JOY "Israel's Calling" February 2

February 2, 2010
Israel's Calling
Isaiah 41:8-16; 42:1-25; 43:8-24; 48:1-6; 56:9-57; 58:1-59:20

I    God Says, "I love You"
     a.) Israel: Chosen By God  41:8-16
     b.) The Messiah/ The Servant  42:1-25

II   God Says, "I Am Preparing a Future for You" 
     a.) Israel: God's Witness   43:8-24 and 48:1-6

III  God Says: "I Will Shepherd You Home"
     a.) Israel's Need for a Savior   56:9-57:13 and 58:1-59:20


After Assyria departed, and the remnant of Judah and Israel, were left in Jerusalem, to ruled by God, through their own kings------- you would think, that they would never, have turned away from Almighty God or ever tried do anything in their own strength again-----and for awhile-----------at least for the 15 more years, that Hezekiah lived------they probably didn't---------but we know that 15 years is just the blink of an eye------so at some point, during those years ahead, God told Isaiah to prophesy, to the people what was going to happen to them, 160 years into the future, and 700 years into the future and beyond eternity, into the future:
*They would forsake God and His ways as a nation.
*They would be taken into captivity, by Babylon.
*They would resort to worshiping the gods and idols of their captors.
But even with all that-------God wanted Isaiah to tell them, that, even though judgment would come, because of their disobedience-------He was still their God and they still belonged to Him and He would still keep His promises------because their hope, would be just around the corner, in the person of Cyrus of Persia, the earthly king, whom God was going to use, to set His people free. And, underneath that promise, was the even greater promise, of Jesus, the King of all Kings and the Lords of Lords, who would, spiritually, set His people free forever.

Isaiah prophesied, that it would look like Israel, had lost all its credibility, as God's people and all of its identity, as God's chosen ones, and that it would look like, they had become, just a footnote, in the pages of world history------a nation hopelessly and helplessly forsaken ------that's why God wanted Isaiah, to let them know, ahead of time, that when they found themselves living out the prophecy----that they would remember Him, as their God, and  they would turn back to Him.
And, God wanted them to know, that when they did remember, that He would be waiting for them, with outstretched arms, to rescue them, deliver them and dwell with them, and He would give them joy, just like He had promised.

When we see how far we've fallen and how broken the world is, it explains something to us. It explains why disappointment seems to pervade so much, of our thoughts and our desires. It explains why we dread to turn on the news or to pick up a paper, afraid of what bad report we might see or hear. The longer we live and the more of life that we experience, the more we seem to be confronted with disappointment, so persistently and so convincingly, that hope, starts to look empty and unattainble, to us. We become disappointed in our ideals, disappointed in romance, disappointed in our marriages, disappointed in our government, disappointed in our careers, disappointed in our churches, disappointed in the people we trust and disappointed in ourselves. When all human hopes have let us down, and we have reached the end of ourselves, that's when, we just might be ready to receive from God, the only real solution to our disappointment, which exists----and that is Jesus.

Isaiah prophesied that God's people, in their Babylonian exile, would be downtrodden and bitter and disillusioned. He prophesied that they would believe that God had failed them, and that they would blame Him for their misery. Which, if we're honest with ourselves, is what we humans, even believers, typically do------ we blame someone else or we blame God for our own bad choices and our own failures and our own disappointments.----------And for His part, what does God do? He comes down to comfort us and to sustain us and to lift us up and provide away, for us to come back to Him. God came to us, in the person of Jesus, over 2000 years ago and He comes to us now, in the person of the Holy Spirit, with a promise and with a hope that doesn't depend on us, at all, and doesn't depend on any circumstance, but depends solely, on Himself. Because God is good, all the time, He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will give us the strength to face anything that we have to, until He comes back to get us, to take us home.

