Isaiah 1: 2 - 31
Religion Or Relationship
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “ I have nourished and brought up children, and 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 consider.” 4 Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. 5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: 11 “ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “ I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 “ When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I Am weary of bearing them .15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. 21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. 23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them. 24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “ Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies. 25 I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. 26 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 with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. 28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen. 30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. 31 The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, and no one shall quench them.
I love to watch the TV program Law and Order. I am amazed at how a crime is investigated and the criminals are caught. My hat is off to the real police detectives that investigate and arrest the bad people. What also is intriguing is how our court systems work. How wise and shrewd the District Attorneys are to present their cases even when they know the person is guilty beyond doubt. The defense always throws in petition to have evidence thrown out.
In our study of chapter 1 of Isaiah we are also going to review a court room scene. Let’s take a look.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “ I have nourished and brought up children, and 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 consider.” 4 Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. 5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.
The nation of Judah is on trial. The heaven and earth are called upon as witnesses to this trial - 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “ Our Holy Master is the Prosecuting lawyer and Judge. Oh, oh.
By the way, this indictment is not only against the Jewish people, it is also applicable to people who have professed their belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. So, as we go through this message from our Lord, if our Precious Holy Spirit, is pointing out to your heart that you fit the charges, please listen up. He Is talking to you.
The principal charges introduced by the Lord are that the people are rebellious against their Holy God. For one thing, they have totally lost their connection to their Supreme Holy Father. Look at what is brought up by the Lord, “ I have nourished and brought up children, and 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 consider.”
As you know as a Born Again Believer, our Holy Father desires a relationship with us. We are His children. One thing I hate is ungrateful people. Our Lord notices this also and He also doesn’t like ungrateful children. The word ‘rebelled’ means ‘to refuse to submit to someone’s rule and authority.’ Is anyone feeling uneasy about now? Sorry, we are just beginning the court case.
We have three great little dogs. If you are a pet owner, you know that they recognize you. These are animals and show great loyalty and appreciation and don’t talk back. However, we children of God, whom He has taken care of all our lives are unappreciative. We refuse to submit to His Rule and Authority over our lives. Would you put up with someone who did the same to you? We have forgotten that we have been bought with an expensive price. Our Holy Master, King, Lord, and Savior purchased us with His Own Blood.
This wasn’t a one time occasion; it was brought out by the Lord that this corruption was getting worse - 4 Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward”
You know the longer you continue in your sin, you cut yourselves off from the True Source of Life. Our problems is that we want to continue to do what we know is against God’s Will and somehow think that we should be blessed and be given His favor. It ain’t gonna happen!
If you are feeling distant from God, do your own inventory. Check out honestly what you are doing wrong, ask God to forgive you and help you walk in obedience with Him. Remember our Holy Lord does not abandon us. Our sins cut us off from Him. He Is Holy and does not dwell where sin is going on.
Now, if this major problem was going on in your life, would you want to turn around and come back to our Blessed Holy Trinity God? Do you think the people of Judah repented at the Lord’s charges? Sadly, the people sinful condition was now beyond help. Look at verses 5 and 6 again, “5 Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment.”
Their actions were continually sinful. This caused the Lord to be angry at their ways because their lives were turning backwards, to the life style of the pagans.
Even though they were afflicted mentally, spiritually, and physically all the divine discipline did not turn them back to God. Is this happening in your life now? Do you have any relatives or friends that are going through this type of difficulty? The Lord Is waiting with open arms to take you back again.
If many believers are rebelling against our Holy Ruler then their country is affected as verses 7 and 8 describe. “7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Our Lord tells us these additional remarks regarding this point.
1 Peter 4, “17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “ If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear.”
11 Chronicles 7, “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Folks if you do not like what is going on in our country, be a Daniel. Look at what he did as recorded for us in chapter 9, “1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
As our Lord would say, ‘now go and do likewise.’ Our Lord Is Long Suffering and quick to forgive. Look at His compassion even against rebels.“9 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.” What a Great God we have folks.
The second major count of criminal charges brought forth by the Lord is that the people were phonies, hypocrites, or in another way of explanation, they were religious. They were long on the religious games but short on being right with El Shadai – God Almighty!
10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: 11 “ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “ I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 “ When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I Am weary of bearing them .15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
How would you feel if you were in a crowd and the Lord looked over at you and said your ways remind Him of Sodom and Gomorrah. Or worse yet you were the person the Lord was talking about in Matthew chapter 7, “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
In the bible we read in Psalm 90, “10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” You know what 70 is very long and then you have to meet your eternal destination. Where will it be – heaven or hell? Our Holy King, Lord, and Savior volunteered and gave His life for you and me. However you need to do something to receive God’s forgiveness.
Don’t just believe me but see what God says you have to do to be saved. We find out the way from the book of Romans chapter 10, “8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Now, what exactly is this saying? I would say that you know that Jesus Christ lived and died here on earth. Am I right? Well, then you are half way to being saved. The book of Romans says if you believe this and then confess this with your mouth, what will happen? You will be saved!
So, if you want forgiveness from our God and have not prayed to ask for His Salvation, then, if you are truly sincere and want this, then I invite you to join with me with this prayer. I ask you now to get on your knees and pray out loud this prayer to God.
