and everyone and has made us all different for a reason we can't comprehend. God never gets tired - that's amazing - as I sure do! God's understanding of everything is infinite (Psalm 147:5).
    He deserves our worship. (DRM 10/12/13)

40:29    He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

    My body is getting older, but my mind stays young. I think I can do more than I physically can, and get tired more quickly. Maybe that has something to do with my desires - as I tire more quickly doing things I don't like to do!
    Jesus=God will give us strength to do the things He has planned for us. He knows our heart and our abilities and, so long as it serves Him, will give me the ability. (DRM 5/23/05)

40:30    Though youths grow weary and tired,
             And vigorous young men stumble badly,

    This should be connected to verse 31, as an introduction.
    Both of these thoughts show the aging process. A young person starts full of energy and has more strength. As time progresses, the energy depletes and the person gets weary (physically and also psychologically) and slower. In old age, we stumble over things like little bumps that a youth wouldn't even notice.
    Still, the Lord God will keep us going, as pointed out in the next verse. (DRM 8/16/12)

40:31    Yet those who wait for the LORD
             Will gain new strength;
             They will mount up with wings like eagles,
             They will run and not get tired,
             They will walk and not become weary.

    This is another great Bible memory verse.
    We are to have patience and wait for the Lord to do whatever He has instructed us to do. If He really wants us to do it, He will give us the strength and ability to do it.
    Eagles are given as an example of God given strength. (DRM 5/23/11)

41:2    Who has aroused one from the east
           Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet?
           He delivers up nations before him
           And subdues kings.
           He makes them like dust with his sword,
           And the wind-driven chaff with his bow.

    This verse reminds me/us that God is all powerful. He makes all the real decisions. He raises people up to be future leaders - if they are righteous or not - depending on His will. We may vote, but God knows who He has chosen and that person will be the leader.
    When wars come, the same thing happens. God is truly in control.
    No matter who our leader is, God ordained it. If we agree with the person and policies or not, remember God put him/her there for such a time as this [Esther 4:14]. (DRM 11/21/16)

41:10    Do not fear, for I am with you;
             Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
             I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
             Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

    I need to read or memorize this verse to calm me down when fears arise.
    My larger fears come when I have to do something I've never done before - it's the unknown. After I've done it once, I know what to expect the next time and the anxiety is lower.
    Why bother? God is with us. He is the Father who watches over His children. He knows what is best for each of us today. (DRM 3/13/14)

41:11    Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
             Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.

    This is clearly referring to Israel (v. 8) which has been brought together from the remotest parts of the earth (v. 9).
    There are several enemies of Israel today. Different nations have fought against Israel in the past 60+ years and always lost. God has been with Israel during these wars and He states here that He will be with them in the future.
    While I don't want wars, it's "nice" to know who will win in advance. (DRM 8/4/12)

41:12    "You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
             Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent."

    These are thoughts from the Lord toward Israel (v. 8). They could have been written for today's situation in the Middle East.
    Israel today seems willing to talk to her enemy neighbors, but they always want her to give up more land or something else. A resolution always seems far away. She can find no friends.
    Wars have been in Israel's history and, according to the Bible, will come again. When this phase in history is over, the enemies will fail to take over Israel - due to the Lord God's protection of His people. (DRM 5/24/15)

41:13    For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

    When I am depressed, I should read this verse! I should remember that the Lord is always with me and knows everything that I am doing. 
    Another interpretation is the fact that people have actually (almost) said similar things to me. These people were probably acting as God's voice and should be appreciated as such - more than they have been in the past. (DRM 12/5/87)

41:14    "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;
             I will help you," declares the LORD, "and your
             Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel."

    In one way, since there are billions of people now, we are as insignificant as worms, but God=Jesus still knows each of us and loves us.
    This was written for Israel - and the Redeemer clearly is from Israel, as stated here. The Holy One = Redeemer has to refer to Jesus. (DRM 5/24/11)

41:17    "The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, And their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, As the God of Israel I will not forsake them."

    Thankfully, my current affliction is not physical, but the reality of today's unemployment helps me relate more to this verse. I know that the Lord will direct me to the position of His choice - and I just need to hear His voice and do His will. (DRM 5/24/05)

42:1    "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;
            My chosen one in whom My soul delights.
            I have put My Spirit upon Him;
            He will bring forth justice to the nations.

    Isaiah wrote these words about 700 years before Jesus was born. God gave him the words to write; that's why this verse and chapter begin with a quote mark.
    As a Christian I can only think this refers to Jesus - Who existed before He was born in this world.
    In the first three lines of this verse God was referring to Jesus and He was with the Father at that time. The fourth line still hasn't occurred after these 2,700 years since it was written - but it WILL occur when Jesus returns to earth. (DRM 8/10/13)

    The verses in today's passage are a prediction of what the Messiah will do and what God's people should do. Verses 1-4 are written in singular language, speaking of one person —  Jesus. However, verses 5-9 are written in plural, showing God's work in the world through His people. (INSIGHT, Our Daily Bread, 8/10/13)

42:4    "He will not be disheartened or crushed
           Until He has established justice in the earth;
           And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law."

    This is what to expect in the future when Jesus is the ruler of the earth. To compare what the earth is like now to this, just makes me pray for the new as soon as possible. Imagine liberty and justice for all! That sounds familiar - like something the USA tried, but seems to have given up on recently. (DRM 5/25/11)

42:6    I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

    While this could again be referring to the coming of Jesus Christ, it could also refer to me individually. As Christians, we are to be righteous and a light for others to see. (DRM 2/20/89)

    The title on this section is "God's Promise concerning His Servant." While the first two lines could refer to all believers, the second two lines make it clear that He was referring to our Savior, Jesus, the Light to the nations. While we don't know the closeness between the Father God and Son Jesus, the second line of this verse certainly shows love that I never had. Maybe someday I'll be this close to someone. (DRM 5/25/05)

43:1    But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
           And He who formed you, O Israel,
           Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
           I have called you by name; you are Mine!

    This refers to God's love for the people of Israel. Since God never changes, this still is in effect.
    The Lord will protect His people. While this is primarily Israelis, Christians are also included after Jesus came and died for our sins.
    This does not mean that nothing bad will happen to us, but rather that our eternal security is secure. (DRM 5/22/12)

43:2    "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
           And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
           When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
           Nor will the flame burn you.