I  God Says, "I Love You"
   a. Israel Chosen By God
(Little Kathy came to the home for homeless kids, dressed in nothing but dirty rags. She was only 10 years old and she only brought one possession with her. It was an old aluminum paint can. She never let that can out of her sight-------most of the time, she carried it around in her hands. Questions about the can's contents brought a brief shrug and a "can't tell you today" kind of answer. A lot of times, she sat all by herself in her dorm room, hugging the can to her chest and sometimes, she could even be seen, talking softly, but earnestly, to it. One day, one of the counselors invited Kathy to to eat breakfast with her. They talked quietly together, under the roar of conversation, going on around them, that was being created, by the other 150 homeless children, in that dining hall. Finally, the counselor worked up enough courage to ask Kathy about the can. "That's a really nice can that you have, can you tell me what's in it?" Seconds passed and then minutes, of silence. The counselor waited patiently. Then tears welled up in Kathy's eyes and she whispered, "It's my mother, I went and got her ashes from the funeral home." Hugging the can closer to her chest, she continued to talk, "I never really knew my mother. She threw me in a garbage dumpster, 2 days after I was born. Someone found me and turned me over to Social Services. I moved from 1 foster home to the next, getting madder and madder, at my mother and getting in more and more trouble, with my foster families. Then, one day, I just made up my mind that I was going to find her. I started asking around and I got lucky. Someone told me where she lived. But when I got there, she wasn't there-----she was in the hospital dying from AIDS. I finally got to meet her on the day before she died and she told me that she loved me. My mother told me that she really loved me."

We know from scripture, that, in their Babylonian exile, that the remnant of Israel, was a lot like Kathy-------they were searching for someone to love them. They considered themselves a hopeless case, with a God, who seemed to have forgotten and forsaken them. Then, through the mists of time, they did remember God's message and they heard Him say, "I love you."
Darkness enters every person's life. We all have times, when we can see no way out of a situation, that we might be facing or we might be in the middle of----- times when God seems to be a distant reality, from another lifetime, with no connection to what is happening right now. When we face those times -------we need to remember that Isaiah's word from the Lord, was meant for all of us-----"I love you", that is what the Lord wants us to know. God is more than the God who brings punishment or who allows judgment. He is also the God who brings comfort and the God who shepherds us through" the valley of the shadow of death" (which I think, is not just meaning death, but also means the dark days of life that we struggle with in this world). We have no reason to fear evil, because even in our darkest moments, God is still our God and He is still with us. We just need to trust Him, to shepherd our hearts and our lives---------and we have to allow Him, with total trust and submission, to do it, in any way that He chooses.

Fear must have swept across the whole world, as Cyrus moved over the land, conquering every city, that he encountered. Israel had been held captive, in Babylon, for 70 years, but the time had finally come, when God was ready to redeem them. He used Cyrus and his human power, to create the situation, that would send Israel back home. Isaiah had prophesied exactly what would happen, 230 years before, and Israel would have spared themselves, a whole lot of misery, if they had just trusted the Living God, but unfortunately, the frightened people had turned to idols, for a solution to their troubles. But, God had never taken His hand off of them---He was the same God that He had always been and in 41:10 He reminded Israel of His protection, "Fear not, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". The Lord's great compassion comes through very clearly in this verse. He desires to take away whatever it is, that's frightening us, but more than that, He wants to take away the feeling of fear and dismay that we have. Fear produces torment and dismay creates uncertainty and both of these emotions, divert our focus from God and interrupt our relationship with Him. 1John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love, casts out all fear…" God is love and He desires for His children to enter into that love and to rest in it. He wants us to be strong in the knowledge---------that no matter what transpires in the future, He will always be there for us.

5 times in this one verse, God made statements that were designed to instill confidence, into the hearts of His children. He didn't add any conditions to His words, He just promised that He would be a very present help when trouble came. He was saying that in this fallen world, there will be trouble, but that it doesn't matter how immense or how trifling a problem may be, because He will be there to walk with us through it.