‘Dear Heavenly Father, please receive my prayer. I know that Your Son, Jesus Christ came to earth and died for me. I know that He rose again from the dead and sits at your right hand. Please forgive me of my sins. Dear Jesus, please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me Lord Jesus to live the rest of my life pleasing to You. I will pray from now on in Your Name. Amen.”
If you have prayed that prayer there is a party going on in Heaven right now. You don’t believe me? Look at what it says in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15, “7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.’ Sounds like a celebration to me, how about you?
Now, back to our study.
You know if you drift away from walking with the Lord, it is very easy to insert religious activities. Now you want to be convicted some more, then let us look at our Lord’s complaint about acting religious
Even though the Lord ordained the sacrifices now He hates them, why? Because it was all show. The people’s hearts were not right with Him, Because of this insult everything they do now means nothing to Him -11 “ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “ I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 “ When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I Am weary of bearing them .15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
He Is asking them to look at themselves. ‘What is the purpose?. They add nothing as special to Him and they do nothing to please Him. Their presents were meaningless. Their prayers were abominable to Him and He wanted to vomit over their religious performances. Wow! Do you know of any churches today that fit this category? If you participate in this hypocrisy whether in a church group or individually, stop and get real. Its time to quit acting and have a loving active walk and relationship with the Only True and Living Majestic God.
Well, all the evidence that was needed to convict the defendant has been presented and it goes to the jury for a decision. If this person on trial was you, how do you think you did? Are you going to be declared guilty or not? You see the Prosecuting Attorney comes up to you and presents you a counter offer before the final decision come down. His offer is this. He tells you that you and He both know that you are guilty and that you will get the death sentence. However, He tells you that He now is willing to trade places with you. He will take the fall and die in your place. So, what is your decision? Do you say no and take your chances at the verdict. Don’t forget that He is also the Judge. I think the answer is pretty clear. You will take His offer. Okay, now what do you do. He now tells you.
16 “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Now that you are a free man or woman and are out of jail, He tells you how to get back in the game of life. First of all He wants you to ‘16 “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, You are to clean yourself up inside and outside. He wants you to remove the dirt in your life. He wants you now to stop doing what is wrong.
Next you are to make yourself clean, “17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” You need to respond to His Holiness and start doing what is right. Thirdly, now seek to do right from now on. Step up to the plate and speak and do what you know God wants.
There will be some people however, who do not want to give up control. They want to take their chances with the jury’s verdict. How stupid! The Merciful and Holy Judges knows that the offer is beyond anyone could ever think or expect, yet He knows the person has free will. That is why He now pleads with the defendant. “. 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
The Judge now tells you the consequences if you do not take the offer. He wants you to think and reason with Him. To look at the freedom that He Is willing to give you if you accept His offer and what will happen to you if you do not.
So, what do you think of this court session? It is a no brainer. Take the offer. Sadly, the real truth is that many refuse the offer. They decide to wait for the jury’s decision, which sadly is guilty and the death sentence is imposed. How about you? Have you accepted the Great Judge’s pardon offer? If not, then now pray the prayer that I discussed earlier and receive the great gift of forgiveness from the only One Who can give it.
Look with me at Psalm 51 which says, “1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
David messed up really bad, yet his words of repentance are given to us. He knew the right way back to our Holy Father.
Yet, even with this amazing offer of forgiveness from our Holy God, He knew that the people would not accept His offer. So, He now advises them what will befall the people and the nation and the reasons for the Judgment. This way it was recorded for them so when all disaster befell upon them, there was before them everything in black and white.
21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. 23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
Dealing with marriage counseling I often come across issues of infidelity. One spouse had become unfaithful to his or her marriage vows. In verse 21 our Holy Lord points out that His people have turned from Him and their vows and had degraded themselves to a prostitute –“21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!”
Going for pleasure people do not understand how their lives deteriate. “It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water..” Have we not seen this same downward spiral here in our country today? Politicians are known for their deceit now just as they were then, “23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.”
24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “ Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies. 25 I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. 26 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 with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. 28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”
Have you ever heard the statement, ‘preaching to the choir’? This is when a Pastor is rebuking the people from sinning to the ones who are faithful to show up each week to fellowship, worship, and study God’s Word. The ones that need to heed the message are not in church.
Our Precious Holy King instead focuses on the remnant that have remained faithful to Him. He wants to encourage them of some of the good things that He has in store for them.
He tells them that he is going to deal with all the evil and put it away from His faithful children, “24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “ Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies. 25 I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy.”
Look at His promise of restoration in verse 26, “26 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.”
Our God Is Faithful. He will perform the redemption that He has promised, “27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness.”
Sometimes we cry out, ‘Lord, when are you gonna defend me and deal with those who have hurt me.’ Now is the time of My action on your behalf’, He says – “28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”.
In verses 29 through 31 we receive from our Holy God some of the things that He will deal with the rebellious
29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen. 30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. 31 The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, and no one shall quench them.
The pagan religious practices will be eliminated. “29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen. 30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.” Your dead church which is all show and no substance will die. People will not show up to your place. So, you might as well pack everything up and shut the doors.
Lastly, Reverend so and so, you will not have any flock to fleece. You are out of the business for falsely representing the King of Kings. “31 The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, and no one shall quench them.” You have been acting as a representative of the Most High. Everyone will see you become nothing. Your proud arrogance and degrees now are worthless and meaningless. God’s Honor will be vindicated.
