Our longing for peace is nothing new. Just as in our day, the prospect of peace for Israel was a major concern in Isaiah’s time. The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom had been captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and many of Isaiah’s prophecies predicted the eventual exile of the Southern Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians.

However, the root cause of their problems was not political, but spiritual. These military defeats ultimately resulted from spiritual unfaithfulness (see Isa. 57:3–13). Yet despite past failure, Isaiah offered hope to all who repented. In verse 15, the “high and exalted One…whose name is holy” promised to live with “the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Those who turned to God in repentance could hope to see God turn from His anger.

This promise of finding peace with God through forgiveness is even more remarkable given the nature of their disobedience, which included not only spiritual hypocrisy and sexual immorality but also idolatry, sorcery, and child sacrifice. Through Isaiah, the Lord predicted that exiled Israel would return from Babylon (v. 14). More than this, He promised to “heal them,” “guide them,” and make them a people who praise the Lord (vv. 18–19).

In the Bible we learn that God is separate from sinners. He lives in a “high and holy place.” Yet He is not ashamed to dwell with those who are “contrite and lowly in spirit” (v. 15). This is the path to true peace. Turn to God and ask Him to heal your sinful ways. Jesus promises, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

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