    I feel like I've found something new in today's verse. Is this a prophecy about Daniel's friends? Isaiah was written by 681 B.C. and Daniel was written about 530 B.C., thus this was written 150 years before that event. (Dan. 3:25, 27)
    Passing through waters also can refer to trials or baptism/death, so the message seems clear. God=Jesus will be with us though we go through various trials in life - and in the end will also be with us on the other side.
    God=Jesus loves us. He will bring us through. Depend on it. (DRM 3/29/17)

    The prophet Isaiah called them by the new name the Lord had given their father Jacob. He called them "Israel," a people He had made and redeemed for Himself, so He could show the whole world what it means to have a God who loves us in spite of our failures. (from Our Daily Bread, INSIGHT _{MART DEHAAN})

43:6    "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth,"

    This refers to the re-gathering of Israel in the future. It seems to me that the future is now. Even after more than 55 years, more and more Jews are moving to Israel. God knows how many will be there for the "big event" which must be soon. 
    Is this affecting me? By seeing the final events in history line up, my reaction is to try to tell more about Jesus Christ, as His return is imminent. (DRM 5/26/05) 

43:10    "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."

    I must continuously remember that God chose me to be a witness to His authority over everyone. (DRM 11/16/87)

    Verse 10 is where the Jehovah's Witnesses create their name. (Word of Life diary)

43:13    "Even from eternity I am He,
             And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
             I act and who can reverse it?"

    There are other religions that worship other gods. Since the Judeo-Christian God created the world, what did the other gods do?
    When God wants something to be done, it happens. He can literally move the earth and who or what god can change His decision? There is only one God=Jesus, and He is the One to be worshipped. (DRM 5/26/11)

43:18    "Do not call to mind the former things,
             Or ponder things of the past.

    In the previous verses, God - through Isaiah  - recalled the exodus from Egypt and in the next verse He told of things in the future. This is a transitional verse that we can TRY to apply today just like it is written.
    It's easy to think of the "good old days" as there is no pressure on what the next step will be. It's over. The future is harder because we don't know what will happen next. This is where we can plan a course, but let the Lord be in control of the steps. (DRM 4/12/14)

43:19    "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."

    This section of Scripture is titled BABYLON TO BE DESTROYED and I believe we are in that direction today, however this verse seems to be more about the rain and rivers of Israel that have come to be recently. Why would God bless Babylon? My job is to watch and learn as world events unfold. (DRM 5/27/05)

43:20    "The beasts of the field will glorify Me,
             The jackals and the ostriches,
             Because I have given waters in the wilderness
             And rivers in the desert,
             To give drink to My chosen people.

    As I understand it, if we were to take a photo of Israel even 100 years ago, all we would see would be a desert and mountains with little water or people. Now over 7,000,000 Jews live in Israel and they have forests and water - God provided for His people - but do they know Him? (DRM 5/27/11)

43:25    I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
             And I will not remember your sins.

    These were God's thoughts about Israel about 700 B.C. Israel had given up or reduced the sacrifices (v. 23) and were going their own way. Still, God was willing to continue to "wipe our your transgressions" and forget their sins - if only they would honor Him - their Creator.
    Here it is 2,700 years later, and the same thing is happening in Israel. God is still protecting His people and they are not worshipping Him, or His Son.
    Since we know the truth, we are NOT to follow their example, but rather to worship and honor our Creator God=Jesus. (DRM 9/13/14)

44:6    "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
            'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.' "

    As soon as I read this verse, I thought of the first chapter of Revelation [verse 8]: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," and Jesus was the speaker. This shows the consistency of the Old and New Testaments, and is another example of Jesus in the Old Testament. Why don't people see this? It seems to me that this should help people to know God sent Jesus who will rule forever. (DRM 5/28/05)

44:12    The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength, he . . . 

    How easy it is for people to take metal and wood for granted and forge idols out of these materials! What should God do with these people who totally forgot where the materials came from in the first place? This verse says that the man got hungry, lost his strength and later became faint. He deserved his fate for not honoring God. (DRM 6/17/87)

44:22    "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud.
             And your sins like a heavy mist.
             Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

    Not to take this verse out of context, it appears to be written to descendents of Jacob = Israel (v. 21) and not general believers yet.
    Still, I believe this can and does apply to believers of today. Once we have given our heart/soul to the Lord Jesus, He will forgive our sins if we repent of them. (DRM 5/28/11)

45:7    The One forming light and creating darkness,
           Causing well-being and creating calamity;
           I am the LORD who does all these.

    I think of God as a God who does good things for people. When a hurricane or tornado or earthquake occurs, people don't generally think God had anything to do with it. This verse says He created the calamity - but we don't know why. This is another reason to trust in Him NOW, as we never know what tomorrow will bring. (DRM 5/30/11)

    The "evil" that God created (v. 7) is not sin but rather judgment upon sin and the dangers of nature which are also a result of man's sin. (Word of Life diary)

45:8    "Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness;
            Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. 
            I the LORD have created it.

    Narrow is the way of salvation. Few will get to Heaven. The word drip here makes me think of how restrictive the number is who will actually be with God in Heaven. The rain my pour down with righteousness, but how many will drink of it? Truly the Lord is offering salvation to those who will receive it. (DRM 5/29/05)

45:17    Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation;
            You will not be put to shame or humiliated To all eternity. 

    The Jews and Israel have always been God's chosen people. Most of the Bible has been about them and how they have walked with Him at times and gone their own way at other times. We are all like the Jews in that respect. The question today is "am I walking in His will NOW?" He is my rock and my salvation. In Him do I trust. (DRM 5/30/05)

45:22    Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

    It seems so simple, but it is so hard for people to do. Thank you God for saving me. Please lead my other friends to Your saving grace! (DRM 2/21/89)

45:23    I have sworn by Myself
             The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
             And will not turn back,
             That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

    This seems to be spoken from God the Father, but then transitions to the honor that will be given to the Son=Jesus in the future.
    With an understanding of the Trinity, we will not be dishonoring the Father when we worship the Son, as they are two parts of the same God. (DRM 5/30/11)

46:4    Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

    What hope! This is a great verse to remind me of how much God loves me. I know that I can always depend on Him. (DRM 2/22/89)

46:5    To whom would you liken Me
           And make Me equal and compare Me,
           That we would be alike?