God addressed this passage to the OT people, but it is every bit as applicable, to us, today-------God hasn't changed and the hearts of people haven't changed-------just times have changed. His relationship with us, is just as real and important to Him ,as His relationship with Israel was and His ability to keep His promises, is just as reliable. (The story is told, of an American co-pilot, who took a direct hit on his airplane, by an Iraqi bomber. Half of the plane's nose was destroyed. The pilot, strapped into his seat, was killed. The co-pilot was badly injured. With blood streaming down his body; with his left arm shattered and unusable------He tried to take control of the aircraft. Unfortunately, all of his gauges and instruments were so damaged that he couldn't determine speed, altitude or direction. He knew that if he ejected over enemy territory, that it would mean certain death for him. Suddenly, though, into his seemingly hopeless situation, the co-pilot saw 2 American fighter planes coming straight toward him. What a beautiful sight they must have been! Flying alongside the crippled plane, and the brave co-pilot, they guided them both safely to the landing base.)
God's people don't ever have to fear-------we just need to look to God and He will provide, all the help that we need, in any situation. Just like sin is sin is sin and is all level at the cross---trouble is trouble is trouble and it's all level at the cross.

Isaiah used a number of descriptive nouns for God's people as he delivered Gods message to them. The words were purposeful in their intent------they were supposed to encourage the people and remind them who they belonged to. The word servant and the word worm were 2 words that were used, so that a comparison could be drawn between them.
*servant: "You O Israel, my servant…whom I have chosen." Because they were Abraham's descendants, and Abraham was so righteous, even with his human imperfections, that God called him His friend--------God chose Israel, to inherent the promises of the covenant, that He made to Abraham.
*worm: "Do not be afraid, O worm, Jacob." The concept, of being a servant, carries the idea of distinction and integrity and trust with it---but the word worm, means something very different. The word servant, describes who they were, because of God's grace and His calling of them. And the word worm, describes who they were, in their own power.

Israel, this side of the Millennial Kingdom, will never gain worldly power, but God promised, that in His hand, she would become a new "threshing sled", which He would use, to overthrow great nations and bring them to ruin. (its a heavy sled, with spikes on the underside------it was dragged over the ears of grain, so that the husks were separated from the grain). The encouragement is, that, we can go from being miserable, lowly worms, to being powerful instruments, if we are in the hands of God. And when we recognize, that it is only by God's power that we can succeed, then we will learn to rejoice, in the glory of the Lord.
For the remnant of Israel, the literal fulfillment of this part of the prophecy has not happened yet----it won't happen, until the middle of the Great Tribulation, when they finally realize, that Jesus is their Messiah. But there have been times and battles, in their long history, when with God's help, they have been the victors, against all odds. And despite the efforts of people and nations who have hated her and tried to destroy her, through the years, Israel has survived and has always had a remnant------It's remarkable that Israel:
* survived the Holocaust
* survived the attack in 1948, when the combined forces of Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq went against her before she had had time to arm herself
* in 1967, that she withstood the combined forces of Syria, Jordan and Egypt and in 6 days had occupied Jerusalem, taken the Golan Heights and extended her boundaries into Gaza, the West Bank and the Sinai Peninsular.
* on Yom Kippur in 1973-when Egypt and Syria, again joined forces against her, that the Israelis, devastatingly, defeated them.
All of these victories were miraculous, considering the overwhelming forces ranged against them. The whole world can see God's hand on Israel, if they will just look. God's ancient promise to Israel is still standing.


b.) Israel's Need for a Servant
(When the early settlers 1st came to America, they not only suffered hunger and disease, but they also had to fight to take the land from the Native Americans, who were already living here. Fierce fighting and raids were common, as the settlers and the Native Americans vied for land and existence. Both groups suffered great material loss as well as the loss of many lives. (There is a story that is told about a raid which happened in  Wooster, Mass. in 1675. Native Americans attacked a forted, white settlement, burning cabins and killing many settlers. Capt. Hutchinson and his men, who were in the fort, fought hard, but supplies were running low. Their need was desperate. At the risk of his life, a young man escaped one night and went for help. After 3 more, fear-filled days, good news reached the fort . Rescue was on the way! Major Willard of Boston and his men were not far away with supplies and ammunition, for the exhausted settlers. At the appearance of the army, the enemy fled. Joy and thanksgiving flooded the hearts of the settlers, as they praised God for their deliverance and for their rescuers.)

