Isaiah 1 - Jerusalem, the Corrupted City

I. Preface

Isaiah is known as a book of Judgement and Hope (1-39 v.s. 40-66). Chapters 1 and 2 seems to act as a "wrapper" around the whole book.

Chapter 1 is about summary judgment on Judah/Israel as a "sinful nation" in the near term, and that if God did not exercise mercy, they would have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah, where there will be no trace of any ruins or inhabitants.

Chapter 2 takes us way to the future, even to our future, to the latter days where God will establish His Holy Mountain in Jerusalem. It speaks of how He deals with mankind and rule all the nations. At that time there will no more idols nor wars.

But in the depressing statements about sin and judgement, may we find humility and repentance from our own frail faith, and discover the nuggets of mercy, love and hope that is in the core of God's heart.

II. Chapter 1 Overview

In 1:1, it was recorded that Isaiah's prophecies started in the reigns of Uzziah and ended at the reign of Hezekiah.  Chapter 6 was said to be recorded in the year Uzziah died, which is 739 BC.  Thus Chapter 1 through 5 could was probably a couple years before.

Verse 1 itself was a separate note added at the end during compilation, at the time of Hezekiah, since Hezekiah was mentioned.Uzziah (also called Azariah in some scriptural verses)  became king of Judah at sixteen-years of age after his father Amaziah died. He started out faithful to the Lord and God gave him many military successes. 

However he became proud as he grew older. He entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. This practice was only allowed for the priests, the descendants of Aaron. God smote him with leprosy and he had to be quarantined until he died.

Jotham his son took over from the affairs of the state, and was considered a good king but he did not change the corrupted life style of the people of Judah.  (2 Kings 15; 2 Chron 26)

While in Israel, the Northern Kingdom, Pekah had murdered Pekahiah and took over rulership around the time Uzziah died. The northern kingdom was more directly under the threat of the Assyrians. 

Amos and Hosea had already been warning them about their destruction, should they not repent. Isaiah gave a similar warning to Judah that they too will not escape God's wrath if they too followed Israel in practicing idolatry and injustice.

III.  Charges against Judah for Breaking the Covenant (ch. 1)

a) The sin-sick and rebellious nation (1-9)

Israel (both the Southern and Northern kingdom) are accused of having no gratefulness and do not know how to discern the laws of God and to distinguish right from wrong. Even animals know who feeds them and returns back to their master each day.  "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." (1:3)

As a people, they had forsaken and spurned the Lord and has become "estranged" to the Lord because of the idolatry. (Ez 14:5). The leaders have failed and sin greatly, but the sin was from the "sole of the foot to the top of your head" (1:6) which meant the corruption affected everyone.

The country had no peace and were always in wars, attacked by surrounding enemies. Worst of it all, they fight their own brother all the time. Uzziah's father, Amaziah, for example, lost the war to Joash of Israel, who broke down Jerusalem walls. (2Kings 14)

They are corrupted in their heads (thinking) and in their hearts (passion). Instead of meditating on God's laws and loving God, their desires are for money, power, idols and sexual pleasures.

However, Isaiah could also, at the same time, prophesying that more wars and desolation will come should they not repent. But God will have mercy and not destroy them like He did to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Applications: Sometimes it is possible for us to forget God and that he has saved us from eternal fire. We think when nothing good happen to us, God must have forgotten us but actually, it is he who had mercy on us and did not treat us the way that we deserved. We need to remember Him at all times and not become "strangers." Our heads and heart need to be at the right place.

Sometimes God may allow bad things to happen to us, so that we remember Him. Unlike the Israelites we must not harden our hearts and continue down the wrong path. (See Psa 38:3)

b) Corruption hiding behind hypocritical worship (10-15)

God detest their hypocrisy of bringing sacrifices and prayers during the festivals, yet their personal lives are filled with injustice and cruelty.

In Samuel, God said: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22

It is interesting that God says "I am weary of bearing them", because He does listen when people call  to Him, but when the people who called to him keep secret sins, are hardened and are proud, the whole process becomes despicable to Him. He would rather that they don't come to Him at all. (See Jer 7:9-10)

"They will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord." (Prov 1:28)

Applications: We often leave a double-minded life. When we are out in the world, we behave like the world. Then we go to church on Sundays and give our tithes and worship, and act spiritual. God does not delight in our attendance to church but in our attentiveness in His voice. 

Sometimes we stopped obeying God because it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. But if God is real, then there could be no other response. If God is not real to me, then God would just rather that I don't go to church at all.

c) God’s call to reformation of life (16-20)

God's will is for them to repent and "make themselves clean."  The focus in to seek justice, correct oppression, and assist the orphans and widows. 

It reminds me of the quote from Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."  A prophet can't do anything unless people follow, and in the case of Israel, the good minority was silent. 

God's forgiveness is absolute - it is not selective. When one is "willing and obedient", not only they will be blessed, but their sins are completely removed. This is what Jesus would do for all man-kind even those who died long ago. 

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (v 18)

God's desire is to bless them, but if they do not repent, they will be devoured by the sword.

Applications: God is always waiting for us to stop our disobedience and rebellion and disbelief, and to return to him. There is no such thing as "too late", until He takes away our life.

d) The lament over Jerusalem (21-23)

Jerusalem used to be a holy city during the times of David and early Solomon.  But now the city has become a "harlot" or  a "whore" - referring to the idolatry. They allowed foreign religions to defile the holy city as if it was a prostitute.

“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, “I will not serve!” Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before me, into a rotten wild vine?…" Jer 2:20-22

There was injustice and law breaking, including putting innocent people to death. They don't protect the poor and innocent, and probably take advantage of them. 

When come to money, they were thieves and accepts bribes - including the judges (Mic 7:3). That's why their silver is like junk, worthless, because of all the corrupted practices. 

Applications: Leaders and civil servants play a very important part of ensuring justice and protection of the innocent and the needy. When that doesn't happen, then God will bring justice upon them. When a country is suffering disasters that are not within their control, it is a warning from God, and they need to return to God and repent.

e) Redemption through purging (24-31)

God's plan is to return Zion as the "City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”  (1:26).  This he will do by purging the rebels and sinners from the land. Like impure silver, they will be purified through fire of God's wrath. (Ezekiel 22:20-22)

God will replace their leaders, judges, and counselors "as at the beginning" - it did not say there will be a king, other than the Lord Himself mentioned in other scriptures. But those who continue to rebel will be consumed, both them and their works.

Applications: God is our eternal king. When human leaders do the wrong thing, it does not mean we therefore has the right to follow.