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

We see that people left to themselves can do nothing but that which is unclean filth. They are like dry, dead leaves, and they are blown away and scattered. These are the words of tender-hearted people. Their trust had been in commending themselves by keeping the law of God in an adequate way. They were like the Pharisees of Jesus'

Verses 5 through 7 are a confession of sin of the people of God. God does not overlook sin. God does not indulge sin. And when it is found in believers, His beloved children, they are put under discipline. You must learn that sin brings misery so that you will flee to the One Who will save you from sin,

The person who is saved, the person who glorifies God, also enjoys Him. He just plain enjoys God, just like you do with any of your earthly friends. The longer you spend with them, the more time you have with them, the more invested you are into the relationship, the more you enjoy being with them, and the harder it

These are plaintive words, plaintive words that come from hearts that are grieving, grieving over sin in their own hearts, grieving because of the sin all around them. What Isaiah is wanting is for God to tear open the heavens, to come down even as He has done so in the past. Jehovah does not change. As He acted in

It can be a fearsome thing, a possibility dreaded by God's people, believers, when they have sinned greatly and are awakened to their failure. So it is with these of Judah and Jerusalem. They had sinned greatly, and their shame was heavy upon them. They wondered that their Father would let them go so far, but so He does sometimes.

The next 19 verses are verses of pleading from the repentant remnant of Israel. We start out with near despair and fear of having been abandoned. It's as though Isaiah fears that God is paying no attention anymore. At one time the people of God were blessed by His goodness. Even when they sinned, He brought them to repentance. He

In verse 14 we see that God leads His people in His goodness. He leads them despite their stubbornness. He leads them, protects them, takes them, and blesses them. The picture we have here is of some animal, maybe a sheep going down into the shelter of a valley on a hot, dry day. This is just a picture of

Verse 9 looks at all the affliction of Israel up to this time. In God's love and pity He determines to deliver them. The great deliverance from Egypt was surpassed by an even greater one for the true Israel of God who had a Saviour Who came in love to deliver them. The "angel of his presence" in this verse