Chapter 42 is God's announcement to the Israelites and to us, that help is on the way------Isaiah promised that the Rescuer would come. This passage in Isaiah is a very famous Messianic passage. Jesus is "the servant, in whom God's soul delights" that Isaiah is talking about. Jesus was the perfect servant, because He came to earth, to do the Father's will, no matter what the cost was, to Himself. In this prophecy, God described the qualifications and character of His servant, whom, as the Chosen One, He promised to empower with His Spirit, so that He could bring justice to all the nations. His Messiah-Servant would carry on a quiet ministry, avoiding all self-displaying and attention-getting activities. He would be gentle and peaceful. He would not harm, even the weakest person, but He would insist on right and truth. He would substitute content for loud noise. There were times when He raised His voice, but it was so that large crowds could hear Him, not because He was ranting and yelling to draw attention to Himself. The reed that is mentioned in verse 3 grew by the riverbank. It was a weak little plant and was easily damaged. A bruised reed would have been even more vulnerable to being broken. The fact that Jesus wouldn't hurt even a bruised reed, focused on His gentle spirit.
The smoking flax refers to a wick that is almost burned down and ready to go out. But even that, Jesus wouldn't quench. His tender dealing, with those who trust Him, will always be loving and gentle. But, even with all His tenderness and gentleness, Jesus never wavered from His purpose. His gentleness didn't conceal weakness; it revealed His strength. Where there is the least evidence of a heart turning toward God, the Servant(Jesus) will lead the person into salvation.  (We know on this side of the cross, that every bit of what Isaiah said to describe Him, was and is true, about Jesus, which authenticates Him, as God's servant, even if Isaiah didn't name Him by name.) Jesus even called himself God's servant, when He was talking to James and John in Mark 10:45, "For even I, the Son of Man, came here, not to be served, but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Before Isaiah explained what the mission of the servant was going to be, he took the time to remind the people again, of just who God is and just what kind of authority, He has.
1.) He is the Lord----- 2.) He is the Creator----- 3.) He spread out the earth and everything in it------ 4.) He gives breath to the earth's people and life to those who walk on it. And then, based on the authority of these truths, he revealed that God's great plan of salvation for mankind would be accomplished through the work of the Servant/Messiah. God chose His Servant and He called Him His son----- and His Son's mission will be successful----God will make sure that it is------He promised that He would watch over Him and that He would strengthen Him, in His ministry, with His own strength. The Servant/Messiah's calling would be worked out in 4 steps----------
* the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham------all the blessings that had been promised: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption and peace, were vested in Jesus. He is our salvation and only by receiving Him, can we receive them.
* a light to the Gentiles------He came to redeem the Jews, God's chosen people------but He also came to offer forgiveness and redemption to the Gentile nations,
* to open blind eyes-----He did ,physically heal, blind people during His earthly ministry------but that was just a minute fulfillment of this prophecy-----the real ministry, was to bring spiritual sight, to the spiritually blind. Sin brought abut universal blindness and every human being is blind, until the Holy Spirit, opens up their eyes to the truth. That's why it isn't possible to reason or argue anyone into the kingdom of God. It would be like trying to reason or argue a physically blind man, into being able to suddenly physically see. If God hadn't lifted the inherent blindness of sin, by Jesus' work on the cross, lost mankind would never have been able to see.
* appointed to bring prisoners from the dungeons and those in darkness, out of prison----Only the perfect, sinless Jesus, could have set mankind free, from the bondage of sin.

Through Isaiah, God confirms and affirms His authority--------He is the Lord and He declares it Himself------He is eternal--------He is self-existent---------He is uncreated--------He has always existed------He is without beginning and without end------He has always been and always will be----He is the Lord of all Glory-------- And He gave that Glory to Jesus, His perfect Servant, because He loves us. This should prompt all of humanity, then and now, to sing a New Song of worship and praise and gratitude, all to the glory of the Lord.
(There is a story about a Frenchman, who was imprisoned in a dungeon, in solitary confinement. Depressed, he used a stone and scrawled on the cell wall,"no one cares." One day, he noticed a tiny green shoot coming up through a crack in the floor. Soon, it began to reach toward the light, that was coming from a tiny window, up near the ceiling. Day after day, it climbed the wall---and then one day, a beautiful flower appeared. The prisoner, who had observed the plant daily, marked out his original words and scratched a new message on the wall, "God cares.") God always cares. He has such patience toward His wayward people. The truth is, He never gives up on His own. Isaiah declared that God would send appropriate judgment on all the idolaters, but that He would tenderly restore anyone, who would turn back to Him, in repentance.

