Isaiah 42:17

Some people cannot benefit from the promises in verse 16. They are the people that choose to trust home-made *idols.

Israel fails to learn

v18 The *Lord says: ‘Listen, you people of mine who have been so deaf. Look carefully, you people of mine who have been so blind. Pay close attention to my words. v19 Nobody is more blind than my servant called Israel. Nobody is more deaf than Israel, which ought to carry my message to the world. v20 Israel sees many events. But he does not understand their meaning. His ears are open. But he does not really listen to the words of God’s laws.’

v21 It was the *Lord’s intention, because of his own *righteousness, to make his law great and honourable. v22 But the people in Israel did not obey God’s law. His directions would have made life so good. So Israel’s enemies have robbed them of liberty and land. Now God’s people are having to live in a foreign country. It is as if their life is in a deep hole or in a prison. They cannot escape. There is nobody to come to their rescue. v23 Someone among you people from Israel needs to listen. From now on, someone must pay proper attention. v24 It was surely the *Lord who handed over the people from Israel. He handed them over to their enemies, who acted like robbers. Because it is the *Lord whose law we (the people from Israel) have not obeyed. We have not followed his way. We have not obeyed his instructions. v25 So the *Lord showed his anger by the way that he made Israel suffer the results of war. It was as if God’s anger was like a fierce fire. The fire burned the people in Israel. But they still did not learn their lesson.