    Who is equal to God? The following verse suggests money (silver and gold), but does all the money in the world guarantee good health or a clear, devoted mind? No.
    There is no one equal to God - and He deserves all of our worship and praise! (DRM 5/31/11)

46:6    "Those who lavish gold from the purse
            And weigh silver on the scale
            Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
            The bow down, indeed they worship it.

    Gold and silver are called "precious metals" as they can also be considered money when sold.
    Since these items are like money, they are worshipped and accumulated like money. It's like an idol to some people who always want more - to increase their earthly wealth.
    God wants us to put our faith in Him, not in having more riches of this world. It's OK to have a little money/gold for emergencies, but not to a large extent. Our faith is to be on the Lord for our provisions while on earth. We are to invest more of our earthly wealth on the heavenly kingdom. (DRM 7/23/15)

    What was true of Israel holds true for us as well. Nothing we have made or bought for ourselves can meet the needs of our heart. Only God, who has been carrying us "from the womb" (Isa. 46:3-4), can carry us into the future. (From Our Daily Bread 7/23/15)

46:7    "They lift it (gold and silver gods) upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. It does not move from place to place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; It cannot deliver him from his distress."

    My country worships money. It is like the god that is described here. All of my life I've never had much money to worry about. It has always been a challenge to obtain - thus an object that could be worshipped. It took me a while, but now I just pray that the Lord will give me enough to pay my expenses. If extra were received, I would give more to Him. (DRM 5/31/05)

46:13    I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
             And My salvation will not delay.
             And I will grant salvation in Zion,
             And My glory for Israel.

    Isaiah wrote this about 2,700 years ago, and was telling Israel that salvation was coming. He had to be referring to Jesus' arrival.
    The second line says, "My salvation will not delay," and it was 700 years before Jesus came. He was referring to sudden appearance when it occurred.
    As Christians, we believe that Jesus will return in the same way. This will occur suddenly when it happens. We are to be ready for Him to take us home.
    When Jesus comes this time, Israel will truly know He is the One they have been waiting for. (DRM 2/26/16)

47:11    Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you. 

    After attending a Jewish funeral today, I could see the grief in the family, because they did not believe that death would come.
    These people felt they might get to heaven based on their works and not by believing in Jesus Christ. I believe in good works, but only as a result of trusting in Jesus. {Thankfulness} (DRM 1/22/88)

48:5    Therefore I declared them to you long ago, Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, 
            Lest you should say, 'My idol has done them, And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.'

    This answers a question I never asked: Why are there so many prophecies in the Bible? This verse makes it clear that God wanted the Israelites to know and trust in Him. By telling them future events they should remember who told them first - and trust in Him - as He is the source and can do anything He says. But did they listen and follow Him? Time has answered this. (DRM 6/1/05)

48:9    For the sake of My name I delay My wrath,
           And for My praise I restrain it for you,
           In order not to cut you off.

    This was written to Israel thousands of years ago, and still no wrath - tribulation for Israel.
    God wants to be known and worshipped - doesn't He deserve it for creating our complex bodies?
    I don't think He will delay much longer - if you don't know and trust Him, at some time tribulation will come - then it will be too late to avoid it.
    Come to Jesus - follow His direction! (DRM 6/1/11)

48:16    "Come near to Me, listen to this:
             From the first I have not spoken in secret,
             From the time it took place, I was there.
             And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."

    Even though this is the Old Testament, the only One speaking in this verse has to be Jesus. All three parts of the Trinity are in the last line.
    Jesus generally spoke in public. He was there when the earth was created and He was sent by God to the earth and left His Spirit to indwell all believers. Jesus is His name. (DRM 6/2/11)

48:17    This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 

    I must remember the Lord as my teacher and director. When I refuse to read the Bible, or get behind, my teacher is not pleased. The Christian path requires much learning over time. (DRM 2/23/89)

48:18    "If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

    While this was written to the Israelites, I think it could apply to all of us. There are times that I sin and want to go my own way. It may seem that I'm not listening to God then. He wants my full attention - then in return my life would flow smoothly - or continuously - like a river. Even rivers have rocks that have to be overcome, but eventually it will lead me to the sea - and greater righteousness. (DRM 6/2/05)

48:19    "Your descendants would have been like the sand,
             And your offspring like its grains;
             Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence."

    Verse 18 begins with, "If only you had paid attention to My commandments!"
    The Old Testament was/is primarily directed to the Jewish people, but we are to apply it to our lives today also - as it is written for all believers in God=Jesus.
    God loves all His children and wants only the best for each of us. He set down rules/commandments for us to follow. If not followed, we should expect discipline eventually.
    This applies to nations as well as individuals. In this verse He tells Israel what would have been if they followed His commands. (DRM 7/11/15)

49:2    And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me. And He has also made Me a select arrow; He has hidden Me in His quiver. 

    It's all about Jesus. The capitalizations here and throughout the passage make it clear that this is directly from the pre-incarnate Jesus and He is talking about His Father God. This is a good example of Jesus apparently telling Isaiah what to write - as it had to be from Him. This all confirms my faith in Jesus=God. (DRM 6/3/05)

49:5    And now the Lord says - he who formed me in the womb to be his servant - to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength. 

    I can see this as a prophecy of one of many things that would happen when Jesus Christ came into the world and His purpose for being here. 
    Another interesting part of this verse could also apply to me. God did form me in a womb also. He knew that I would be His servant and I feel honored that the Lord God has chosen me to honor Him in some way. With His strength, anything can be done. (DRM 12/25/87)

49:6    He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
           To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
           I will also make You a light of the nations
           So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

    This is a quote from God (v. 5). The capitalization of some words in this verse indicate that God is talking to Jesus.
        * Jesus is God's servant
        * Jesus was sent to restore Israel - and will come again to do that.
        * Jesus is and will be a light to the nations.
        * Jesus will bring salvation to people to the ends of the earth.
    There is no other way to get to Heaven except through Jesus. The Bible makes this clear over and over. (DRM 7/20/14)

49:8    Thus says the LORD,
           "In a favorable time I have answered You,
           And in a day of salvation I have helped You;
           And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people,
           To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;

    I think this is God (the LORD) talking to Jesus (You). Since it is in Isaiah, this was prophesying what Jesus would do when He was in Israel 2,000 years ago.
    Jesus was given as a covenant/sacrifice for His people, if they, or us, were to believe in what He did for them, they would have eternal life.
    In recent times, He has restored the land and brought the Jewish people back to their heritage - which must mean that it's nearly time for His return. (DRM 12/1/12) 

49:10    "They will not hunger or thirst,
             Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down;
             For He who has compassion on them will lead them
             And will guide them to springs of water.

