Isaiah 57: Despite many problems in Israel, the Lord is merciful and changes hearts.

 In Isaiah 57 we see the problems in Israel. The first problem was his leaders in final of Isaiah 56, the second problem is idolatry in Isaiah 57:3-13 which is called adultery and prostitution.

3
But you—come here,
    you children of witches,
        you descendants of adulterers and prostitutes!

 
5 You burn with lust under oak trees
    and under every large tree.
    You slaughter children in the valleys
    and under the cracks in the rocks.
6
Your idols are among the smooth stones in the ravine.
    They are your destiny.
    You have given them wine offerings
    and sacrificed grain offerings to them.
    Do you think I am pleased with all this?

7
You’ve made your bed on a high and lofty mountain.
    You’ve gone to offer sacrifices there.
8
You’ve set up your idols beside doors and doorposts.
    You’ve uncovered yourself to the idols.
    You’ve distanced yourself from me.
    You’ve made your bed with them.
    You’ve made a deal with those you have pleasure with in bed.
    You’ve seen them naked.

Does this behavior brings satisfaction? No:

10
You’ve tired yourself out with many journeys.
    You didn’t think that it was hopeless.
    You’ve found renewed strength,
    so you didn’t faint.

However, in 14-21, we see the Lord changing the hearts of his people:

15
The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy.

This is what he says:

I live in a high and holy place.
    But I am with those who are crushed and humble.
        I will renew the spirit of those who are humble
            and the courage of those who are crushed.
16
I will not accuse you forever.
    I will not be angry with you forever.
    Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I’ve made,
        would grow faint in my presence.

The Lord is merciful: He will no accuse me forever otherwise, my life would grow faint in His presence.

17
I was angry because of their sinful greed,
    so I punished them, hid from them, and remained angry.
        But they continued to be sinful.
18
I’ve seen their sinful ways, but I’ll heal them.
    I’ll guide them and give them rest.
    I’ll comfort them and their mourners.
19
I’ll create praise on their lips:
    “Perfect peace to those both far and near.”
    “I’ll heal them,” says Yahweh.

May the Lord heal me, comfort me, guide me, give me rest and create praise on my lips.
In contrast, this chapters talks about the wicked at the end:


20
But the wicked are like the churning sea.
    It isn’t quiet,
        and its water throws up mud and slime.

21
“There is no peace for the wicked,” says my Elohim.

The wicked doesn't find peace, satisfaction in the Lord.

Isaiah 56: come foreigners and castrated men!

 In Isaiah 56:1-8, the Lord calls foreigners and castrated men to join the people of the Lord.

3 Foreigners who have joined Yahweh should not say, “Yahweh will separate us from his people.” Castrated men should not say, “We’re only dead trees!”

 4 This is what Yahweh says: I will remember the castrated men who keep my days of worship, choose what pleases me, and faithfully observe the conditions of my promise.[a] 5 Inside my house and within my walls, I will give them something better than sons and daughters. I will give them a monument and a name. I will give them a permanent name that will not be forgotten. 6 And I will remember the foreigners who have joined Yahweh to worship him, to love Yahweh’s name, and to be his servants. All of them will keep the day of worship from becoming unholy and will faithfully observe the conditions of my promise. 7 Then I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them happy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, because my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

 The Lord wants that the foreigner and thre castrated men adores Him inside the community, together, in the day of worship. The Lord promises that He will make them happy in his house of prayer. Besides them, there are others that the Lord will gather:

 8 Adonay Yahweh, who gathers the scattered people of Israel, declares, “I will gather still others besides those I have already gathered.”

 In Isaiah 56:9-12, the Lord is against Israel’s watchmen. They should watch, but they don't, instead they are taking care of themselves. It reminds Jesus discourses against hypocrisy.

Isaiah 55: the word of the Lord brings life. He calls us to reckon his superior ways

 In Isaiah 55, the Lord invites us to come to Him and receive good food (food that satisfies) for free. However, we, as sinners, are eating our food that don't really satisfy:

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 calling to repentance:

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.

6
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7
Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person 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.
8
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

But, how really we repent? The Lord leads us to repentance through his word:

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

The one who comes to the Lord, receives joy:

12
For you will go out with joy
And be led in peace;
The mountains and the hills will break into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13
Instead of the thorn bush, the juniper will come up,
And instead of the stinging nettle, the myrtle will come up;
And [f]it will be a [g]memorial to the Lord,
An everlasting sign which will not be eliminated.”

