Like Sodom And Gomorrah: An Exposition Of Isaiah 1:1-20

Like Sodom and Gomorrah

Isaiah 1:1-20

The story of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is legendary. These cities lay at the bottom of the Dead Sea, also known as the “Salt Sea.” The evaporation of the waters of the Jordan River caused the area of the Dead Sea to be covered with deposits of salt. Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of the cities which seemed to have been destroyed by a volcanic and or seismic event which melted the surrounding salt formations, the explosion of which covered Sodom and Gomorrah with molten salt. This is in agreement with what the Bible teaches, except that this catastrophe came upon the cities due to their gross sins and sexual perversions. Science does not look to God for causes. To them, it was an unfortunate accident caused by the fact that Sodom and Gomorrah lay in the Great Rift Valley and was prone to earthquakes. But the Bible shows that God was the one who brought judgment upon these cities. Scientists can give warnings about the dangers of living in geologically active zones and make recommendations to people. But by failing to see the hand of God, they make a fatal mistake. They fail to bring attention to Whom we should fear and respond in repentance.

The Book of Isaiah begins with a comparison of the Kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem of his day to what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. This is shocking, considering how wicked Sodom and Gomorrah were. Isaiah begins with a lament that Judah was disobedient to Him. He notes that even the stubborn oxen and donkeys know who their masters were. Yahweh had brought up children (Judah and Israel), Family has a much higher status than their livestock. More is expected from them than oxen and donkeys. But their behavior was even worse than the animals who with the help of the lash at times could be made to do useful work.

Instead of reflecting the glory of Yahweh, Judah was full of sin and corruption. They did not even consider doing what was right. Israel had done likewise and was in danger of being removed into exile which happened during Isaiah’s lifetime. This would serve as a warning to Judah as well. But the LORD was sickened by their behavior. He could find nothing sound in them.

So what sins in particular was Judah guilty of in order to so grieve the heart of God. We don’t know whether this passage refers to the reign of Uzziah or Jotham or later to Ahaz. Scholars are divided as to whether the first five chapters refer to events before Isaiah’s inaugural vision at the death of Hezekiah in chapter 6 or not. Some see the first five chapters as a sort of introduction to the book and refers to the ministry of Isaiah as a whole. As Uzziah and Jotham were considered to be good but not perfect kings, it would be hard to see such a harsh comparison being made between their times and that of Sodom and Gomorrah. But Uzziah tried to usurp the role of the priest and was stricken with leprosy. Perhaps the mention of the putrefying sores in this passage is a allusion. And even if these two kings were good, we must remember that Lot. a leader in Sodom lived considerably above the sins of the city. He was not perfect, but he was a whole lot better than all the other residents. So, this description of the events here could have happened even in the reign of these two kings. One need not necessarily wait for Ahaz who greatly corrupted Judah and brought in idolatry as well.

There seemed to be an outward conformity to the worship of Yahweh. They were still doing the sacrifices and the outward forms of worship to Yahweh. All seemed well on the surface. There seemed to be a bit of prosperity, at least among the upper classes. There was much silver in the city. But they were corrupt in heart. It is not long before inward corruption expresses itself in outward disobedience. God, who knows what is going on in the hearts of men is not deceived by these outward conformities. Unfortunately, outward conformity in worship and obedience makes one blind to internal rot. Judah was not even considering the danger they were in. Outwardly they were observant to Yahweh. Inwardly, they worshiped themselves. They had become Sodom and Gomorrah.

The outward actions Yahweh desired of them was to repent of their evil and start doing what was right. They were to look to the needs of the fatherless and widows. They were to fair in their judgment and to seek the relief of the oppressed. These are sacrifices far more pleasing to Him than all these oblations and burnt offerings. The LORD calls them to reason. Though their sins were as scarlet, they could become white as the snow. They were on the path to judgment, but there was time to turn their lives and the life of the nation around. God would rather see healing rather than have to judge. But judge He will and did, just has he has done throughout history. What a sad story it is when having been given the change to repent and be restored that men have persisted in their wickedness.