1 Thus says the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest?
God created the universe. What could we possibly make to house Him?
2 For all those things has Mine hand made, and all those things have been, says the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.
Though God is the creator of the universe, He pays attention to those who love Him.
3 He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offers an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.
People try to make up their own rules, and then they try to get God's pleasure through ceremonies they invented. He finds it offensive.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
The New Testament says that those who determine that they will sin, God sends a strong delusion so their conscious even dies; they can’t tell right from wrong anymore.
That is what He is saying here; Israel/Judah have sinned so badly and for so long He is just going to give them over to these false delusions and to their fears.
5 Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, "Let the Lord be glorified:" but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Many who had tried to follow God were abused by those who were pretending to follow Him. The sinners would say horrid things about the righteous and accuse them of not reaSlly following God.
God is going to change all that and bring joy to His followers and shame to the hypocrites.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that renders recompense to His enemies.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
It takes time for the land to warm up after winter and begin producing. It takes time for birth to occur after labor starts (though, occasionally you do hear of labor so fast it only takes half an hour or so. You still get labor first). It takes time to conquer a land or to organize a government.
Though all this is true, salvation will come from God for the righteous without warning. It will just suddenly be there.
9 "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" says the Lord: "Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?" says thy God.
God already has everything in place to reward His people and He will do it.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Jerusalem will be a happy place again.
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
The delight at the restoration of Jerusalem will equal the delight and satisfaction of a small baby nursing.
12 For thus says the Lord, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees."
They are in the middle of war now, but they can be assured that peace is on the way for those that love God.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.
It will become obvious who is really serving God and who isn’t.
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
True justice always comes. Not always in the time we want it to, but it does come.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the Lord.
The hypocrites will be exposed and punished.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory.
God knows the thoughts of every human heart. We can’t hide anything from Him.
At the end, all humans who have ever lived will be gathered at the throne and will see God and bow their knees to Him.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.
The return from Babylon? Or heaven?
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
This certainly describes The Return.
21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.
Many from heathen nations did convert to Judaism after the return because God's glory was shown so strongly.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, says the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
They became a whole new nation with a whole new government. They became a prosperous trade city again.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, says the Lord.
We do have record of people traveling from all over just to worship at Jerusalem.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.