    This makes me think of Jesus and the woman at the well. The well that Jesus wants to lead us all to is the source of spiritual life — Himself.
    By continuously following Jesus, and reading His Word (Bible), we will be spiritually fed and won't be struck down by Satan and his demons. (DRM 6/3/11)

49:14    But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
             And the Lord has forgotten me."

    Zion was wrong here. They could only see their current troubles and not His hand of correction. Many in Zion=Israel could feel the same way today.
    Still, the Lord God corrected them in the past and protects them today. They think they are being protected by their own power, but truly God is protecting them from their enemies.
    In the near future, when the next war comes to Israel, hopefully they will finally see that God is their deliverer - both militarily and spiritually - if their eyes are opened.
    God still loves Israel. (DRM 5/10/15)

49:16    Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
             Your walls are continually before Me.

    This verse refers to Zion (Israel or Jerusalem) (v. 14). It also could be prophetic of the nails in the hands of Jesus.
    God loves Jerusalem, even if all the residents don't love Him. It's His holy city. While the current city has outgrown its walls, most photos I've seen emphasize the walls - and they are mentioned many times in the Bible.
    From this verse and other parts of the Bible, I can't imagine that God will allow the walls of Jerusalem to fall again.
    God cares for each of us, like the people in Jerusalem. (DRM 5/21/13)

49:18    "Lift up your eyes and look around;
             All of them gather together, they come to you.
             As I live," declares the LORD,
             "You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride."

    Aliyah is a word the Jewish people today use to refer to people who are immigrating to Israel.
    This prophetic verse seems to state that people would come from all nations to Israel - which has happened since 1948.
    The Lord God intended for this to happen. These people are "as jewels" to Him and He will protect them - as they are His chosen people.
    As Christians, we can watch and see what the Lord will do in His land and with His people - and pray for their safety. (DRM 10/23/15)

49:19    "For your waste and desolate places, and your destroyed land - surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, And those who swallowed you will be far away.

    This prophecy about Israel is coming true today. More and more immigrants keep coming, and they are building settlements in what looks like the desert to me. Eventually that little country will be full of people - and God protects them from the enemies. This is another reminder to me as to how close it is to the Lord's return, and who am I telling? (DRM 6/4/05)

49:25    Surely, thus says the LORD,
             "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away,
             And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued;
             For I will contend with the one who contends with you,
             And I will save your sons."

    The Lord God protects those who love Him. This section of Isaiah is titled, "Promise to Zion." While the Israelites may not have loved God in our terminology, He still loves His chosen people.
    In God's love, He was able to free the captives of the enemy, the tyrant was probably an enemy king and God promised here to rescue these people and repeats the same idea in the last two lines.
    Like in the past, God still loves His people - those who love Him. He will do what is right - even while we may not understand - to protect us and lead us to a closer relationship with Him. (DRM 5/8/16)

49:26    "I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh,
             And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine;
             And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, an your Savior.
             And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

    No prophecy in the Bible has not come true - eventually. This is written to Zion = Israel. All of the surrounding countries - oppressors - will die in their attempt to destroy Israel. After at least three attempts in the past 65 years - it seems that those nations would realize this, but they will keep fighting until the "end." (DRM 6/4/11)

50:4    The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
           That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
           He awakens Me morning by morning,
           He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

    I had to read this several times, then realized by the capitalization that this was written as if it were spoken by Jesus. (e.g. The Lord God has given Jesus the tongue of disciples. . . etc.)
    Jesus, while being God as part of the Trinity, is also subject to the will of the Father, and prayed to Him while on earth.
    Jesus wanted to do His Father's will, just as we should want to do God's will. (DRM 3/17/12)

    In Isaiah 50:4, the Savior Himself described the comfort and consolation He would one day bring. (excerpt from Our Daily Bread, 3/17/12)

50:5    The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient, Nor did I turn back.

    This is another section of Isaiah prophesying about Jesus and what He will do when on earth. I take this verse personally though. When God or the Holy Spirit tells me what to do, by opening my ear, He doesn't want me to turn back and ignore what He is saying. He wants obedience. When I feel His desires, I must do as He commands. It will be a step by step process. . . (DRM 6/5/05)

50:6    I gave My back to those who strike Me,
           And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
           I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.

    This is clearly a prophecy of what would happen to Jesus right before His death.
    No matter how many or few times I think about what He went through to be a substitute for my sins, I just can't thank Him enough for dying for me. (DRM 6/5/11)

50:10    Who is among you that fears the LORD,
             That obeys the voice of His servant,
             That walks in darkness and has no light?
             Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

    God is awesome. We are to be in awe of His power to control everything in the universe. This is why we should fear and respect Him.
    His servant in line two could refer to the prophet during the Old Testament times or the Holy Spirit for us - or even Jesus and His words in the Bible.
    Without God=Jesus unbelievers walk in spiritual darkness until they see the Light. Then they will trust in Him, rely on God and know that He is in control and loves each of us.
    Our God is an awesome, loving God! (DRM 9/23/16)

50:11    But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze.

    If you are really "on fire" to spread the Word of the Lord you should not begin a blaze unless you are able to continue it.
    To "provide yourselves with flaming torches" is to have a better knowledge of the Bible and its contents.  (DRM 11/12/86)

51:3    Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion;
           He will comfort all her waste places.
           And her wilderness He will make like Eden,
           And her desert like the garden of the LORD;
           Joy and gladness will be found in her,
           Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

    This prophecy is about what Israel will become during the Kingdom Age. In some ways, it seems that Israel is moving in that direction as more and more trees are planted and are apparently growing. (I've never been to Israel.) But there's still a big desert to fill and I think that will be after Jesus' returns. (DRM 6/6/11)

51:6    "Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke,
            And the earth will wear out like a garment, And its inhabitants will die in like manner,
            But My salvation shall be forever, And My righteousness shall not wane."

