In this portion, Isaiah beseeches God. You God created the tormentors of israel and the beasts that cause suffering. Please God, Wake up! wake up! and redeem them like You did in the days of old.

Isaiah begs the people to listen, and asks them to look back at their past. As Abraham and Sarah were unique in their day, so to are God's faithful people today. Don't be afraid because you are alone. Just as God was with them, He is with you.

In this chapter, Isaiah reminds us how God gave him the gift to speak like the angels, and that God warned him that the people would not listen. Nonetheless, Isaiah carried on with the message God commanded him to convey to the people, despite much abuse and personal hardship. I did what I was told to do, Isaiah says, it is your job to listen.

Zion cries that she has been forgotten, and bereft of her children. God reassures Zion that she will never be forgotten. Her children will return, and indeed they will bring along the nations of the world to populate Jerusalem and worship the One God together.

Isaiah describes again the process of redemption and the sepcial role of the Chosen people. God redeems His chosen, and through their redemption follows the redemption of all oppressed peoples. Then, and only then will the mountains rejoice in song, and thirst and hunger will no longer afflict the poor.

The people of Israel address the nations of the world. Yes, we were God's people from the beginning. However, God told us that it is not enough for Him to take us under His wings and restore our honor, He had something much bigger in mind. God took us under His wings so that we should be a light until the nations, so that His Deliverance will permeate all of His creation.

God continues to address the Jewish people. If only you had listened to Me the whole time, you would have had everlasting peace. My teachings were for your benefit. I have been there for you this whole time, and I will be here for you forever.

God speaks to the outwardly pious but inwardly hypocritical people and explains why in the "old days" He used to predict and perform miracles, but now He chooses to teach us faith and trust in God through trials and suffering. Knowing the future may not be the best path to leading a righteous life.

The Babylonian princess, representative of all the powerful nations that think that through might, wealth, power and greed they will last forever, learn their fate. Their magicians, sorcerers, stargazers and shamans will be useless when true judgement comes.

The believers in idols find no solace in their gods when suffering comes. In fact, their gods become burdens, their gold and silver cannot help them. However, faith in God is different, God carries us, we are His burden. He sustains us and brings deliverance, His plans are forever.