What does Isaiah 1:16 mean?
The Lord turns the corner from telling the people of Judah how they are failing to telling them how to begin to change. The sinful state of their hearts, minds, and actions are so extreme that all their offerings and religious observances have become meaningless (Isaiah 1:11–15). In fact, they are worse than meaningless because God receives them as a burden.(Isaiah 1:14)To make their relationship with Yahweh meaningful again, the people must make real changes. The Lord tells them to wash and make themselves clean. He is not talking about ceremonial washing or more offerings and sacrifices. The way God intends for His people to become clean is for them to stop doing evil. He sees their evil deeds. The only way to keep Him from seeing them is to stop doing them. This was the first step toward changing how God views them and returning to a close relationship with Him.
Isaiah 1:2–20 begins a presentation somewhat like a lawsuit against the people of Judah in Israel. The Lord will show many of the ways they have broken their covenant with Him. The people are saturated with sin. They have forsaken Him. Isaiah describes a spiritual sickness Israel refuses to treat. It will lead to their physical destruction by enemy invaders. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful rebellion. God calls them to stop sinning and to do good. He offers to make their sins white as snow if they repent and to consume them if they rebel.
After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.