    This is another prophetic verse to Israel in the future. It seemed that this verse included almost everything!
    Praise God that His promise of salvation is forever. It didn't expire 1,000 years ago. He is still on the throne, and directing the final events in the world - and in my life. While I seem to lose patience, I must wait for His leading/direction. (DRM 6/6/05)

52:6    "Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, 'Here I am.' "

    This prophecy about Jesus' time in Jerusalem states that the people will know His name. Yes, they did. He also clearly stated, "Here I am," but how many believed His statement? While thousands came and trusted in Him to save them from their sins, many others didn't, which was the cause of His "death." The same is true today. Thankfully some have trusted in Jesus, but many have not. A speaker is needed, but the Holy Spirit opens their souls to hear. (DRM 6/7/05)

52:7    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns."

    After studying witnessing tonight, this verse was appropriate to me. People who witness do all of the things mentioned here. They proclaim the Lord as savior. . . certainly that is good news! They proclaim salvation by telling their experiences and hopefully they will get the listener to allow God to reign in their heart.  (DRM 3/4/87)

52:8    Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
           They shout joyfully together;
           For they will see with their own eyes
           When the LORD restores Zion.

    There is a program on the radio that refers to the "Watchmen on the wall." Literally, if you were at the top of a wall, you could see what was coming -
    In this verse the watchmen (plural) are happy because they can see the Lord is coming - it won't be long before He is at the city. We are also to be excited and joyful at His arrival - it won't be long now. (DRM 6/7/11)

52:13    Behold, My servant will prosper,
             He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.

    The well-known Isaiah 53 prophecy "The Suffering Servant" really begins at the end of Isaiah 52 with "The Exalted Servant," which is also a prophecy about Jesus.
    Jesus the carpenter wasn't raised in what we would call a prosperous family financially, but, as He grew up, He gained a lot of spiritual knowledge - or more likely was born with spiritual prosperity.
    He led many people to God, and did many miracles with many followers, but His greatest time on earth is still in the future - then He will be greatly exalted. (DRM 10/18/17)

53:2    For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
           And like a root out of the parched ground;
           He has no stately form or majesty
           That we should look upon Him,
           Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

    Saul was "a choice and handsome man." (1 Samuel 9:2). David was ruddy. . . and a handsome appearance (1 Samuel 16:12) but when Jesus was born He had no stately form or majesty.
    God didn't want us to look at, or be attracted to His Son's appearance, but rather to listen to His message. This is hard to do in today's society.
    It's what's inside that counts. (DRM 2/28/13)

53:3    He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

    I don't often think of Jesus as a man of sorrows. Today I thought of when He was young. . . He lived with His parents. His "father" taught Him how to be a carpenter and Joseph died before Jesus was 30 - probably much less. So Jesus would have grieved Joseph's death early in His life. I have to remember that Jesus also had trials and grief like I have had some of. (DRM 6/8/05)

53:4    Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. 

    All of Isaiah 53 is prophesy about Jesus Christ. He died, and carried our sorrows. When Christ died on the cross, people said that God would not let Him die - that I believe is smitten and afflicted. 
    Thank God that He sent Jesus Christ to die for all of our sins! (DRM 5/25/87)

53:5    But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
           He was crushed for our iniquities;
           The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
           And by His scourging we are healed.

    It's amazing to me that this was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, yet so clearly states what would happen in His life . . . even the pronouns He, Him and His apparently were capitalized to show us that this was God in the flesh.
    How people can read this and not associate these actions with the history of first century Jerusalem is beyond me.
    Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins! (DRM 12/17/11)

53:6    All of us like sheep have gone astray,
           Each of us has turned to his own way;
           But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
           To fall on Him.

    The more I read the Bible, the more I am convicted of various sins that are listed in spots. Except for Jesus, we are all sinners.
    Like sheep, our sins have led us away from God. We tend to follow the wrong leaders (e.g. non-Christian friends, government officials) who haven't trusted Jesus as their Savior.
    The LORD=God caused all of our sins to be placed on Jesus at the point of His death. Our sins have been paid in full.
    So many people don't understand that all we have to do is accept this Gift that God gave us. Repent and turn from your sins. (DRM 7/12/13)

53:7    He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
           Yet He did not open His mouth;
           Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
           And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
           So He did not open His mouth.

    Isaiah wrote this about 700 years before Jesus was 'born' on earth. While there are many other prophecies about Jesus - where He would be born etc., this chapter contains the most well known Jesus' prophecy in the Bible.
    The lines in this verse totally describe Jesus' silence at His "trial" before Pilate. While Jesus could have known of this prophecy and had control over what He didn't say, He had no control over what others did - unless He was God - and that's what the Bible is telling us - Jesus IS God.
    That's why I/we should worship Him. (DRM 3/28/15)

53:8    By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
           And as for His generation, who considered
           That He was cut off out of the land of the living,
           For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?   

    The people in Israel that lived during Jesus' generation are the ones who judged Him at His trial. They were the ones who cried, "crucify Him" (Matt. 27:22, 23). They were the ones who "cut (Him) off out of the land of the living" - or so they thought.
    Isaiah prophesized that God should have stroked/punished Israel for the transgression they committed, but instead He gave Jesus to die for their sins.
    God is a forgiving God. What the people in Israel did in that generation is totally different from our generation. We are to love all of God's people. (DRM 4/19/17)

53:9    His grave was assigned with wicked men,
           Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
           Because He had done no violence,
           Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

    Isaiah 53 is a well known prophecy about the Lord Jesus and was written about 700 years before Jesus was 'born' in Bethlehem.
    In this verse the rich man refers to Matt. 27:57-60, Joseph of Arimathea, who took Jesus' body and put it in his own new tomb.
    So many things that happened to Jesus, including His nature, were written centuries before He came to earth. Clearly He was the promised Messiah.
    When He was on earth, many did not believe He was the One they were waiting for, but others saw, experienced and believed - we are thankful for those who wrote and eventually led us/me to truly know Jesus as Lord. (DRM 5/26/16)

53:10    But the LORD was pleased
             To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
             If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
             He will see His offspring,
             He will prolong His days,
             And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

    This single verse has at least five prophecies about wheat Jesus would do as a result of being on earth the "first" time (with a human body).
    Jesus was our guilt offering. His dying on the cross was for all our sins. We were the guilty ones - He was the perfect Lamb that was slain.
    The offspring that He will see are not physical children, but rather spiritual children - like you and me - who put their trust in Him.
    After His death on earth, He now has eternal life - and since He does, we know that we will also as a result of being His spiritual children. (DRM 4/18/17)

53:11    As a result of the anguish of His [Jesus'] soul,
             He [God] will see it and be satisfied;
             By His [God's] knowledge the Righteous One [Jesus],
             My Servant [Jesus] will justify the many,
             As He [Jesus] will bear their iniquities.