At the end of Chap. 42, Isaiah switched the title of the word Servant, from Jesus, the Messiah, to the nation of Israel. Even though God had called them to be His missionaries to the nations around them-------they had been blind to their sin and deaf to the consequences of it. They had seen more of God's miraculous power than any other nation--but their faith was no stronger or more evangelistic or more zealous, because of what they had seen and heard. You couldn't tell any difference between them and the world around them.
We have been even more blessed, than Israel, because we live on this side of the cross------we are without excuse----we have the full Scripture and the Holy Spirit------we need to take care, that we don't miss our calling, the way Israel did.

II. God Says I am Preparing a Future for You
     a. Israel: God's Witness
In spite of all of their shortcomings and their disobedience, God wanted them to know, that the calling that He had given them, from the beginning, had not changed. Being a witness, to the pagan nations, around them, was still their mission. In chap. 41 God, through Isaiah, had called them into a courtroom scene and He did the same thing in this passage------He wanted to challenge them and hold them accountable for, their idol worship. He asked the question, "Can idols foretell the future? He challenged the people to put their money where their mouths were. If they believed that idols could reveal the future, then He wanted to see proof of that ability, laid out in front of Him. The answer, of course, was obvious-------idols, can't do anything for anyone-------So, God pointed His finger at Israel and declared to them, "You are my witnesses…my servant, whom I have chosen." God wants the world to recognize Him for who He is, but He especially, wants His own people, to know Him, to really know Him.

From their own personal experience, Israel could have proclaimed the greatness of their God, to the heathen nations. They could have shouted about the truth of His existence, from the rooftops and could they could have preached the truth about His grace and His power and His mercy and all the benefits of His love and His blessings, in the streets. But they didn't, except when they had no where else to turn. God existed before the first heathen idol was formed, by the hands of man, and He will still be here, after the last one is forgotten.
All men need a Savior and there is no Savior, other than God. If God chooses to act, there is no power, in heaven or on earth, which is able to thwart Him and nothing can can prevent, Him, from fulfilling His purpose. No idol and no god, from the imagination of man, has the ability to do, what the Living God has done. And Israel, because He had revealed Himself to them, over and over again, was supposed to proclaim to their world, what God had done for them.

When God becomes the center of a person's life, there will be evidence, immediately, of the change in their hearts. Fruit that can be seen by others, will start to grow, abundantly. One of the most effective impacts, that witnessing of God's great goodness can have, on a non-believer, is the evidence of joy, that is reflected in a believer's life. Paul says, in 2nd Corinthians 3:2-3, "You, yourselves are a letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show how, that you are a letter from Christ….written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of the human heart." 
(The devotional magazine, Our Daily Bread, told a story about the great British minister of the 19th century, Alexander Maclaren. The minister was delighted to see a well-known skeptic in His congregation, one Sunday. At the door, Maclaren greeted the man and invited Him to return. As an extra incentive, Maclaren said that he would be speaking on the main doctrines of the Christian faith for the next 4 weeks. After attending every service, faithfully, the skeptic told Maclaren that he had accepted the Lord as his Savior. Thrilled and thankful, the pastor asked which of the 4 sermons had made the difference and brought him to Christ? "Your sermons were very helpful," was the reply, "but there was something else. A few weeks ago, as I left church, I noticed an elderly lady, with a radiant face, also leaving, but moving slowly on the icy street. I offered to help her. As we walked along, she looked up at me and said, 'I wonder if you know my Savior, Jesus Christ? He is everything in the world to me and I want you to love Him too.' Sir, those words touched my heart. When I got home, I knelt and received the Lord Jesus, as my Savior."

