Lectionary Preaching Workbook
This pericope comes from the third section of Isaiah (chapters
56-66). It was written by an unknown author(s) in the period of
540-500 B.C. The Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian
exile. The exiles find a pathetic situation: Jerusalem is
desolate and the temple has been burned to the ground. This
passage is a lament and a cry for God to come and help them. The
people are despondent and are impatient for God to come and do
something about their condition. They feel that God is angry with