The LORD seeks to bring His people back to righteousness.
Isaiah 1:1-9
(Isa 1:1) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isa 1:2) Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me. (Isa 1:3) “An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand.”
(Isa 1:4) Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him. (Isa 1:5) Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick, And the whole heart is faint. (Isa 1:6) From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts, and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil. (Isa 1:7) Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields–strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers. (Isa 1:8) And the daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. (Isa 1:9) Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.
Israel does not know their God (Isa 1:2-3)
· Yada – know experientially (also used as know intimately)
· Judah compared to the most stupid of animals and found wanting
· Isaiah 1:4 (Amplified): Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised and shown contempt and provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger, they have become utterly estranged (alienated).
· Isaiah 1:5 (Amplified): Why should you be stricken and punished any more [since it brings no correction]? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint (feeble, sick, and nauseated).
· Isaiah 1-8: God has tried to turn you to him with suffering but it hasn’t worked.
God calls Israel to account for their sin (Isa 1:4-9)
- weighed down with iniquity
- result of multiple generations of evildoers and acting corruptly
- They have abandoned, despised, turned away from the Lord
- Even with punishment, they have not stop their rebellion
- Sickness, Disease, Blight, Burned cities
- Strangers consuming your crops in your sight
- The LORD left a few survivors – a remnant – not complete destruction as in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Questions:
How does God address his people? What does that say about His relationship with them?
Isa 1:5-9 Who is behind the sickness, blight, burned cities, and pillaging of Israel?
What does this say about God’s character? – look closely at Isa 1:5.
Why did God leave a remnant; because the people were good?
Who is supposed to listen to the LORD? (verse 2)
How would you react if compared less favorably to a donkey and an ox?
What is the relationship between Judah and God (in Verse 4).
What does verse 5 mean? What is the Father trying to say to his children?
What kind of relationship is God calling for when he refers to the knowledge of an ox and a donkey?
Notes: Isa 1:8
o Jerusalem built on Zion – a hill in Judah. David took this hill from the Jebusites and moved his court to it. This is how it became the place of the city of David or the holy hill.
o Simile of shelter in vineyard – a temporary hut put in place to house a protector of the crop
Isaiah 1:10-20
(Isa 1:10) Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. (Isa 1:11) \”What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. (Isa 1:12) “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? (Isa 1:13) “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies– I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. (Isa 1:14) “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me. I am weary of bearing them. (Isa 1:15) \”So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
(Isa 1:16) “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, (Isa 1:17) Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. (Isa 1:18) “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. (Isa 1:19) “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; (Isa 1:20) “But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
God cannot give atonement for sin because Jerusalem (Zion) is disobedient (1:10-1:20)
- Jerusalem rulers equated to Sodom and people to Gomorrah
- Offerings detestable to God (take no pleasure, burdened, an abomination, cannot endure, hate, hide His eyes, not listen, weary) because their hands are covered with blood (1:15)
- Festivals and celebrations become a burden (New Moon festival an invention of the Jews from Lev_23:24-25. It is meant to mark the beginning of the Jewish civil new year in the beginning of October; announced with the blowing of trumpets to herald the sighting of the new moon. This was not commanded by Moses either as New Moon festival or with the blowing of trumpets.
- God gives instruction to turn away from deeds (1:18):
o God wants to teach his children (1:18) – invites them to reason with Him
o Obey and be cleansed; refuse and rebel and you will be devoured by the sword (1:19-20)
- Now, God refers to the kings of Judah as rulers of Sodom and the people as Gomorrah? How do you thinkJerusalem would react to that?
- What is the implication to Judah if God cannot give atonement for sin, if God will not listen to them?
- Look at God’s reaction to their offerings and festivals (Isa 1:10-15). What does this tell you about the relationship between these people and God? Why is he reacting this way?
- Is it hopeless? (Isa 1:16-20) What does this reveal about God?
- What must the people do in order for restoration to begin?
- Read verse 1:18 again – What does this reveal about God?