The world is watching us-----we are the only face of Jesus, that some people will ever see. God's challenge to His witnesses hasn't changed. We are commanded to go into the world and tell. And we have been empowered, by the Holy Spirit, to carry out that calling. When we allow the Savior to become the Lord of our lives---our actions, become as much of a witness, as our words.

God reminded Israel again, that in due time, He was going to end their Babylonian captivity. That's how God is------we might have to suffer hard places that we don't understand------and those times might last longer, than we can almost stand----but God never fails to let us know, all along the way, that He is still in control and that we can take heart, and trust, that in the end, there will be blessing. (I call these times, that He makes Himself known to us, in the middle of our trial, green pastures-----Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness, for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me me all the days of my life, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.") And when we come out of the hard place, and we look back--------we are able to clearly see, just how the Lord walked with us, through it.

Through Isaiah, God referred again, to the Red Sea miracle, when He had destroyed Pharaoh's chariots and had allowed the Israelites to walk on the dry river bed. He wanted them to remember it, as a miracle, but He also wanted them to see it, as only one miracle, among many. He wanted them to remember the past, but He didn't want them to dwell there-----He wanted them to use the past, as a foundation to build on, so that they would be able to trust Him better, in the future. He wanted them to realize that His miracles hadn't stopped, while they were in captivity-----and He wanted them to know that He had plans to do, even greater miracles in the future. *they would gain freedom from Babylon  *they would be led home to the Promised Land and they would rebuild Jerusalem and the temple   *their nation would be reestablished and they would provide the family, that the miraculous birth of the Messiah would ome from and  *beyond the cross---Israel will recognize their Messiah and they will fulfill their calling, during the Tribulation and they will be the missionaries, that God so desired for them to be    *and ultimately---all of nature will be restored and there will be a new heaven and new earth and God will dwell among His people forever. God promised that a highway would be built and that streams would start flowing in the desert and that there would be no road blocks, to deter His children, from finding their way home. This had all been planned before the earth was even spoken into existence.

What an important truth that this is, for us to hear------When God forgives our sins, He wants us to forget the past, which included sins and failures. And He wants us go forward.  After being forgiven, we need to claim His promises for guidance and strength and trust Him, as He leads us "into new things". Too many believers live defeated lives, because they fail to forgive themselves, which means that they never completely accept God's forgiveness. Psalm 103:12 assures us that we can trust that our sins are forgiven, though, because it says, "as far as the east is from the west, so far, has He removed our transgressions from us."
Israel had neglected prayer and their worship wasn't offered with the right attitude. God wasn't honored by their sacrifices and even though He hadn't imposed unreasonable demands and burdens on them, the people were wearied by the things that He did desire. Consequently, He forewarned them, that they would have to endure their national punishment again and again, down through the centuries-----but He promised them, that He would never take His hand off of them------there would come a day, when their relationship would be perfect! If they would seek Him, He would be found. And, He has already prepared the future, that He intends for each one of us.

III God Says "I will Shepherd You Home"
    a. Israel's Need for a Savior
God is not impressed by the words that we say or by the number of times we go to church. He looks at the heart and judges the value of our worship, by our inner attitude. The people of Judah were religious, but they just went through the motions, their hearts were far from God-----they weren't faithful and there is a big difference between religion and faith----one is a matter of the mind and the other one is a matter of the heart.  This, more than anything, should have shown them how desperately they needed a Savior. We need to examine our own hearts------are we religious or are we faithful-------if we are just going through the motions of religion, then we need ask the Lord to help us get it straight. That is what He longs to do. He wants us to ask Him to help us and He wants to lavish us with His goodness.

The bulk of Israel's leaders; their prophets and their priests, and even a lot of their kings, according to Isaiah, had failed miserably. They were ignorant and greedy. They were like blind watchmen who couldn't see what was going on around them. Instead of taking the proper role of shepherds, ever alert to the dangers, that might be lurking, as all spiritual leaders should be, Israel's leaders, are described as "shepherds who lack understanding."  They were preoccupied with their own ambitions; they were dreamers without any follow-through; they were obsessed with satisfying their physical passions------eating, drinking and physical pleasures. If those men had turned from their sinful ways, the nation would have turned from their sinful ways and God would have been ready to forgive and forget. But, unfortunately, they continued in their rebellion and the consequences for their deplorable leadership, took them into exile.