    This chapter has to be the most important prophecy in history - especially for the Jewish people for whom it was written.
    How clear can this be? Who else would fit the role of "suffering servant?"
    I thank God through the Holy Spirit for opening my eyes and soul to the reality of Jesus' life and all that He did to secure my soul for life with Him in Heaven! (DRM 6/8/11)

53:12    Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
             And He will divide the booty with the strong;
             Because He poured out Himself to death,
             And was numbered with the transgressors;
             Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
             And interceded for the transgressors.

    This is part of a prophecy about what Jesus would do when He was on earth. Isaiah wrote this about 700 years before Jesus came to Bethlehem as a baby.
    There's a lot to write about in this verse. I can't do it all in a small space. Jesus was with the great - He is/was God incarnate. In the future, He will share Heaven with the people who were strong in their faith. He died for our sins. The other two that were crucified were transgressors/lawbreakers. He bore the sins of many - billions of future people to live - and by this act interceded to the Father on our behalf. (DRM 8/12/15)

54:5    For your husband is your Maker,
           Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
           And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
           Who is called the God of all the earth.

    In other Bible passages, believers are called the "Bride of Christ." Here God=Jesus is called our Maker, and it all goes together.
    The first, second and fourth lines refer to God, but the third line refers to Jesus. Clearly this indicates in lines three and four - that Jesus is God - and this is in the Old Testament! (DRM 6/9/11)

    In verse 5, the words "Maker" and "husband" are plural. Since they are referring to God, this is a hint at the plurality of the Godhead (the Trinity). (Word of Life diary)

54:10    "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 

    God is love. God loves each one of us. God created each of us for a purpose. God loves me!
    That statement has taken me a long time to accept. Why would God love me, a sinner? I must understand that God has a plan for me, He created me for a purpose, and I am here to fulfill His desire for me. (DRM 12/15/87)

    On some days, like today, I need the encouragement that this verse brings. Elsewhere [probably Revelation] in the Bible, I know that the mountains will crumble at the end. Even if I am here then [unlikely], I know that He would protect me. I can feel His love and know that He has only the best planned for me. I just have to listen for His direction - perhaps through others. (DRM 6/9/05)

55:2    "Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
           And your wages for what does not satisfy?
           Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
           And delight yourself in abundance.

    This is another comparison between physical food and spiritual food.
    God wants us to have enough food to eat and will provide that for those who trust in Him. He also wants us to eat of the spiritual food - the Bible - which has an abundance/wealth of material to "chew on." We will never run out of words to reflect on when we read and study the Bible.
    Truly God=Jesus will provide for all our bread and bread of life (Spiritual wisdom) if we follow Him and do His will. (DRM 7/31/14)

55:3    "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David."

    [re: 55:3a]    When I wonder what the Lord has in mind for me, I probably don't have the time to "listen" for direction. I must learn to spend more and more time studying and meditating in His Word daily. (DRM 1/6/87)

    For me, it's much easier  to pray than to hear His reply. Perhaps it's because I don't keep quiet long enough to hear His still small voice. I think I would prefer to hear His loud voice like in 1993, then I would know it was Him and not my own thoughts. I know the Holy Spirit is here, and I need to listen more carefully, then do His will! (DRM 6/10/05)

55:4    "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
           A leader and commander for the peoples."

    The previous verse refers to David, so David is the "him" referred to in this verse.
    God granted some people to be leaders and most of us to be followers. Like in all things, He makes the final decisions. God made David to be a witness to the people of his day of what true faith in God looked like. He made mistakes, asked forgiveness, and God forgave him with some conditions.
    Our life mission (among others) is to follow Jesus=God's direction and the rulers He has chosen. (Yes, we vote, but He knows who will win.) God is truly in control and deserves our worship. (DRM 8/13/16)

55:6    Seek the LORD while He may be found;
           Call upon Him while He is near.

    We all have a deadline in which to seek and find the Lord. He makes Himself known through nature and the created world we live in. If we have questions, He wrote a book with His thoughts and directions for living while on earth.
    Since few paid attention to Him, He sent His Son to instruct us and die for our sins, as His love was/is so great for each one of us.
    We have to acknowledge Him, repent and honor Him before the deadline; our "death" day. (DRM 7/7/13)

55:7    Let the wicked forsake his way
           And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
           And let him return to the LORD,
           And He will have compassion on him,
           And to our God,
           For He will abundantly pardon.

    This verse is similar to what a person has to do to trust the Lord. The difference is that this refers more to revival than salvation (line 3).
    We are all sinners, before and after our salvation day. The Lord God wants us to forsake/confess our sins to Him and follow only His direction. When we/I have done this, the Lord God=Jesus will have compassion on us and will pardon us for our sins. This doesn't mean that we/I should go and do the same thing over and over, but to truly cease the sin and turn to a new direction. (DRM 1/16/13)

55:8    "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
           Nor are your ways My ways", declares the LORD.

    The Lord God talks to us in various ways, but His thoughts are His own, like our thoughts are known only to ourselves and God. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and ours don't necessarily agree with His.
    The way that we do things can be different than the way He would do the same things - but, so long as they are accomplished, I think He would be pleased. (DRM 2/4/12)

55:9    For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
           So are My ways higher than your ways
           And My thoughts than your thoughts.

