1 I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name.
God is saying He will open the gates so even those who are not Jews can have salvation.
2 I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walks in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
The Jews had done nothing but rebel against God from day one.
3 A people that provokes Me to anger continually to My face; that sacrifices in gardens, and burns incense upon altars of brick;
They had engaged in idolatry; an insult to God.
4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in My nose, a fire that burns all the day.
These “gods” were put as superior to the people, while our God calls everyone to come closer to Him.
6 Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
They will receive what is due them because of their behavior.
7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, says the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed Me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
“This idolatry is the reason for the punishment you are suffering.”
8 Thus says the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, "Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it:" so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
“But I won’t wipe out all the descendants of Jacob. I will keep some.”
9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains: and Mine elect shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there.
God did bring back those who followed Him.
10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for My people that have sought Me.
There will be blessings and riches again for the followers of God.
11 But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
“But most of you? You have denied Me, so I will deny you.”
12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear; but did evil before Mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
“You will be destroyed because you didn't follow My ways.”
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
God will make a very obvious distinction between those who love Him and those who don’t.
14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
And how did He accomplish this? Maybe He intentionally kept those who loved Him in poverty during the times of prosperity so that when the enemy carried everyone else off, they would be the poorest who were left behind to care for the land. They would then have had all the left behind riches to themselves.
15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:
16 That he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.
The disobedient will be forgotten.
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
All things will be made new.
This verse is usually applied to heaven, but should it be? Shouldn’t the context put it after the Babylonian captivity?
18 But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
There will be celebration among those who follow Him.
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
There is still death, so not heaven. But there will be a lack of disease and starvation, so everyone will live a long life.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
It is normal for the first generation to build and the second (or their conquerors) to get the benefit. But God is promising the first generation will live so long they will get the benefit.
23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
God longs to listen to His people.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says the Lord.
Again, this is usually put ahead of us, into heaven, but should it be? Is it symbolic of the condition those left behind in Jerusalem lived in when the richer, unrighteous were removed?