Verse 5 ultimately looks forward from Isaiah's day to the coming and the rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was hated, cast out, and put to death by His brethren, the Jews, but Jesus triumphed over all His enemies, delivering His people and working victory for them. And, as they hated Jesus, so they hate His followers. But deliverance

God is looking and telling the people of changes that will be happening in New Testament days, which has been the big context of Isaiah since chapter 40. God is emphasising that the Temple does not contain Him. God is everywhere. The Temple and its ceremonies were pointing forward to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. But

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had God speaking to them, and they spoke unhindered to Him. But with the Fall, all of this ended. But we're now living in the new heaven and new earth. It's not in its full form yet, but it has been constituted since the resurrection of Jesus. Because of what Christ has

Verses 20-23 deal with the effects of the coming of the new heavens and earth. In the old heavens and earth, all must die. In Jesus Christ there is life, bought by Him at the price of His blood. This life that He has attained for His people is everlasting life. What about in this world now? It might be

The new heavens and the new earth begin in new hearts. Such a change, a worldwide change, a worldwide transformation begins with, and is made up of, many, many, many changed hearts. It's comprised of many beyond counting who are there at the great throne of God, a great multitude that no man can number, who have new life, who

We have two kinds of blessing and cursing in verses 13-14. One is outward blessings, which is in verse 13, and then a more inward, which we see in the end of verse 13 and into verse 14. These blessings are only, of course, for the true servants of God. The curses are for those who are the people of

It's as if God is saying in verse 6, "It's all written down, all of your sin." There is a payoff for sin. God does not leave his debts. God does something about them, either in this life, or in the life to come, or both. Judgment must come down upon sin. We see specific sin laid out in verse

In verse 1, God doesn't directly address His people in Judah and Jerusalem, but others. He speaks of those who had not cried out. He speaks of those who really had no interest at all. They had not asked, but to them God had sent the Word. The Spirit brought them to seek after the grace of God in Jesus

This prophecy is not looking at Jerusalem destroyed by Babylon, it is looking at Jerusalem destroyed by Rome. What are the holy cities that are spoken of here in verse 10? Zion (greater Jerusalem) and Jerusalem. Jerusalem and Zion are holy because they are where God chose for His worship. The kings ruled there. The prophets mostly came there to

After the confession of sin, the people, through the prophet, say the words of verse 8. These are hopeful words of faith from those who are aware of great sin, but who are conscious of God's mercy and grace. They look to the One Who can, Whom they trust will, forgive. This covenant God is called Father, as well. He