ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE, cont'd
OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:
To Listen to Post, Click Here (11:07)
To Print Isaiah 1:21-31-Observations, etc. Study Guide, Click Here
To Print Isaiah 1:21-31-IMPACT Study Guide, Click Here
Isaiah 1:21-31
(ESV) 21 How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water. 23 Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them. 24 Therefore the Lord declares, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes. 25 I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy. 26 And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” 27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and those in her who repent, by righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. 29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen. 30 For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water. 31 And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.
ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE, cont'd
OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:
Isaiah 1: 21-31
V. 21 - 31 - This section transitions back to describing how Jerusalem (capital city of Judah) was, how it has become, a promise for restoration for the repentant remnant, but warning for those who continue in rebellion. (Like a summary for the chapter, the author is reiterating his main points from his introduction (1:1-20).
V. 21 - How Jerusalem (the central place God’s people dwelt) was:
Jerusalem was a faithful city
How Jerusalem has become:
Jerusalem has become the opposite (not faithful, but a whore)
She was full of justice
Righteous did lodge in her,
But now murderers [lodge in her]
V. 22 - 23 – Silver has become dross (source of riches has become impure)
Best wine mixed with water
(source of sustenance now diluted, not as good, tasty, or valuable)
Princes are rebels (instead of good leaders)
Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts (greedy, corrupt)
No justice to fatherless, the widow’s cause does not get heard or cared for (this is an echo of v. 17 where the LORD is telling them what to do. It is significant to God that his people care for the vulnerable - fatherless, husbandless)
Here their money, food, leaders, economy, and legal systems are all portrayed as falling short of God’s good design.
V. 24 - THEREFORE (What is the “therefore” there for? To tell us how the Lord will respond to His people not living according to His good design.)
We are told the Lord declares what He will do
The Lord is described as “the LORD of hosts” and as “the Mighty One of Israel.” These are both military terms of strength, pointing to YHWH’s leadership, control, and power.
He then declares that He will get relief from his enemies and avenge Himself on His foes (more military language. We shall expect to see a deserving attack and destruction).
V. 25 - I will turn my hand against you, smelt away your dross…remove all your alloy.
Ugh, for YHWH’s hand to be against His people. A hard blow to take. May it shake them up to repentance. Even the LORD’s discipline is to draw His people back to Himself.
What does it mean to “smelt”? “Extract”
“Dross” reminds us of verse 22. Jerusalem’s silver became dross. Now the LORD is going to smelt away, extract that dross. Take away the dross and remove all its alloy.
What is alloy? A mixed metal. Therefore, it is not pure metal.
He’s removing their impure metals. We get a picture here of YHWH in the process of purifying His people.
V. 26 - Promise of restoration for the repentant remnant, reminded of HOPE: “I will restore your judges”...but it looks like the restoration comes after the extracting and removing of impurities as YHWH avenges Himself on the enemies who have forsaken Him (v. 25). Sometimes we have to go through trial by fire before being restored.
V. 27 - Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent by righteousness.
Zion - a term referring to a special place for God’s people
Redeemed - bought back…brought back to God, with the idea of being “bought back” at a price (Jesus, our Redeemer, bought us back to God at the price of His own life.)
By justice - injustice was one of God’s accusations against the Israelites. So, it will be by justice and righteousness that God will bring back His remnant. (Ulrimate justice in that Jesus will pay for the penalty of our sins and satisfy the wrath of God on our behalf!)
Those who repent by righteousness - a specific call to repent, turn back, by righteousness…by what is right, instead of vain rituals or other empty notions.
V. 28 - Warning for those who continue in rebellion:
“BUT rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”
Contrasting the repentant redeemed to the rebels (and sinners and those who forsake the LORD, who will be consumed). A warning of destruction for those not actively for the LORD. Here at the end of chapter 1, the author is bookending with the themes of warning for rebelling (1:5) and forsaking (1:4).
V. 29-31 - FOR…(a term of explanation)
the next set of verses uses a plant illustration to explain what the consuming for the rebels will be like - from oaks (large, strong tree) to gardens (small, useful plants) you have desired and chosen them, but they will bring shame and you will become like them when their leaf withers or when a garden is without water, becomes weak toward death.
The strong (tree/person) will become tinder (foundation of a fire), and his work a spark (starts a fire), and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench (none to put out the burning). Again, a picture of destruction as the greens from little, useful gardens, to big, strong oaks wither and die and become used as kindling, burned, destroyed, and useless. No longer a faithful, righteous city full of justice (1:21)
SUMMARY
The faithful city of Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah and place God dwells with His people, has become unfaithful, acting opposite of how she is called to. So the LORD of hosts considers them enemies and will turn His hand against the rebels who forsake Him. Like strong oaks and fruitful gardens they will wither and be used as tinder and burned. Yet, there is a promise of hope that His people who repent will be restored and redeemed and called righteous and faithful again.
PRAYER
Father, You are faithful and glorious and trustworthy to have a plan of love and provision for your people. May we heed and hope. May we heed this warning and not be like those who rebel and forsake by turning away from You and Your ways, but turn to their own ways. And may we hope in the reality that you have a plan to redeem and restore Your people into your presence through Jesus for eternity. And it is in the Hope of His righteousness and faithfulness and justice that we praise, confess, and ask these things. AMEN.
NEXT
Isaiah 1:21-31 - IMPACT - Click HERE to Print Study Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment