Among all the reassuring words in the Bible, among all the promises of divine embrace and heavenly fuzzies, a top contender would have to be the second portion of Isaiah — the unit between chapters 40-55 known as Second Isaiah. After thirty nine chapter berating Israel for her failures, this prophetic scroll declares a “time-out” on reprimands. Indeed, it opens with the lullaby of a loving God — “Comfort, comfort my people.”
From that first word of comfort to the last chapter of this middle section, there is good news of compassion, forgiveness, and the promises of new possibilities. God’s people are offered an unexpected future filled with love and new relationships. After detailing in chapter 54 the remarkable promises of salvation made by the sacrificing Servant, chapter 55 opens by chal…