Translation: ESV
"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin."
Human plans that exclude God, however plausible they seem, only add sin upon sin.
▸A woe is pronounced over those who seek alliance with Egypt.
A woe is pronounced over those who seek alliance with Egypt. 'Not mine'—it is a plan departing from God's will. When human plans exclude God, they add sin upon sin.
Who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
Seeking human solutions without first asking God is the essence of unbelief.
▸The problem is relying on Egypt's power without asking God.
Everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.
Any refuge apart from God will certainly end in disappointment and bring shame.
▸Egypt's help will be utterly useless.
Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her 'Rahab who sits still.'
God's salvation comes not through frantic human effort but through quiet trust.
▸'Rahab who sits still'—a salvation that appears to do nothing.
For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD.
Rebellion against hearing God's word is the root of all sin and disaster.
▸Three characteristics of the Israelite people are listed: rebellious, lying, and unwilling to hear God's instruction.
Who say to the seers, 'Do not see,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions.'
Wanting comfort over truth produces false prophets and ultimately leads to destruction.
▸The people ask the seers for pleasant words.
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, 'Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them.'
Despising God's word and relying on human devices is the beginning of ruin.
▸They despise God's word and rely on oppression (political power) and perverseness (deceptive schemes).
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
The consequence of iniquity will suddenly collapse, like a bulging wall.
▸Judgment comes like a wall that suddenly collapses.
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were not willing.
Salvation comes not through frantic striving but through quiet waiting on and trusting in God.
▸This is one of the key verses of Isaiah.
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
God waits to show grace, and those who wait for him are blessed.
▸It is remarkable that God waits.
For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
God hears the cry of his people and will surely answer.
▸You shall weep no more—this is the promise of salvation.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
God shows the right path in every situation and guides with meticulous care.
▸A beautiful promise of God's guidance.
Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.
God's restoration will be an abundance surpassing everything present.
▸On the day of restoration, light will be multiplied.
You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
On the day of restoration, the joy of drawing near to God is restored.
▸On the day of restoration, joy like that of a feast will come.
And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them.
God's judgment simultaneously becomes salvation for his people and a reason for praise.
▸God's judgment on Assyria is described as to the sound of tambourines and lyres.