The woeful condition of Israel and Judah
The Book of Isaiah is a book of salvation. Isaiah prophesied to both the Kingdom of Israel in the North and the Kingdom of Judah in the South. In Isaiah 1:1 we see that he prophesied in the days of the kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and of Hezekiah. These all reigned in Judah.
The call to the Heavens to hear and to the earth to give ear is a call to all the world to hear the word of the Lord, The word to be heard was that the Lord had brought up children meaning the Jews, but they had rebelled against Him. It wasn't that they had not worshiped, but they had worshiped in a non scriptural manner. Their heart was not in it. Our Lord reasons that while the ox knows his owner, and the ass knows his master's crib, yet Israel had not considered God's word. Verses 4-8 speak to the total depravity of man. “Isa 1:4 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. Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. Isa 1:6 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. Isa 1:7 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. Isa 1:8 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.” They had forsaken the Lord, and they had provoked Him.
Verse 9 introduces us to Divine Election. “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.” God has a remnant. If He did not, Israel, like Sodom, would have been destroyed. Israel must know that her very survival is because of the grace of God. The salvation of sinners is the same. Were it not for divine election, no one would be saved.
God hates sin. It matters not whether it be the sin of unconcern :1-4, provocation of God to wrath :4, or insincere religion :10-17. Sin is Serious. It is progressive :5. It is pervasive :5, 6. We must sound His call :18-20. It is most reasonable.
Verses 21-23 show the faithful city, Jerusalem, playing the harlot and becoming unfaithful. Verses 24-26 speaks to the judgment of God on the rebellious city. God will convert her with judgment and with righteousness :27-31.
Chapter 2 looks ahead to see what was in store for Judah and Jerusalem. It is a prophecy of the establishment of the Lord's house in the end time. His house shall be exalted, and the nations shall flow to it. Many will be going to the Lord's house to be taught of His ways and walk in His paths. From Jerusalem shall flow the Law and the word of the Lord. He will judge the nations and turn the weapons of warfare into food producing implements. Wars will come to an end.
Will God overlook their sin? Absolutely not! Israel enjoyed the blessing of God in prosperity, but they added false religion to their condition. Their land full of treasures, they also filled it with idols. They are called to fear the Lord :10. The day is coming when the haughty shall be brought down and the Lord shall be exalted. It is described in verses 13-19. “Isa 2:13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, Isa 2:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, Isa 2:15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, Isa 2:16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. Isa 2:17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.“ Isa 2:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish. Isa 2:19 “And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” In that day men shall cast their idols of silver and gold to their moles and the bats. They will fear the Lord and bow to His sovereignty.
The message continues in chapter 3. God is said to have taken from Judah and Jerusalem bread and water, mighty men, men of war, judges, prophets, prudence, and old men, captains of fifty, honorable men, counselors, cunning artificers, and eloquent orators. Immediately after that, God said in verse 4, "And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them." This He seems to have done in our own nation. Our halls of government are staffed with men of age, but the decisions they make are very often so childish that it is pitiful.
Our Lord follows that with the warning that the people will be oppressed each one by his neighbor. Children will behave proudly against the ancient or against their parents and other elders. Again this is seen in our land today. The respect for our parents and our elders that we were taught is too often not found today. Base men will exalt themselves against the honorable. In such a time a man may have a rich brother. He will implore that rich brother to become their ruler and that he take the circumstances to heart and try to correct them. The poor-rich brother will continue confessing that he is not an healer, that he has neither bread nor clothing, neither does he desire to rule.
In verse 8 Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen because of their rebellion against God. Their countenance shows their guilt, and they declare their sin as Sodom. They do not hide their homosexuality. Again their guilt is also ours as a nation today. The woe of God is on them and us.
In verse 10 the righteous are encouraged. They shall eat of the fruit of their labors. God's people are oppressed by the childish rulers. Women rule over them :12. Divine inspiration accurately records the reign of women in various places, but in scripture such was never the pleasure of God. The leaders cause the people to err. God stands to judge. In verse 15 God's people are beaten down. The haughtiness of religious people have been at least partially responsible for the Lord's anger. God's judgment will include the scab or leprosy, and He will remove their fine clothing, leaving them naked. God will take from them the items of their pride, chains, bracelets, mufflers, bonnets, leg ornaments, headbands, crisping pins, glasses, fine linen, hoods, and veils. Instead of smelling sweet they shall stink, their girdle will be rent, and well set hair will be lost for baldness. Instead of a stomacher they shall have to wear sackcloth, and burning will be theirs instead of beauty. Victory at war will be gone, and the people will lament and mourn. The devastation will be so great that the condition of chapter 4 will be true.
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