ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE
OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:
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Isaiah 1:1-10 (ESV) - 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. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. 5 Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. 7 Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. 9 If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
ISAIAH 1:1-10 - The Image of Judah’s Unfortunate Situation is Described
V. 1 - Isaiah saw a vision, concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of 4 kings of Judah. (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah…~740 - 681 B.C. - covering 59 years. About 200 years before the captivity (M.H.). Recorded during the time frame of the kings recorded in the book of First Kings - kings after David).
V. 2 - 3 – Isaiah calls out for heavens and earth to listen to what the LORD has spoken. The LORD has reared children, but they have rebelled and do not know or understand, they are worse than ox or donkey, who know their masters.
V. 4 - – They are a sinful nation, laden with iniquity, forsaken the LORD, despised the Holy One of Israel, utterly estranged.
Here we see the theme of “holy” introduced. The LORD is often referred to as “the Holy One of Israel” throughout Isaiah. This highlights His holiness/set-apartness/perfection, the reality that He is the “One” true God, and “of Israel” indicates the personal nature of their relationship, they belong to each other.
V. 5 - 6 – They are questioned why they continue to rebel and thus will still be struck down? The completeness of their sin is expressed: whole head, whole heart, from sole of foot to head - no soundness (no health of soul, M. Henry), wounds not cleaned (i.e. sins unrepentant, nothing done to cleanse - M. Henry.)
V. 7 - 8 – Picture of ruin:
Country lies desolate
Cities burned with fire
Foreigners devour your land (in your very presence)
It is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners (simile to image it being intentionally ravaged, not natural disaster.)
Daughter of Zion left like:
A booth in a vineyard
A lodge in a cucumber field
A besieged city
(continued picture of emptiness)
V. 9- 10 – Comparison with Sodom and Gomorrah and Call to Hear
V. 9 - IF the LORD had not left a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom, become like Gomorrah (who were countries both completely wiped out due to their sin. A narrative beginning in Genesis 13:10 and concluding in 19:29).
This sentence highlights the sovereignty of the LORD - He has control and uses it according to His righteous purposes. Due to the sin of Judah, He could have chosen to completely wipe them out, but here as early as Isaiah 1:9, we see the theme of the remnant introduced. And it is the LORD who left the remnant, left the few survivors. And the “if” indicates that there was the other option of not leaving the survivors and if He had not, they would have been completely destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah (a common Old Testament illustration of complete destruction and ruin.)
V. 10 - Call to the rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah to hear the word of the LORD and give ear to the teaching of our God. (“our God” – “our” still emphasizing the personal, covenantal nature of “our God.” And the call is for them to hear the Word and teaching…a call to “leaders” and “people,” even if in the midst of wickedness (like Sodom and Gomorrah), they are being given a call to come and hear the Word and teaching…that in listening, they may be rescued…they may be of the few survivors.)
SUMMARY
(1:1-10)
Isaiah receives a vision and gives a universal call to hear the LORD’s declaration: He brought up children, but they rebelled & in their sin, forsaking the LORD, and therefore they will face ruin, BUT the LORD leaves a few survivors (a remnant) and calls for the hearing of His word and teaching.
PRAYER
Father God, we come before You as Your children. We know we have been unfaithful and unruly and dumber than ox and donkies at times (1:3), so we humbly thank You for your patience and faithfulness. Thank you for sending Jesus to be the perfect Elder Brother, who stewards the inheritance perfectly, and graciously grafts us into Your goodness. Please, help us on this journey through the book of Isaiah to more deeply know You (1:3), understand Your ways (1:10), and live for Your glory. Thank you for Your grace in saving a few survivors (1:9) and enabling us to know You through the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Next Post: The IMPACT Isaiah 1:1-10 can have on INFORMING our understanding of God, TRANSFORMING our heart, or PROCLAIMING its truths to those around us! I encourage you to spend some more time in Isaiah 1:1-10 and record how the LORD speaks to you through His Word, then join me for the next "Impact" Post before we move on to verses 11-20. CLICK HERE to Print IMPACT Study Guide
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