    This is one of the great challenges of life. When God formed us (me), He had a life purpose for us. He knew everything from beginning to end.
    The challenge is for us to know and do what He desires and not what we (I) desire. The first step is submissiveness to His leading, then comes hearing and doing what He desires for the rest of our lives. (DRM 6/10/11)

55:10, 11    For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
                   And do not return there without watering the earth
                   And making it bear and sprout,
                   And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
                 ¹¹So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
                   It will not return to Me empty,
                   Without accomplishing what I desire,
                   And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

    These two verses are one sentence - thought. The beginning is "background" telling us what God has done through what we call "nature." The point is that He began the process that continues to this day.
    Since God started the process, He also spoke to humans (and still does - if we listen) to direct them in what He desires to accomplish. The people that He chooses to speak to will serve Him and do what He wants.
    I hope you and I are both vessels that He can and will use. (DRM 12/11/13)

55:12    "For you will go out with joy
             And be led forth with peace;
             The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
             And all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

    The previous verse (v. 11) tells us that God=Jesus wants His word to go out to the people. In this verse we find out what happens when we go out and spread His word.
    Just telling others about the Lord is a (rare to me) time of excitement - joy. It is not a time to dispute/argue other theories - though that will likely come up (peace).
    When we get that far, the mountains and hills and trees - representing God's other creation - will be pleased - as they supposedly already know their Creator.
    Having a new person trust in God's offer of salvation is cause for joy! (DRM 1/16/15)

56:5    . . . to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

    Everlasting life and the promise of it is a great assurance. Just the realization that my soul will live forever is something to be incredibly thankful for. (DRM 2/24/89)

56:12    "Come," they say, "let us get wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink;
             And tomorrow will be like today, only more so."

    Who are these people? "They are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, . . . " (v. 11) Clearly, they are not believers in Jesus.
    While the Bible never says that we can't drink wine, the point is that we are not to drink heavily and get drunk - like in this verse.
    As Christians, we have different interests and priorities in life, and these are to serve and honor the Lord. Being drunk would not be pleasing to Him.
    Our "tomorrow" is to be with Him; their tomorrow will be somewhere else. (DRM 4/2/17)

57:11b    Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

    The world does not fear God, because He has been seemingly silent for a long time. People have to know how God speaks to be able to hear Him. (DRM 2/25/89)

57:15    For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite."

    God loves everyone. He especially loves those who love Him and are submissive to His will. I believe the lowly are submissive and the contrite also want to yield to His will. It's a good reminder that to revive or have a revival, the person's heart must have been previously on the Lord and wants to return to Him. (DRM 6/11/05)

57:18    "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
             I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

    This verse could have different meanings - depending on who it was written to. If I don't know from the chapter title or experience, then I can always take it to be directed to me - as the whole Bible really is.
    God has seen that I'm a sinner and will heal me if I repent of my sins - but I shouldn't keep sinning, but rather turn from my sin and follow Him. (DRM 6/11/11)

58:9    "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
           You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
           If you remove the yoke from your midst,
           The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,

    What does God want from us sinners? Earlier verses in this chapter refer to fasting, but they don't have a pure heart or change their ways.
    According to this verse, God wants us to call on Him, but also to remove the yoke (sin?) from our midst. He wants us to follow Him and no one else. (DRM 6/13/11)

58:10    and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

    How easy it is to ignore the homeless and hungry when we don't see them! God doesn't want the hungry forgotten, but instead wants us to show them our love and our light. (DRM 2/26/89)

58:11    "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

    This could be the second half of a couplet with verse 10 that suggests, "if you . . . " in this case giving to the hungry and the desires of the afflicted. The Bible has many directives and it can be hard to do everything, but God sets a high standard and wants us to try to do the best that we can. Praise God for Jesus is our salvation. (DRM 6/12/05)

59:2    But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
           And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

    Our iniquities are our sins. When we (I) sin, I put a barrier between myself and God. He doesn't want to pay attention to sinners - now that we have put up this barrier. The only way to remove the barrier is to confess the sin (repent) and trust in the Lord Jesus to be our advocate before His Father.
    It's easier not to sin, but we (I) always seem to fail and try over. (DRM 6/13/11)

59:19    So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream, Which the wind of the LORD drives. 

    This is another prophecy about when the LORD Jesus returns. He will deliver wrath [verse 18], thus they will fear Him. From west to east they will fear Him, so no one is left out. He will come suddenly, like the rushing stream after a thunderstorm. All will be in submission to Him, so why not now? Human nature is to put it off until tomorrow, but then it could be too late — and here it says what will happen. (DRM 6/13/05)

60:6    "A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD."

    Some prophecies refer to the first coming of Jesus and some to the second. I think today's verse is about the first - from the gold and frankincense and the camels. Still, the Israelites were told in advance of His coming - and missed it. Fortunately they have had 2,000 years to reconsider the facts and some are now believers. (DRM 6/14/05)

60:14    The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you,
             And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet;
             And they will call you the city of the LORD,
             The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

    Right now billions of people don't like Jerusalem or the Jews. They are getting ready to make war with Israel again. I don't think it will be long before they try again, see the Lord's protection of His land, and finally bow to the God of all creation. (DRM 6/14/11)

60:19    "No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
             Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
             But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
             And your God for your glory.

    This is still hard for me to imagine. It's easy to imagine no sun, as that happens every night. It's easy to imagine no moon a a cloudy, rainy night.
    But the hard part is thinking of a Person as the physical light, as I also expect to see Him and hear His voice.
    Like other passages, this must have a spiritual aspect. (DRM 6/15/11)

60:20    Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. 

    There is no doubt in my mind that this is a description of heaven. Knowing the assurance that the Bible states that this place exists and is waiting for me, is something to look forward to with increasing love for our King. (DRM 2/17/89)

    This is similar to the book of Revelation, Chapter 21. We have great things to look forward to! Certainly it will take some "getting used to," not seeing the physical sun any longer. But still to imagine living forever, and no one dying or being sick to death sounds so wonderful! Still, there is work to be done here on earth and I have to get on with it as long as possible. (DRM 6/15/05)

60:21    "Then all your people will be righteous;
             They will possess the land forever,
             The branch of My planting,
             The work of My hands,
             That I may be glorified.

    Even if I didn't read the verses before and after this, there is no doubt that the description here is not on earth today.
    The title of this chapter in my Bible is "A Glorified Zion." To me, this would either be New Jerusalem or Heaven. It only makes sense that the people who live with God in the future will be those that believed in Him and His Son while they were alive on earth. Why would anyone who attacked or criticized Him on earth be in Heaven? It will be a place where believers go and live with Him forever.
    I'm looking forward to being there! (DRM 9/29/15)

61:1    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
           Because the LORD has anointed me
           To bring good news to the afflicted;
           He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
           To proclaim liberty to captives
           And freedom to prisoners;

    Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet and may of the words he wrote clearly referred to Jesus later in time.
    This verse and part of the next verse were later quoted by Jesus (Luke 4:18) to begin His ministry. Every line in this verse could be broken down in a sermon with illustrations on how Jesus fulfilled what He was sent to do while on earth.
    The prophets in the Old Testament knew that the Messiah would come and what He would do. Today we know that He will return and what He will do. Are you ready? (DRM 5/21/15)

61:4    They they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
           They will raise up the former devastations;
           And they will repair the ruined cities,
           The desolations of many generations.

