In this frightening section, God’s people are urged to become a part of the remnant (cf. v. 13) that is able to understand God’s message of deliverance.  The sermon is designed to make us sure that we are not responding to God like the majority in the nation were doing during Isaiah’s ministry.  This is the most quoted part of Isaiah in the New Testament.  Jesus cited it to explain his ministry and Paul did the same (cf. Matthew 13:10-17; Acts 28:23ff.).  The more they preached the more God’s people turned a deaf ear to the preaching of the Gospel.  However, the hope is found in vv. 11-13 and the talk of a “holy seed” (v. 13).  Every sermon is an opportunity for pastors and parishioners to reaffirm their faith in Jesus Christ by submitting to His authority.  Either the subjects of the “stump” (v. 13) or the “holy seed” (v. 13) create a path to the Gospel.  Our Savior is later described in terms of “stump” and “root” in 11:1, 10.  The Cross was the place where our Lord experienced the judgment of God described in v. 13.