Introduction
God’s appeal to his people to return to him or face the consequences.
Verses
1The 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.
2Hear, heavens,
and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
and they have rebelled against me.
and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
and they have rebelled against me.
3The ox knows his owner,
and the donkey his master’s crib;
but Israel doesn’t know.
My people don’t consider.”
and the donkey his master’s crib;
but Israel doesn’t know.
My people don’t consider.”
4Ah sinful nation,
a people loaded with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD.
They have despised the Holy One of Israel.
They are estranged and backward.
a people loaded with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD.
They have despised the Holy One of Israel.
They are estranged and backward.
5Why should you be beaten more,
that you revolt more and more?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
that you revolt more and more?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
6From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it:
wounds, welts, and open sores.
They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
wounds, welts, and open sores.
They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
7Your country is desolate.
Your cities are burnt with fire.
Strangers devour your land in your presence
and it is desolate,
as overthrown by strangers.
Your cities are burnt with fire.
Strangers devour your land in your presence
and it is desolate,
as overthrown by strangers.
8The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut in a field of melons,
like a besieged city.
like a hut in a field of melons,
like a besieged city.
9Unless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant,
we would have been as Sodom.
We would have been like Gomorrah.
we would have been as Sodom.
We would have been like Gomorrah.
11“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says the LORD.
“I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fed animals.
I don’t delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs,
or of male goats.
“I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fed animals.
I don’t delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs,
or of male goats.
13Bring no more vain offerings.
Incense is an abomination to me.
New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations:
I can’t stand evil assemblies.
Incense is an abomination to me.
New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations:
I can’t stand evil assemblies.
14My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts.
They are a burden to me.
I am weary of bearing them.
They are a burden to me.
I am weary of bearing them.
15When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you.
Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
16Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean.
Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
Cease to do evil.
Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
Cease to do evil.
17Learn to do well.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead for the widow.”
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead for the widow.”
18“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD:
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
20but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
21How the faithful city has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice.
Righteousness lodged in her,
but now there are murderers.
She was full of justice.
Righteousness lodged in her,
but now there are murderers.
23Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards.
They don’t defend the fatherless,
neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards.
They don’t defend the fatherless,
neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
24Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
“Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries,
and avenge myself on my enemies.
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
“Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries,
and avenge myself on my enemies.
26I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counsellors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness,
a faithful town.’
and your counsellors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness,
a faithful town.’
28But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together,
and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,
and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.
and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.
31The strong will be like tinder,
and his work like a spark.
They will both burn together,
and no one will quench them.”
and his work like a spark.
They will both burn together,
and no one will quench them.”
Questions
1. What does the LORD say about the children he has nourished and brought up?
v 2 ... the LORD has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
and they have rebelled against me.
2. What does the LORD want the Israelites to do when he asks them to wash themselves and make themselves clean?
v 16 and 17 Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean.
Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do well.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead for the widow.”
3. What are the contrasting results the LORD says will happen if they are obedient or if they rebel?
v 19 and 20 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
Summary Points
- v 1 to 4 God has looked after his people (Israel) but they in return have disobeyed him
- v 5 to 10 Isaiah laments the spiritual state of his fellow countrymen
- v 11 to 20 The people bring their offerings, but their lives show they don’t respect God. God appeals to his people to return to him. Things will go well for them if they change their ways
- v 21 to 31 Jerusalem will eventually be restored but those who do evil will be destroyed
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