Isaiah 1:2–5, 11–20

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Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

DO YOU REBEL?
Isaiah 1:2–5, 11–20
In this chapter, the prophet used courtroom language from the eighth century B.C. to deliver his message. In a lawsuit, the prosecutor called a person before the judge, stated the case and presented evidence; the judge declared the verdict and passed judgment. In Isaiah 1, the Lord played both roles.

The Verdict: Guilty (2–5)
God called the heavens above and the earth below to hear the evidence in His suit regarding Israel’s rebellion and render a verdict. He spoke as a Father who had invested a significant amount of time and effort rearing and providing for Israel but got from her the very opposite of what He expected. Instead of responding in love and with obedience, the nation rebelled. Even the ox and the donkey, traditionally considered the dumbest of creatures, knew their owner and could find the feed-trough. But Israel had proved incredibly dense and willfully ignorant (the Hebrew for “know” means to know thoroughly through experience). Instead of becoming a godly nation, Israel had gone into “sin,” (erring from the path of right and duty), “iniquity” (crooked, twisted, perverted), “evil doing” (moral wickedness) and “corrupt dealings” (deeds that result in destruction comparable to that of an invading army). They “despised” (scorned, held in contempt) the Holy One of Israel and “turned away” (literally “gone away backward”) from Him.

The Charge: Empty Worship (11–15)
Israel tried to use sacrifice as a substitute for godly living. Here God made it plain that sacrifices would not buy His favor. He wants not rituals but righteousness. Lacking obedience from the heart, their offerings were worthless. The smoke from their incense, supposed to symbolize prayer, was “abomination” (totally unacceptable) to the Lord. They kept regular worship times, but God was not impressed with their attendance record.

When the people prayed (“stretched out their hands”), God closed His eyes and covered His ears because their uplifted hands bore the stains of sin. Worship without holiness is offensive and unacceptable to God.

The Remedy: Repentance (16–17)
The word of the Lord to the guilty? “Purge yourselves and make yourselves clean (i.e. acceptable to God).”

“Cease to do evil and learn to do good.” It is not enough to avoid the wrong. Repentance demands doing the right. Specifically God ordered the guilty to “seek justice.” Unpacked this called for them to refuse to compromise the judicial system by taking or giving bribes, to reprove those who ruthlessly oppress others and to care for orphans and widows who are unable to care for themselves.

The Choice: Life or Death (18–20)
Here the prophet’s tone turned from accusation to exhortation. He extended God’s call to all who would hear. “Come now and let us reason together,” i.e. reach a mutual understanding about what is right and true.

Sins described as “scarlet” and “red like crimson” were flagrant sins of open rebellion, i.e. sins “of a high hand” (Num. 15:3). For presumptuous and defiant sin, e.g. murder, adultery, blasphemy and the like, no sacrifice could be made. Only divine grace could forgive and cleanse. In Isaiah’s day, red/scarlet was an indelible dye and could not be removed by human means. None but God could blank out such willful sin. He could make a deep-dyed sinner as clean as a blanket of fresh snow or as the bleached wool scattered over rocks in the fullers’ field south of Jerusalem to dry and bleach even more in the sun. “Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,” but God offers to remove sins and replace them with righteousness and purity.

For her sin to be forgiven, however, Israel must meet God’s conditions. “If” the people consent, i.e. bring their wills into line with God’s will, and “obey,” i.e. hear with a mind to obey, Israel would enjoy the best the land offered. On the other hand, the nation could refuse and rebel but not without dire consequences, i.e. they would be consumed by the sword. There are two alternatives and only two: obey and eat or disobey and be eaten.