ISAIAH 1 THE WICKEDNESS AND UNFAITHFULNESS OF JUDAH

                                                                            ISAIAH 1

The wickedness and unfaithfulness of Judah

Isa 1:1  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 

Isaiah’s ministry spanned during the time of the kings of Judah mentioned – Uzziah (did that which was right during the early part of his reign (2 Ki 15: 3, 2 Chron 26: 4, 5) but became proud that he unlawfully entered the temple to burn incense), Jotham (good king), Ahaz (profane and wicked king), and Hezekiah (was faithful to God and restored proper worship in the kingdom).

The Wickedness of Judah

Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 

This is a charge against the base ingratitude of the people. Isaiah the prophet calls the heaven and earth to be a witness to his appeals – inanimate space and expanse to contrast their characteristics with that of the people, the brightness of the heavens against the darkness of the people, the fruitfulness of the earth against the barrenness of the people, their strictness to time against the irregularity of the people – they are called to judge between God and His people. The inhabitants of heaven and earth to listen to His appeal…

The people have been well-fed and taught, trained and raised high, yet they have turned against God.

Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 

The ignorance and inconsideration of the people of Israel has been compared to brute animals. The ox has a sense of duty, he knows to submit to the yoke and the service of the owner.  The ass knows where he is fed by the master.  Men revolt against God because they do not know and consider their obligations to God in duty, gratitude and interest.

Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 

The people seemed to be infected by the epidemic of sin. The whole nation was vicious and profane. Treachery ran in their blood.  They were a race and family of rebels. They were corrupt and were corrupters (tempters and agents of Satan) that propagated vice. Their sin was their treacherous departure from God, turning their back upon Him.  They have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger wilfully and designedly – knowing God would be angry.  The backslidings of the professed are in a special manner provoking to Him. 

Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 

The people of Judah were already stricken/ punished for rebelling against God.  The remnant, who were left in Jerusalem were not up to the mark either.  They had vital issues – disease of the head and heart. Their (head) thoughts were evil (sick) and their (heart) feelings were not right.

Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 

There was nothing good in them.  They were completely evil/wicked.  Though they were stricken and their life was affected, they did not seem to do anything about their guilt or the wrongs done.  Their impiety and iniquity seemed to be on the increase.  There seemed to be no hope of healing as nothing was done about rectification of the problem. 

Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 

The destruction of their country as described well agrees with the time period of king Ahaz. The Syrians/ Arameans (Rezin) fought against Judah in alliance with the king of Israel (Pekah). During this war, Judah faced significant devastation, losing 120,000 of the troops just in a day (2 Chron 28).

Isa 1:8  And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 

Somehow the city of Jerusalem was left though not completely undisturbed, it was left in a weakened and a divided state.  It looked like a temporary shelter in solitude and loneliness.

Isa 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 

Even amidst the terrible judgments, the LORD had a mind to save a remnant (a small portion of them) unlike Sodom and Gomorrah which were completely destroyed. 

Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 

Isaiah addresses the rulers and the people with no flattering titles but calls them rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah because they were like them. Both the rulers and the people were evil. The call comes to the rulers and the people from the LORD  (the Word of the LORD) through the prophet Isaiah to give heed to the law of God.

Isa 1:11  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 

Though the people were wicked and had forsaken God and went after other gods, yet they followed all the outward forms of religion according to the ceremonial law.  God did not take delight in their offerings. He was fed up – completely dissatisfied and brassed off.

Isa 1:12  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 

They came to the very courts of the temple of God bringing in a multitude of their sacrifices – burnt offerings of rams, bullocks, lambs, he goats which he did not want. God values heart devotion than the professed heartless religion. To obey is better than sacrifice; sacrifice without obedience is a jest, an affront and provocation to God. Their very coming into the courts of the temple is considered treading and trampling upon them.

Isa 1:13  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 

Here God is letting them know that they need not bring in such offerings and oblations as they are vain before a God who looks at their heart than their outward forms.  The priests offering incense in the holy place was an abomination unto the Lord as it was burnt in hypocrisy and with an ill-design.  The people calling together of the assemblies to worship God, their solemn meetings were considered as sin by God. It is a vexation and a provocation to God to have the ordinances thus prostituted by the wicked people for wicked purposes.

Isa 1:14  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 

The people thought of themselves to be pious, religious people, yet they were far from being so; their hearts were devoid of true devotion. Their observance of the lunar Sabbaths and the feasts were hated by God, they were a trouble that the LORD was weary of their acts of worship. It was all an outward show; they wanted to be seen of men.

Isa 1:15  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 

The LORD informs them that when they make their many prayers, He was not going to hear them nor see them lifting up their arms and hands unto the LORD.  The reason for all this was because their hands were full of blood. They were guilty of murder, rapine (pillage, theft, deliberate destruction during war) and oppression.  Malice is heart-murder in the account of God; he that hates his brother in his heart has in effect, his hands full of blood.

Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

The people were required to wash and make their hands and hearts clean – their actions had to be reformed.  Here is the call for repentance and reformation. The washing will involve asking for God’s help because only His blood can cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  The people’s role will be to put away their sins – to repent from their evil ways, confessing them to God.