Isaiah 54 - the Lord declares his love to his people.

 In Isaiah 54, the Lord declares his steadfast love for his people. He compares his people to a childless women who never gave birth to children; however the Lord will change it:

3
You will spread out to the right and left.
    Your descendants will take over other nations,
        and they will resettle deserted cities.

The Lord is the husband os the woman:

5
        Your husband is your maker.
            His name is Yahweh Tsebaoth.
        Your Go’el is Qedosh Yisrael.
            He is called the Elohim of the whole earth.

Although Israel must be suffering in the Babylonian captivity, the Lord says:

8
I hid my face from you for a moment in a burst of anger,
    but I will have compassion on you with everlasting kindness,”
        says Yahweh your Go’el.

but, what is happening to Jerusalem?

12
I will rebuild your towers with rubies,
    your gates with sparkling stones,
        and all your walls with precious stones.”

13
All your children will be taught by Yahweh,
    and your children will have unlimited peace.

The Lord will defend Jerusalem:

17
No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed.
    You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you.
        This is the inheritance of Yahweh’s servants.
            Their victory comes from me,” declares Yahweh.

Isaiah 53 - The Christian chapter in the Jewish Bible

Isaiah 53 - The Christian chapter in the Jewish Bible

Isaiah 53 talks about the Suffering Servant. The New Testament clearly says that the Suffering Servant is Jesus in Acts 8:26–40 and 1 Peter 2:21–25. Isaiah is talking about the Suffering Servant since Chapter 42. For the Jews, the Suffering Servant refers to Israel and the suffering happened in the Babylon captivity. I didn't read Jewish commentaries but, using their approach, it must be very difficult to interpret passages such as:

 
4 He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering
    and carried our sorrows,
        but we thought that Elohim had wounded him,
            beat him, and punished him.
5
He was wounded for our rebellious acts.
    He was crushed for our sins.
        He was punished so that we could have peace,
            and we received healing from his wounds.
        
Let us suppose that Israel in captivity carried our sorrows. Who are the beneficiaries of Israel suffering? If we understand that Israel suffered for his own sins, it seems that our earthly sufferings leads to redemption. However, the verse indicates that someone else suffered the sorrows in place of another one.

6
We have all strayed like sheep.
    Each one of us has turned to go his own way,
        and Yahweh has laid all our sins on him

This verse must be really difficult to understand if the Suffering Servant were Israel, it is difficult to understand "we" in verse 6. Who have strayed like sheep? Israel again? I may see the disciples strayed like sheep in Jesus crucifixion, and I can see myself strayed like sheep following my own way. I also can thank the Lord for his salvation provided when He laid my sins on Jesus.

8
He was arrested, taken away, and judged.
    Who would have thought that he would be removed
        from the world?
    He was killed because of my people’s rebellion.
9
He was placed in a tomb with the wicked.
    He was put there with the rich when he died,
    although he had done nothing violent
        and had never spoken a lie.

He was killed and put with the rich. It is very easy to understand that Jesus was judged, that He was killed because of the "people of the Lord" rebellion. It is easy to see Jesus being buried in a tomb that was for a rich person. However, it is difficult to understand it if the Servant were Israel.


11
He will see and be satisfied
    because of his suffering.
    My righteous Ebed will acquit many people
    because of what he has learned through suffering.
    He will carry their sins as a burden.

Will Israel carry the sins of many people as a burden? Will Jesus carry the sins of many people as a burden? We, Christians, understand that Jesus accomplishes what Israel should do. In a way, Jesus is the temple and Jesus is Israel; however, verse 11 is much easier to understand when we think of Jesus as the Servant, as the redeemer.

12
So I will give him a share among the mighty,
    and he will divide the prize with the strong,
        because he poured out his life in death
            and he was counted with sinners.
                He carried the sins of many.
                    He intercedes for those who are rebellious.

Jesus is the one who interceded for me as rebellious guy. He is the one who carried my sins. I understand that Jesus will divide his prize with me. In a way, I belong to Jesus' prize because I am of Jesus.

Isaiah 52: the Lord will rule over Jerusalem

 In Isaiah 52, we read:

 1-3: Wake Up, Jerusalem!

 The people of the Lord are in the Babylonian captivity (not 100% sure). Jerusalem are destroyed.

 2
Shake the dust from yourselves.
    Get up, captive Jerusalem.
    Free yourself from the chains around your neck, captive people of Zion.