    This is prophecy for Israel. Jesus quoted the first 1 1/3 verses (Luke 4:18, 19) then stopped abruptly before the day of vengeance of our God, which is the Tribulation.
    This verse refers to a time after the Tribulation and gives us a clue of what will be happening in those days.
    God's wrath will come someday - it seems that it should be very soon - then we can look forward to much better days, and have confidence Jesus will be with us.
    Keep your faith. A new day will come when He is ready. (DRM 2/20/17)

61:6a    And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God.

    We should all be Ambassadors for Christ, priests of the Lord and servants to God. Our greatest mission should be to spread the good news that Jesus lives within each of us - among people we come in contact with. (DRM 1/31/87)

61:10    I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
             My soul will exult in my God;
             For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
             He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
             As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
             And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

    While this could apply to Christian believers in Jesus, the context seems to be related to future Israel.
    When Israel sees that Jesus is the Lord they missed 2,000 years ago and trusts in Him during the Tribulation, then they will proclaim all the statements in this verse.
    After that occurs we (Christians of today and Jews of 'tomorrow') our faith will be unified and we will all be worshipping the same Savior.
    Prophecy is throughout the Bible, it will be exciting to see each step fulfilled as the days progress. (DRM 7/14/16)

61:11    For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all nations. 

    Someone has to sow the seeds in both aspects of this verse. God provides the seeds in some way and God or man may water the seeds, but the sun/Son only God can provide. Without the sun/Son the sprouts/children of faith, will not grow. This reminds me how much I need Him to grow in Christian life. (DRM 6/16/05)

62:2    The nations will see your righteousness,
           And all kings your glory;
           And you will be called by a new name
           Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.

    The title above this chapter is, "Zion's Glory and New Name," but the cross references don't help on the new name.
    Obviously this is prophetic about the land of Israel or Jerusalem, so I would think this would refer to New Jerusalem - which is also referred to in Rev. 21:10. (DRM 6/16/11)

    Israel will no longer be called "forsaken" and "desolate" (v. 4). Her new names will be "Hephzibah" (My delight is in her") and "Beulah" ("married"). (Word of Life diary)

62:11    Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
             Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes;
             Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him."

    Isaiah's prophecies are amazing. To think that this was written about 700 B.C. and was and will be fulfilled shows that God clearly directed Isaiah what to write; just like he said in the first line.
    The second line was fulfilled when Jesus came into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday and, as Christians, I/we believe He will return.
    The third line refers to His second coming, as He promised to bring His reward with Him (Rev. 22:12) at that time.
    This is an exciting time to live and see prophecy fulfilled! Jesus is coming! Don't miss Him. (DRM 8/30/17)

62:12    They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.

    To be a part of the body of Christ is a true privilege! As I continue to grow in His love, I pray that people will see Him in me and that I will be considered all the things in this verse. (DRM 2/28/89)

63:9    In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

    This certainly is another prophecy of the coming Messiah. No matter how many times I read verses like this, I get excited to know that Jesus Christ really truly cares for me. (DRM 3/1/89)

64:8    Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

    There is still something inside me who does not want to yield to the Lord, but I'm still working on it
    We must yield ourselves to God's will and be willing to be molded into a new creation to honor the Lord and do whatever He asks of us. (DRM 1/16/87)

65:20    "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Shall be thought accursed. "

    How can this be? I thought believers would live forever with the Lord. I found the answer in verse 23 - "these will be the offspring of those blessed by the Lord." As in this life, we must accept the gift of salvation from Jesus - if not, we will die. We will have to rule "someone else" then. (DRM 6/17/05)

65:24    It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

    While this section is titled, "New Heavens and a New Earth," this verse is similar to what I experience now. When I call to the Lord in prayer, I'm confident of an answer. Maybe not my answer, but He will answer. Here it shows that He will answer before I call. (DRM 6/17/11)

66:10, 11     "Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her;
                    Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
                 ¹¹That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
                    That you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom."

    I don't know a lot of Biblical history. These words were first written nearly 2,700 years ago, and clearly Isaiah was looking forward to a time when Jerusalem would be at peace and have a time of plenty.
    As far as I know, this has not yet happened in Jerusalem's history - at least not in the past 2,000 years. Since Isaiah was a prophet, I think this could refer to the New Jerusalem that is STILL future. Then all will be at peace and God will provide everything we need. (DRM 11/17/15)

66:13    As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

    It is good to be reminded of Jesus' love for everyone who  trusts in Him. (DRM 3/2/89)

66:15, 16    For behold, the LORD will come in fire
                   And His chariots like the whirlwind,
                   To render His anger with fury,
                   And His rebuke with flames of fire.
                 ¹⁶For the LORD will execute judgment by fire
                   And by His sword on all flesh,
                   And those slain by the LORD will be many.

    God promised that He would never again flood the earth (Gen. 8:11).
    Still, God has to punish His enemies (Isa. 66:14d) in some way.
    This verse shows God's judgment will be by fire. No one knows if it will be via rockets or heat from the sun, or literal flames; but it will happen someday.
    Should we be fearful as we see that day approaching? NO! No matter what happens, if we are raptured before, or even are here that day, we know as believers in Jesus, on the next day we will be with Him forever. (DRM 3/25/17)

66:18    "For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory."

    I think this refers not to the Israelites, but the believers  who are in the world at the end of the age. Many nations are listed in verse 19 and the judgment is on ALL flesh in verse 16.
    The gathering of the nations could refer to the rapture as they [us?] will be going to Him to see His glory. It will be a truly exciting time for all believers in Jesus Christ! (DRM 6/18/05)

66:24    "Then they will go forth and look
             On the corpses of the men
             Who have transgressed against Me.
             For their worm will not die
             And their fire will not be quenched;
             And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind."

    The final war is over. The Lord has won. The bodies still haven't been buried. The evil in these people will not die? Perhaps they will always be remembered for their evil deeds. Like in Revelation, the fire {Lake of Fire} will never cease for these people.
    It's best to be on the Lord's side. Trust in Jesus! (DRM 6/18/11)