God treated the people of Israel as his children but they rebelled against him v.2Isaiah 1:2XWaiting for response becoming a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity”, provoking the LORD to anger. v.4Isaiah 1:4XWaiting for response As a body they were completely corrupt,vs.5-6Isaiah 1:5-6XWaiting for response bringing the judgments of God upon them, resulting in their being taken away captive, the whole land becoming desolate, and Jerusalem being overthrown.vs.7-8Isaiah 1:7-8XWaiting for response Nevertheless, these were God’s people and he preserved a remnant of righteous men and women whose presence saved the nation from being totally destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. v.9;Isaiah 1:9XWaiting for response Genesis 19 The apostle Paul quoted this Romans 9:29Romans 9:29XWaiting for response to show that a parallel situation had arisen in his day when the Jews were again corrupt and about to be overthrown, this time by the Romans, but a remnant would be saved, including himself and those faithful Jews who believed and obeyed Jesus.
The character of most Jews was like the men of Sodom, so God addresses them as such,v.10Isaiah 1:10XWaiting for response declaring that their worship of him and their sacrifices were an abomination to him because of their wickedness.vs.11-15Isaiah 1:11-15XWaiting for response There is a vital lesson here: our worship of God will also be unacceptable unless we live righteous lives. Therefore he calls to men and women: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow”.vs.16-17Isaiah 1:16-17XWaiting for response The invitation of God now extends to everyone in the earth, and he says: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”.v.18Isaiah 1:18XWaiting for response
The consequence of obedience then was for the Jews to remain and prosper in the land v.19Isaiah 1:19XWaiting for response and our obedience now will bring us to the same promised land, to rest with Jesus therein. 2 Thessalonians 1:72 Thessalonians 1:7XWaiting for response Disobedience would bring the Jews destruction,v.20Isaiah 1:20XWaiting for response and our disobedience will bring everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. 2 Thessalonians 1:92 Thessalonians 1:9XWaiting for response Jerusalem should have been like a pure, faithful woman; but she had become a harlot v.21Isaiah 1:21XWaiting for response and therefore the judgments of God would be poured out upon the city. Nevertheless, the time will come when the people will be purified,v.25Isaiah 1:25XWaiting for response a faithful ruler, even Jesus, will be installed, and Jerusalem will be renowned as “The city of righteousness, the faithful city”.v.26Isaiah 1:26XWaiting for response
Verse 1
Isaiah 1:1XWaiting for responseIsaiah was a prophet of the LORD in Judah in the years leading up to and during the time when the northern ten tribes of Israel were carried away captive by the Assyrians. This can be identified because it occurred when Hezekiah was king of the two tribe kingdom of Judah.