Isa 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 

Repentance is incomplete when a person ceases to do evil, it is complete only when a person does that which is good. In the way of duty, people are expected to pursue and take active care and interest to be impartial and do what is just and fair without trying to make any personal gain (accepting bribes). It is Christian duty to make right that which is wrong or crooked like relieving those who are unjustly treated and thus burdened. One should not take advantage of the vulnerable position of orphans and widows but do justice to the fatherless and contend for the rights of a widow.

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

God is calling the whole nation of Israel (all sinners) to come to him with their problems and arguments against God, so He could prove to/convince them of His loving principles, and the appropriateness of his plans and service to them. God is willing to talk it over after they have put away their evil (repentance). Even the greatest sinners shall have their sins forgiven them, and have their consciences pacified and purified if they truly repent. If we make ourselves clean by repentance and reformation, God will make us white by a full remission by which we could have all the happiness and comfort that we desire.

Isa 1:19  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 

If they submit their wills to God, obey Him from their heart, and have their guilt removed as instructed earlier, then the land shall yield its increase and they shall eat of the abundance of the land in peace and comfort.

Isa 1:20  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

If the people refused submission to God and continued in their evil and rebellious ways, Yahweh Himself declared that they would fall a prey to their enemies. This prophecy was fulfilled when the land was desolated by King Nebuchadnezzar, and the nation was carried into captivity to Babylon.

The Unfaithful City

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 

Jerusalem, the city is represented in the image of a wife – once devoted and faithful to her husband, God. The city was once known for the righteousness and justice of its residents, but now they have become treacherous, turning away from the true God and worshipping idols and other gods. As a result, Jerusalem is likened to an unfaithful spouse, straying from its covenant relationship.

Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 

Just as impure silver is worthless, the once virtuous princes have become debased and corrupt. Wine diluted with water is weak, and likewise, their rulers have lost the strength and purity of their integrity, tainted by pride, love of gifts and bribes. Dross may shine like silver and diluted wine may retain its colour – so they maintain a show and pretence of virtue and justice, yet possess neither.

Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 

The corruption of a nation begins with its rulers. The princes of Israel lacked sincerity; instead of bringing the robbers to judgment they became their accomplices by conniving with them. They perverted justice for the helpless by pursuing after gifts and bribes.

Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 

The Lord will determine the time and manner to rid himself of those people who have become a burden to the God of heaven. The Mighty One of Israel who bears and upholds all things, complains of being wearied of them and their rebellion. Threatening in righteous indignation, He declares His intent to bring justice by taking vengeance on His enemies. The wicked, cruel and oppressive are God’s enemies.

Isa 1:25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 

God’s hand can be stretched out either to bring judgment or to offer protection. Here God promises to purify His people through the judgments/trials they were subjected to. Just as silver is refined by removing impurities, He will cleanse them of corruption and make them pure. The transformation of His people is His work, and it is accomplished as effortlessly as turning His hand.

Isa 1:26  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 

God promises to appoint judges who would seek judgment and diligent counsellors just as they had before their apostasy so that their city would once again be the faithful city. Men may do much by external restraints; but God does it effectually by the influences of His Spirit. God restores judgment and righteousness among them by planting in men’s minds principles of justice. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the return of captivity from Babylon during the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah, while the complete fulfilment was during the time of our Messiah!

Isa 1:27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 

God exercises strict justice in destroying the obdurate; Zion refers to the inhabitants of both Judah and Israel – the incorrigible evildoers. He redeems the penitent, a remnant of them who are converted in their heart by bringing them out of captivity by performing His promises in truth and faithfulness.

Isa 1:28  And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 

An utter ruin is threatened against the unrepentant, ensuring they will no longer be a source of corruption or a stumbling block to others.  The transgressors who openly defy God, the sinners who stray from the path of obedience, and the hypocrites who conceal their wickedness under the guise of religious devotion shall be destroyed together for they are all an abomination to God.  They shall be consumed completely and not just chastened and corrected. Their removal is essential for the restoration and redemption of Zion.  

Isa 1:29  For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 

Their wooden idols and images shall not be able to help them. Their dunghill-gods which they were fond of and had worshipped in their groves, under the green trees and in their own gardens, for which they forsook the true God, will offer no protection.  Instead, they will bring only shame and disappointment, leaving them exposed to disgrace and the despair of abandonment.

Isa 1:30  For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 

They sought the strength and permanence of the oak desiring to be like it. Yet, they shall be like the tree stripped of its beauty, with leaves faded and falling away; so shall their beauty, and privileges and happiness fade under God’s judgment. They shall be like a withered and parched up garden where nothing flourishes without water. They will face devastation—a vivid portrayal of the impending desolation of the nation.

Isa 1:31  And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. 

Just like a spark ignites dry stubble, so shall the rulers and leaders—once relied upon for strength—be consumed along with their wickedness. The sinful deeds of the nation will be the very cause of its downfall, leading to inevitable destruction with no one to intervene or save them.

 

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