4-6: Reflection on Past Injustices.

The Lord is sovereign, but how Egypt and Assyria let them mistreat his people? Is the Lord really ruling over his people? Perhaps not.

4 This is what Adonay Yahweh says: In the beginning my people went to Egypt to live there as foreigners. Later the Assyrians oppressed them for no reason. 5 So what do I find here? asks Yahweh. My people are taken away for no reason. Their rulers are screaming, declares Yahweh. And my name is cursed all day long. 6 Now my people will know my name. When that day comes, they will know that I am the one who says, “Here I am!”

7-10: Proclamation of Salvation

Jerusalem is destroyed, a good news is proclaimed:

7 (...)
Elohim rules as king.
8
Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices
    and shout together joyfully.
        When Yahweh brings Zion back,
            they will see it with their own eyes.
9
Break out into shouts of joy, ruins of Jerusalem.
    Yahweh will comfort his people.
        He will reclaim Jerusalem.

11-12: Call to Depart from Babylon
The people of the Lord are called to leave Babylon and go back (to Jerusalem).
11
Run away! Run away!
    Get away from there!
    Do not touch anything unclean.[a]
    Get away from it!
    Make yourselves pure,
    you Levites who carry the utensils for Yahweh’s temple.

13-15: The Suffering Servant

Now we are introduced to the "Suffering Servant". How this Servant is important in the return to Jerusalem? We read:

13
My servant will be successful.
    He will be respected, praised, and highly honored.
14
Many will be shocked by him.[b]
    His appearance will be so disfigured
        that he won’t look like any other man.
        His looks will be so disfigured
            that he will hardly look like a human.
15
He will cleanse many nations with his blood.
    Kings will shut their mouths because of him.
        They will see things that they had never been told.
        They will understand things that they had never heard.

As a Christian, I understand that it refers to Jesus. He cleanses many nations with his blood. Perhaps a Jew would think this servant as Israel that was mistreated by many nations.

Isaiah 51: The Lord will save his people in Babylonian captivity

 In Isaiah 51, the prophet talks to those in the captivity of Babylon that pursue what is right and seek the Lord. Perhaps, they shouldn't worship the Babylonian gods. If so, they were mistreated and trying to understand what the Lord is doing. We read:

2
Look to Abraham, your ancestor,
    and to Sarah, from whom you are descended.
    When I called Abraham, he was childless.
    I blessed him and gave him many descendants.
3
So Yahweh will comfort Zion.
    He will comfort all those who live among its ruins.
    He will make its desert like Eden.
    He will make its wilderness like the garden of Yahweh.
        Joy and gladness will be found in it,
            thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

The Lord says that He is saving:

5
My righteousness is near.
    My salvation is on the way.
    I will bring justice to people.
    The coastlands put their hope in me,
        and they wait eagerly for me.

However, what is "salvation" here? I think that it means to get freedom from Babylon:

9
Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O Yahweh!
    Wake up as you did in days long past, as in generations long ago.
    Didn’t you cut Rahab[a] into pieces and stab the serpent?
10
Didn’t you dry up the sea, the water of the great ocean?
    You made a road in the depths of the sea
        so that the people reclaimed by the Lord
            might pass through it.
11
The people ransomed by Yahweh will return.
    They will come to Zion singing with joy.
        Everlasting happiness will be on their heads as a crown.
            They will be glad and joyful.
                They will have no sorrow or grief.

The Lord asks his people to keep trusting in Him:

12
I alone am the one who comforts you.
    Why, then, are you afraid of mortals, who must die,
    of humans, who are like grass?

14
Chained prisoners will be set free.
    They will not die in prison.
    They will not go without food.

    
Jerusalem is destroyed. Can it revive?

17
Wake up! Wake up!
    Stand up, Jerusalem!
    You drank from the cup in Yahweh’s hand.
        That cup was filled with his anger.
    You drank from the bowl, the cup that makes people stagger,
        and you drained it!

22
Yahweh your Elohim defends his people.

This is what your Adonay says:

I’m taking from your hand the cup that makes people stagger,
    the bowl, the cup of my fury.
        You will never drink from it again.
23
I will put it in the hands of those who made you suffer.
    They said to you, “Lie down so that we can walk over you.”
        So you made your back like the ground
            and like a street for them to cross.    

The Lord will revive Jerusalem and will make Babylon suffer.