v1: Isaiah addresses words of judgment to Judah, chapters 2-5. It may be that these were dated during Jotham's reign, whilst his father Uzziah was suffering with leprosy; see 2 Chr 26.21-23; and 6.1 begins by referring to Uzziah's death.

v2-4: The first theme of the book of Isaiah is the call to repentance; the second theme is the full restoration of the nation of Israel. These verses begin that second theme.

Their hearts will be changed, the natural branch grafted in again. The word of God will once more go out from Zion, as Israel is restored as the channel of God's truth. All the nations will be blessed, and will enjoy peace.

There is some similarity here with the early part of Solomon's reign, 2 Kings 4.29-34; 5.4-5, as many nations flocked to Jerusalem, and enjoyed peace. We may see some fulfilment in the church, as people from every nation submit to the word of God, and there is peace between those who previously were enemies. We do not train for war, for we train for righteousness.

The reality, as Isaiah points out, was far different. The glorious days of the past were in the past, and the nation was being rebuked for this. Yet God had made a promise that those days would return.

v5: The application to Isaiah's hearers; the command to be obedient; in the light of present rebellion, and in the light of future promises.

v6: "Like the Philistines," the problem of copying the heathen; things acceptable to the unbeliever are to be rejected by God's people.

The reference to divination includes the word 'soothsayer.' This was an enchanter, or sorcerer; an occult practice common at the time of Isaiah.

v7: Material prosperity in spite of, perhaps because of, disobedience.

v8: Material prosperity led to spiritual complacency, as in Prov 30.9; and leading to idolatry, as in Deut 32.15; their land was now full of idols.

v9: They had a false humility as they bowed down to idols, but they did not bow in worship before the true God.

v10-11: Man is brought low, as the Lord alone is exalted. This is a vital principle for godly living, and for repentance.

v12: The day of the Lord of Hosts; He comes to shame those on the earth. This will surely happen; it is part of His declared plan.

v13-16: A description of proud things, in creation, and in human achievement; all these things will be brought low.

v17: Repeating v12; human arrogance will be brought low.

v18: Idols will disappear; the people could not put away their arrogance whilst maintaining idolatry.

These verses were partially fulfilled when Judah and Jerusalem were defeated and exiled in Babylon; they did not fall back into idolatry; neither the later O.T. writers (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) nor the N.T. gospels refer to Judah as being idolatrous. Jonathan Edwards (The History of Redemption, p133) describes this work as a remarkable and wonderful change in the people.

A later and greater fulfilment will occur when all mankind has to bow before the Lord Almighty.

v19-21: When the Lord God rises to shake the earth; the dread of the Lord, and the splendour of His majesty (2 Thess 1.9). For the unbeliever such things are feared. Their idols, and indeed all man-made religion, will be proved to be useless.

v22: We will not trust in a mere man, including our own wisdom and experience; compare Jer 17.7.