Isaiah 1:21-31
(Isa 1:21) How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers. (Isa 1:22) Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water. (Isa 1:23) Your rulers are rebels, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe, And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them. (Isa 1:24) Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel declares, “Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries, And avenge Myself on My foes.
(Isa 1:25) “I will also turn My hand against you, And will smelt away your dross as with lye, And will remove all your alloy. (Isa 1:26) “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city.” (Isa 1:27) Zion will be redeemed with justice, And her repentant ones with righteousness. (Isa 1:28) But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the LORD shall come to an end. (Isa 1:29) Surely, you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen. (Isa 1:30) For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away, Or as a garden that has no water. (Isa 1:31) And the strong man will become tinder, His work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together, And there will be none to quench them.
God will prevail and restore (1:21-31)
- What happened to you, Israel (1:21-24)
- Once faithful, now a harlot (Hosea)
- Once righteous and just, now murderers
- Your wealth has become worthless
- Rulers rebel and associate with thieves
- Bribes prevail
- God will avenge Himself on His foes (1:24)
- God’s plan of restoration
- God will purify his people (1:25)
- God will restore the judges so Israel will be called the city of righteousness and faith(1:26)
- Zion redeemed with justice, and repentant ones with righteousness (1:28)
- Sinners and transgressors crushed together and those who forsake the Lord will come to an end (1:29)
- Sinners “hatta”: used to describe those who, by their actions, are under the wrath and judgment of God (Psa_1:5) and face ultimate destruction (Gen_13:13; Psa_104:35; Isa_1:28).
- Transgressors: “pasa”: It means to sin, but the sin involved is one of revolt or rebellion in nearly every case.
- Forsake “azab”: to separate oneself from another person.
- Ashamed of their former ways
- Your idol altars will wither and die leaving you nothing to sustain you
- We discussed Hosea as a contemporary of Isaiah – do you see similarities in Hosea’s life and verse 1:21?
- What has happened to Jerusalem? Is there any part of the city is untouched by corruption and idolatry?
- Do you see similarities of Jerusalem in this time to the Jerusalem in Jesus time? What does that tell you?
- Do you see similarities of Jerusalem in this time and the world in our time? What does this tell you?
- What do you see in Isa 1:24? Note: Adversaries (ṣar) means personal enemy or foe rather than an impersonal one.
- Verse 25 is tempting to keep with the judgment and condemnation verses, but what do you see in this verse that makes it restoration?
- Who is doing the work of restoration?
- Verse 27-28 depicts two groups of people. One will be crushed and forsaken, the other will be redeemed. What do you see in this restoration?
o Note: Redeem pāḏāh: A verb meaning to ransom, to redeem, and to deliver. Repent (šûḇ): A verb meaning to turn, to return, to go back, to do again, to change, to withdraw, to bring back, to reestablish, to be returned, to bring back, to take, to restore, to recompense, to answer, to hinder. Transgressors pāša‛: A verb meaning to rebel, to transgress, to revolt, to sin. This verb is used about forty times in the simple stem of the verb. It means to sin, but the sin involved is one of revolt or rebellion in nearly every case. Sinners ḥaṭṭā’: A masculine noun meaning sinners and an adjective meaning sinful. This word comes from the common verb ḥātā’ (H2398), meaning to sin, and is related to the common noun ḥattā’ṯ (H2403), meaning sin or sin offering. As a noun, it is used to describe those who, by their actions, are under the wrath and judgment of God (Psa_1:5) and face ultimate destruction (Gen_13:13; Psa_104:35; Isa_1:28). Forsake (ָעַזב‛āzaḇ) A verb derived from two separate roots. The more common in the Hebrew Bible is ‛āzaḇI, meaning to leave, to abandon, to forsake, to loose, or to separate oneself from another person.
- Verses 29-30 describe the experience of those who are crushed together? How does this compare to the repentant ones? Look at the comparisons in verses 30-31 and try to find hope in the situation of those who forsake the Lord?
- Why is God crushing those who forsake the Lord?