Then, oh then, a tiny shoot cultivated and nurtured by the Eternal will emerge new and green, promising beauty and glory. Everything that comes from the earth will offer itself, lovely and magnificent, to those who escaped Israel’s demise.

When our king, Ahaz, died having endured and survived Assyria’s attacks against us, the prophet received this message.

Eternal One: These people think they can draw near to Me by saying the right things, by honoring Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from Me. Their worship of Me consists of man-made traditions learned by rote; it is a meaningless sham.

Meanwhile, back in Judah, Hezekiah became very sick and was about to die. Learning of it, Isaiah, Amoz’s son, went to visit him. Isaiah: Here is what the Eternal One has to say: Eternal One: Get your affairs in order. You are going to die. You are not going to recover from this.

My servant is as blind as any. Who could be more deaf than the one who goes where I direct and tells what I want told? Who is as blind as the one committed to do what the Eternal One wills, the servant of the Eternal?

But whoever does make an idol is not improved or enriched. On the contrary, their passing fancies contribute nothing of value or purpose. Those who look on at such misplaced attention don’t understand what they’re seeing, and the idol-makers will end up embarrassed at best.