1 Thus says the Lord, "Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away."
God did not initiate the Great Divorce, Israel did by their breaking the covenant they had with God.
The original covenant was “IF you will be My people, THEN I will be your God.” Israel abandoned God to worship other gods; clear grounds for “divorce.”
It was God's will for Israel / Judah to always be a free, prosperous people. Their disobedience is what caused them to be sold into captivity.
2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
God controls all creation and could easily keep the Jews safe. But they simply won’t trust Him. They try in their own power to find salvation.
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakes morning by morning, he wakes mine ear to hear as the learned.
God has blessed Isaiah with the ability to speak comfort to those who need it.
5 The Lord God has opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
God allows Isaiah to hear those in need, and he listens.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah was willing to suffer anything to serve his God.
7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
He knows that, no matter what happens in this life, he can handle because God is with him.
8 He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together: who is mine adversary? Let him come near to me.
“I’m ready to take you on because I’ve got my God.”
9 Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
The enemy is nothing but a rotted old rag.
10 Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
This strength is available to anyone who chooses to obey God.
11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Those who don’t obey God will be sorry.