Idolatry has always been mankind's problem--and in Israel's long history, she is punished for it, over and over again. Despite the fact that both King Hezekiah and King Josiah had led the people in destroying their idols, in the high places----- as soon as an ungodly king was on the throne, Israel went right back to her old ways. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah warned them about idolatry and made it plain, that God sees it as adultery and prostitution, against Him. But the people just ignored them and continued worshiping idols on every hand.
In contrast to the inability of idols to do anything, is the beautiful picture of the Lord's compassion for the truly repentant----God's promise to them is "I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts." God's anger against His children will  only last, until there is repentance for sin, and then He will bring healing and comfort.

God told Isaiah to name the sins again, that Israel was and would commit and then to warn them, to turn from their wicked ways, before it was too late to escape judgment.
1.) He revisited again, the problem that they had, with insincere and false worship-of just going through the motions, without their hearts being engaged. In this passage, Isaiah focused specifically on the practice of fasting. The way that the people were fasting in Isaiah's day, was unacceptable to God. They boasted about how good they were, for fasting, and then complained about the fact that they weren't getting the attention that they deserved, for doing it. They wanted to be rewarded and when they weren't, it made them mad that God didn't answer their prayers, the way that they wanted Him to. They created huge drama with their fasting, patting themselves on the back for their piety, while they were exploiting their employees and gossiping and quarreling with other, at the same time.
When we fast or worship, just because its the thing to do----- it becomes hypocritical. Fasting is a very private discipline, between God and the individual. He has to lead us to fast. True fasting leads to humility before the Lord----which causes us to reach out sacrificially, to help others, who are less fortunate than we are and it will cause us, to earnestly seek, the Lord's leadership in situations that trouble us. If our worship doesn't move us to make our world a better place, then something is wrong. If there is reality in our worship, not just vacant ritual----God will bless us.
2.) They had a problem with not remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy. Sunday is not an extra Saturday. Its not the end of the weekend. Its not the day to get caught up for Monday. It is the Lord's day and it is the day when we are supposed set lesser things aside and replenish ourselves and others with the fullness of God. We are supposed to structure our schedules around glorifying and enjoying God together. If we kept the Sabbath, one day in seven, fifty-two weeks a year, we would automatically add, 7 and half weeks of vacation, to our year. And it wouldn't be, just seven and half weeks of messing around, like we do on vacation, it would be seven and half weeks, of focusing on God.  God has made a weekly appointment with us. Do we love Him enough to keep it?
The other sins on Isaiah's list are pretty self-explanatory------------   
3.) Unjust and unethical in their business dealings
4.) Exploiting the poor
5.) Murder
6.) Lies
7.) Violence
8.) Dishonesty and so much more
There sin was so brazen, as they shook their fists in God's face, that He had to punish them------- but it was in that punishment, that  He showed them, their desperate need for a Savior.
The good news is, that the Redeemer will come to Jerusalem for Israel and for any nation that will call Him King and for any person that will call Him Lord. He came once and He will come again. And we are waiting for that coming. When Jesus came to Bethlehem, as a baby, He came to provide salvation on the cross. When He comes a 2nd time, it will be to reign, in Glory, forever. In the meantime, we have been commissioned to spread the Gospel, so that everybody will be ready for His return. The Lord isn't slow about His promise to return…He is being patient, because He doesn't want anyone to perish; He wants to give everyone a chance to hear and to repent.

God does exist! Love does conquer all obstacles! Hope is not just a dream! The Bible won't let us succumb to dark pessimism and despair. The scripture paints a picture of eternal hope. In the darkest moments of our lives------God wants us to remember Him; and He wants us to remember His words that have stayed true, down through the ages------words spoken to Israel, but words that are also meant for us, "I will be your comforter, I will be your shepherd, I will be your redeemer, because I am God; and there is no other."