Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

 

 

CHAPTER 1

Spiritual State and Purging

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 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.

 

 

 

The first verse of the Book of Isaiah gives us an introduction to the author.

  Isaiah – son of Amoz

 

Isaiah is writing to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah during reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Who all reigned from about 701-588 B.C.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 2-4

 

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

 

 

 

The status of the people of Israel is that of rebellion to anything of God.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 5-9

 

Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

 

Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

 

Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

 

 

It is sad when even God sounds like he is stating: “Why bother?”

What can he do to turn their hearts around?  They have been punished and yet cannot find a reason to turn to God.  If there had not been any people left they would be worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 10

 

Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

 

 

 

God is now going to tell them what he is going to do.  Reference to “Sodom and Gomorrah” is due to verse 9.  He is now referring to His children as Sodom and Gomorrah!  What a tragic state. When you are so evil that God your father calls you that when calling your name.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 11-15

 

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

 

When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

 

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

 

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

 

 

 

They were not doing anything from the heart or in any form of sincere worship to their God. Sounds like a reminder of the story of Cain and Abel.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 16-20

 

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 18: 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.

 

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

 

 

 

This is WHAT they SHOULD be doing.  Contains an often quoted verse.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 21-23

 

How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

 

 

 

The condition of the city.  He still calls it “faithful city” although it has been anything BUT that!

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 24-25

 

Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

 

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

 

 

 

He is going to Purge away all the bad.

 

 

Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 26-31

 

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

 

And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

 

For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

 

 

 

The RESULTS of God’s cleaning house.